UK Warns of Visa Cuts for Countries Refusing to Take Back Deported Nationals

The UK has announced it could cut visa allocations for countries that refuse to accept the return of individuals living unlawfully in Britain.

The move comes as Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, in her first major engagement since taking office, signed a landmark agreement with her counterparts from the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand – collectively known as the Five Eyes. The deal focuses on boosting the return of people with no legal right to remain in any of the partner nations.

The agreement sets out clear obligations for countries to cooperate with returns, tackling delays, refusals to issue travel documents, and limited engagement. In cases where countries remain uncooperative, the UK government has warned that it could impose restrictions on visa arrangements, reflecting the increased immigration risk.

“This announcement sends a clear message,” Mahmood said. “If you have no legal right to remain in the UK, we will deport you. If countries refuse to take their citizens back, we will take action.”

The new measures also include a joint crackdown on organised immigration crime online, after analysis revealed that 80% of migrants arriving via small boats reported using social media during their journeys. The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) has already removed more than 23,000 online posts and accounts linked to people smuggling since 2021, with over 8,000 removed in the past year alone — a 40% increase.

The UK government says this builds on progress already made, including the removal of over 35,000 individuals without legal status, expanding the ‘Deport Now, Appeal Later’ scheme to 23 countries, and securing new returns agreements with partners such as France and Iraq.

The joint Five Eyes statement takes immediate effect, reinforcing a renewed commitment to strengthen returns processes and protect border security.