The Home Office has confirmed two new bilateral readmission agreements that will allow the UK to return foreign nationals who have no legal right to remain back to Angola and Namibia. The accords follow weeks of behind-the-scenes diplomacy led by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who has told envoys that cooperation on removals is now a key test of broader relations with London. Under the deals, the Angolan and Namibian governments have committed to issuing emergency travel documents within five working days and to accepting charter flights carrying larger groups of returnees.
At the same time, the UK has triggered for the first time powers contained in the 2022 Nationality and Borders Act to levy visa penalties on non-compliant states. Fast-track visa processing for travellers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been withdrawn and senior Congolese officials have lost access to priority services after Kinshasa repeatedly failed to accept deportation flights. Mahmood warned that the measures could be escalated to a complete visa ban if cooperation does not improve.
Although the mechanics of deportations rarely make headlines, they matter greatly to multinational employers. Companies that sponsor foreign staff can find work visas curtailed if their employees overstay; conversely, speedier removals reduce the risk that overstayers become embedded in the informal economy. HR teams should therefore note that enforcement policy is tightening and that employees must maintain lawful status at all times.
![UK strikes migrant-return deals with Angola and Namibia, imposes visa sanctions on DR Congo]()
Meanwhile, organisations needing clarity on shifting visa regimes can tap into VisaHQ’s expertise; the service’s UK portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) provides real-time updates, document checklists and end-to-end application support for staff from Angola, Namibia, the DRC and beyond, helping businesses stay compliant and minimise travel disruption.
The agreements also signal the Labour government’s more transactional approach to migration diplomacy. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has instructed UK missions worldwide to prioritise deportation negotiations, promising trade and aid incentives to partners that help cut irregular inflows. Since July 2024 the UK claims to have removed more than 50,000 people with no right to remain—a 23 % year-on-year rise.
Practically, Angolan and Namibian nationals should not experience day-to-day changes unless they fall foul of immigration rules. Congolese business travellers, however, face longer processing times and higher fees, and corporate mobility managers may wish to route meetings through nearby hubs while the sanctions remain in force.
At the same time, the UK has triggered for the first time powers contained in the 2022 Nationality and Borders Act to levy visa penalties on non-compliant states. Fast-track visa processing for travellers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has been withdrawn and senior Congolese officials have lost access to priority services after Kinshasa repeatedly failed to accept deportation flights. Mahmood warned that the measures could be escalated to a complete visa ban if cooperation does not improve.
Although the mechanics of deportations rarely make headlines, they matter greatly to multinational employers. Companies that sponsor foreign staff can find work visas curtailed if their employees overstay; conversely, speedier removals reduce the risk that overstayers become embedded in the informal economy. HR teams should therefore note that enforcement policy is tightening and that employees must maintain lawful status at all times.
Meanwhile, organisations needing clarity on shifting visa regimes can tap into VisaHQ’s expertise; the service’s UK portal (https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/) provides real-time updates, document checklists and end-to-end application support for staff from Angola, Namibia, the DRC and beyond, helping businesses stay compliant and minimise travel disruption.
The agreements also signal the Labour government’s more transactional approach to migration diplomacy. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has instructed UK missions worldwide to prioritise deportation negotiations, promising trade and aid incentives to partners that help cut irregular inflows. Since July 2024 the UK claims to have removed more than 50,000 people with no right to remain—a 23 % year-on-year rise.
Practically, Angolan and Namibian nationals should not experience day-to-day changes unless they fall foul of immigration rules. Congolese business travellers, however, face longer processing times and higher fees, and corporate mobility managers may wish to route meetings through nearby hubs while the sanctions remain in force.
