The United Kingdom has taken the unusual step of restricting visa privileges for citizens of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) after what London described as inadequate cooperation from Kinshasa on returning undocumented migrants and foreign national offenders.

The UK Home Office announced that it has revoked fast-track visa services and preferential treatment for VIPs and government officials from the DRC as part of this move.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood warned that all Congolese visas could be suspended entirely unless the DRC improves its cooperation on migrant returns, underscoring Britain’s tougher stance under recent immigration reforms.

These reforms are part of a broader effort by Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government to tighten asylum rules, make refugee status temporary, and speed up deportations for those with no legal right to remain.

Meanwhile, neighboring Angola and Namibia have agreed to step up cooperation, signing migrant return deals with the UK. These agreements came after threats of similar visa penalties, and officials from both countries are expected to work on return procedures for their citizens residing or living illegally in the UK.

The UK government says it has already dramatically increased removals of people with no right to be in the country, making return agreements a diplomatic priority.