Home Office announces multinational agreement on immigration returns and visa restrictions
The Home Office has announced that the UK may reduce visa allocations to countries that delay or refuse to accept the return of their nationals who are unlawfully present in the UK. This forms part of a new agreement with the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, known collectively as the Five Eyes, which sets clear expectations for international cooperation in repatriating individuals with no legal right to remain. The agreement, which takes immediate effect, establishes clear obligations for countries to accept the return of individuals who have no legal right to remain, aiming to build international consensus and accelerate the removal process. The agreement also aims to address delays, refusals to issue travel documents, and limited engagement by establishing accountability and enabling firm action, including visa restrictions where necessary. It also includes a commitment to disrupt organised immigration crime, particularly the use of online platforms by people smuggling networks.