Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has imposed visa restrictions on a country for the first time after it refused to take back criminals and illegal migrants.
Labour has taken tough action against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after it failed to co-operate with attempts to fix Britain's migration crisis.
Two other African countries, Namibia and Angola, changed their position and agreed to accept deportees from the UK after being threatened with similar measures.
The action is possible under to legislation introduced in 2022 by the Conservatives, but had not been used up to now.
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Ms Mahmood first warned the three nations last month she would take action.
The Home Office accused the countries of “unacceptably poor and obstructive returns processes”.
As punishment for refusing to take back those with no right to be in the UK, diplomats and ministers from the DRC will no longer receive preferential visa treatment. Citizens will also be banned from fast-track entry into Britain.
The House Secretary has already threatened to go even further if the country does not now yield on the matter, with the DRC government warned a full visa ban could be implemented - including on its president.
Shabana Mahmood has vowed to do 'whatever it takes to protect our borders'
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Ms Mahmood said: “We expect countries to play by the rules.
"If one of their citizens has no right to be here, they must take them back.
“I thank Angola and Namibia and welcome their co-operation. Now is the time for the Democratic Republic of Congo to do the right thing.
"Take your citizens back or lose the privilege of entering our country.
“This is just the start of the measures I am taking to secure our border and ramp up the removal of those with no right to be here.”
In the year to June, only 11 illegal migrants came from the DRC, three from Angola and none from Namibia.
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However, the Home Office hopes the approach will ensure other nations cooperate with the UK on deportations.
In a warning shot, a Government source said the Home Secretary "won’t hesitate to go further and ban visas to other countries who refuse to take their citizens back".
The hardline approach mirrors similar action taken by Donald Trump in the US, with travel restrictions imposed on nearly 40 countries.
The US President says the travel ban is needed in part due to a lack of cooperation in accepting deported nationals.
Similarities to the Republican's immigration strategy are likely to leave a number of Labour MPs uncomfortable, but Ms Mahmood has vowed to do "whatever it takes to secure our borders".
Meanwhile, Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has told British diplomats to take a more transactional approach to illegal migration as part of efforts to speed up returns.
Donald Trump has imposed his own travel restrictions on nearly 40 countries
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She said: “I have instructed our diplomatic network around the world to make returns a top priority, and today’s announcement shows that when countries work with us, we can achieve more rapid results.
“People who come to the UK illegally, overstay their visas, or commit crimes in our country should expect to be returned, and we will continue to demand the cooperation of their governments in that process.”
Since Labour entered government in July 2024, nearly 50,000 people have been deported from the UK and more than 7,000 foreign national offenders have been returned.
The returns have been offset by a surge in small boat crossings, with more than 41,000 arriving in Britain via the English Channel in 2025.
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