UK Vietnam migration agreement 2025 to Fast-Track Removals of Illegal Migrants

The UK government has announced a landmark migration agreement with Vietnam aimed at fast-tracking the removal of Vietnamese nationals with no legal right to remain in the UK. The deal marks one of the most comprehensive migration partnerships ever signed between the two countries and underscores the UK’s renewed effort to crack down on illegal migration through enhanced international cooperation.

Overview of the UK–Vietnam Migration Agreement

Under the new Enhanced Migration Partnership Plan, the UK and Vietnam have agreed to:

• Accelerate the removals process for Vietnamese nationals who have entered or remained in the UK unlawfully.
• Reduce documentation processing time by up to 75%, and eventually by almost 90%, for verified cases.
• Share biometric data and intelligence to confirm identities faster and prevent abuse of immigration systems.
• Disrupt criminal smuggling networks and deter irregular migration through joint information campaigns.

This strengthened cooperation could quadruple the number of Vietnamese nationals returned to their home country compared to previous years.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Statement

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer KCB KC MP hailed the agreement as a breakthrough in tackling illegal migration:

“This landmark agreement with Vietnam sends a clear message: if you come to the UK illegally, you will be swiftly returned.

We are cutting through red tape, accelerating removals, and dismantling the criminal networks that profit from illegal migration. This deal delivers on our promise to protect our borders and cut down on migration.”

The Prime Minister added that illegal migration is a global problem requiring cooperation between nations, not unilateral action, and emphasised that “international partnerships – not shouting from the sidelines – deliver results.”

Vietnamese Nationals and Small Boat Arrivals

Vietnamese nationals have emerged as a significant demographic in irregular migration patterns to the UK.

• In Q1 2024, Vietnamese nationals were the largest single nationality among small boat arrivals.
• They were the fourth largest group across the whole of 2024.
• Between January and June 2025, arrivals from Vietnam dropped by more than 50% compared to the same period in 2024.

These figures suggest that bilateral cooperation and deterrence measures are already reducing illegal migration from Vietnam to the UK.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s Statement

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood MP, who signed the agreement with her Vietnamese counterpart, said:

“For too long, this country has been unable to remove those with no right to be here.

This important deal with the Vietnamese will help us ramp up removals of illegal migrants.

And I will do whatever it takes to secure our borders.”

Broader UK Migration Policy Context

The UK–Vietnam agreement is part of a wider government strategy to tackle illegal migration through international partnerships. In recent months, the UK has signed similar cooperation frameworks with France, Iraq, and Western Balkan countries.

The UK–France Treaty, signed in August 2025, introduced new powers allowing the UK to detain and rapidly remove individuals entering illegally by small boats — blocking their access to the UK asylum system. It also established a “safe and legal route” for a limited number of vetted migrants.

These partnerships form part of the government’s wider goal to:

• Dismantle human trafficking networks,
• Reduce hotel accommodation costs for migrants, and
• Speed up returns of those without valid status.

In its first year, the current government has removed 35,000 individuals with no legal right to remain, including 5,200 foreign national offenders — representing a 14% increase compared to the previous year.

Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam

Alongside the migration deal, the UK and Vietnam also signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, expanding collaboration in:

• Defence and security,
• Trade and economic growth,
• Climate change initiatives, and
• Counter-crime operations.

This dual agreement signifies a broader strengthening of UK–Vietnam relations, combining immigration control with economic and diplomatic cooperation.

Legal and Compliance Implications

Immigration practitioners and compliance officers should note that this agreement may accelerate enforcement actions and reduce appeal timelines for Vietnamese nationals facing removal.

It also reinforces the importance of early legal representation for migrants seeking to regularise their status or appeal removal decisions, as the faster verification process may shorten procedural opportunities for challenge.

Law firms advising clients of Vietnamese origin should review potential human rights arguments, Article 8 (family life) claims, or modern slavery protections where appropriate.

The UK–Vietnam migration agreement represents a significant policy shift toward faster and more coordinated removals of those with no right to remain. Backed by biometric data sharing, enhanced intelligence cooperation, and reduced bureaucracy, the deal is designed to protect UK borders while maintaining international partnerships to combat illegal migration at its source.

As the UK government continues to expand its network of migration partnerships, similar agreements with other countries are expected — marking a new phase in the UK’s global migration management strategy.