27/07/23

CITIZENSHIP: UK Imposes Visas for Citizens of Dominica, Namibia, Honduras, Timor-Leste, & Vanuatu

As published on: visaguide.world, Thursday 27 July, 2023.

Citizens from Dominica, Namibia, Honduras, Timor-Leste, and Vanuatu are now required to apply for a visa when traveling to the United Kingdom after the latter’s authorities decided to introduce such measures on these countries.

The decision, according to the Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, came following careful consideration of Dominica’s and Vanuatu’s operation of a citizenship by investment program, which showed clear and evident abuse of the program, granting citizenship to persons known to pose a risk to Britain.

The new amendments mean that citizens from the countries mentioned above are subject to visas in order to enter Britain for ordinary visits with a maximum duration of six months, VisaGuide.World reports.

In addition, they are also required to obtain a transit visa in order to transit through airports in the United Kingdom to reach their destination country.

Authorities in Britain confirmed that there will be a four-week transition period until August 16, during which visitors who booked their travel before July 19 can still reach the UK in a lawful way without obtianing a visa.

According to officials in the UK, the Government considers this departure from the convention to be necessary and proportionate for reasons of safeguarding the operation of the national immigration system.

“It is anticipated that providing the customary 21-day scrutiny period before implementing the visa regimes would trigger a substantial surge in nationals from these countries traveling to the United Kingdom before the visa regimes come into effect,” the Home Officers pointed out in this regard.

British High Commissioner to Vanuatu, Nicolette Brent, MBE, said that the recent changes announced by the UK bring Vanuatu in line with a large number of other visa national countries with which Britain has strong and friendly relations.

He stressed that visas provide access to the UK while also helping to secure the UK’s border.

“The UK Government is putting in place arrangements to ensure this change is implemented smoothly, including through the introduction of a transition period for those individuals who have already booked travel. As such, ni-Vanuatu will continue to be able to join the many visitors the UK welcomes from around the world,” the statement reads.

Authorities in the United Kingdom also confirmed that Ni-Vanuatu travelers who are already in Britain will not be affected by the new requirement for the remainder of their visit; however, it has been emphasized that once leaving the UK, they will be obliged to apply for a visitors visa when planning to enter the UK again.

A standard Visitor Visa can be used for different purposes, such as study, tourism, and business. It allows persons to stay in the UK for six months and might be eligible to apply for a more extended period under certain circumstances.

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Citizenship Residency UK Visas Caribbean