On July 19, 2023, the UK Home Office imposed a visa requirement on nationals of Dominica, Honduras, Namibia, Timor-Leste, and Vanuatu, effective 3pm on July 19, 2023. Nationals of these five countries will now require a visa to travel to or transit through the United Kingdom.
What to Expect
- The imposition of these visa regimes will include a four-week transition period for any nationals of these countries who are already travelling to the UK without a visa.
- During this period, those nationals who hold a confirmed booking to the UK made before the exact time of the rule change, and who will arrive in the UK is no later than four weeks after the change, will be exempt from the visa requirement.
- Those booking on or after the rule change, or due to arrive in the UK more than four weeks after the change, will require a visa.
The government states that this change of visa regime is necessary due to a “Sustained and significant increase in the number of UK asylum applications being made by nationals of Honduras and Namibia who arrived in the UK visa-free; the risks of citizenship by investment schemes operated by Dominica and Vanuatu; and an increase in the numbers of Timorese nationals arriving with the intention to fraudulently claim EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) status as dependents or to illegally work in the UK.”
The EU similarly suspended its visa waiver agreement with Vanuatu effective February 4, 2023, also due to the risks posed by its investor citizenship schemes.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to share updates as more news is available. If you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or case-specific questions, please contact your employer or EIG attorney.