The UK government announced on Wednesday 19 July that with immediate effect, all ni-Vanuatu will require a visa before travelling to the UK, including to visit. The decision to impose a visa regime on Vanuatu is in response to concerns relating to its Citizenship by Investment (CBI) scheme. Visit visas are an important tool in reducing illegal migration, tackling organised crime and protecting national security, and this decision has been made to ensure it continues to operate as effectively as possible.
The changes, which come into effect immediately, will apply to all ni-Vanuatu seeking to enter the UK. However, there will be a four-week transition period until 15:00 BST Thursday 16 August, during which visitors who booked their travel before 15:00 BST 19 July can still enter the UK.
British High Commissioner to Vanuatu, Nicolette Brent, MBE said:
The changes announced today bring Vanuatu in line with many other visa national countries with which the UK has strong and friendly relations. Visas provide access to the UK while helping to secure the UK 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 decision to impose a visa regime has been made because of the sustained and significant increase since 2017 in the number of UK asylum applications from Honduran nationals at the UK border, who have abused the provision to visit the UK for a limited period as non-visa nationals in order to do so. In 2017 there were 9 asylum applications from Honduran nationals. In 2022 there were 789 asylum applications and in the first quarter of 2023 there were 275 asylum applications from Honduran nationals.
The changes, which come into effect immediately, will apply to all Honduran travellers to the UK. However, there will be a four-week transition period until 15:00 BST 16 August during which visitors who booked their travel before 15:00 BST 19 July can still enter the UK.
British Ambassador to Guatemala and Honduras, Nick Whittingham, said:
The changes announced today bring Honduras in line with many other visa national countries with which the UK has strong and friendly relations. Visas provide access to the UK while helping to secure the UK border.
In consultation with the British Embassy in Guatemala City, the UK Government will put in place arrangements to ensure that Honduran travellers can apply for their visitor visas in Honduras, so that they can continue to join the many visitors the UK welcomes from around the world.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
The Passport holders of Vanuatu and Hondura will require a Visit Visa to enter the UK.
#ukimmigration #ukvisa #uk #liveinuk #capprricornadvisors #migratetouk #immigrationuk #ukvisa #visanews #passportbyinvestment #vanvatu #dominica #goldenvisa #citizenshipship #settlement #eu
Source:
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/visa-requirement-for-ni-vanuatu-nationals-visiting-uk https://www.gov.uk/government/news/introduction-of-visa-requirement-for-honduran-nationals-visiting-uk