Tourists from Trinidad and Tobago will not be allowed to enter the United Kingdom without a visa – a stringent measure that aims at reducing asylum numbers of Caribbean nationals.
Following an increase in the number of asylum applications, which peaked at 439 claims in 2024 – up from an average of 49 per year recorded between 2015 and 2019, the UK authorities decided to address this issue by making entry rules more difficult for Trinis, VisaGuide.World reports.
As Express, the news website reports, Trinidadians can currently enter the country with an electronic travel authorization (ETA), which allows stays in the UK for up to six months, without a visa being required.
There has been a significant increase in the number of Trinidad and Tobago nationals coming to the UK as visitors only to claim asylum on arrival, which constitutes a misuse of our immigration system.
Now that visas are a must, Trinidad and Tobago passport holders can expect a lot more bureaucracy for visa applications and shorter stay periods due to a shorter visa validity.
UK’s New Visa Requirements – “Not a Proportionate Response”, Trinidadian Foreign Minister Says
The decision to have visas introduced to Trinidadians, only after the UK introduced an ETA requirement two months ago, was not welcomed by Trinidad and Tobago’s Foreign Minister, who finds the new visa rules as not a proportionate response to addressing the situation of a surge in asylum seekers.
This move is within their rights as a sovereign nation, but we do not see it as a proportionate response to what UK authorities conveyed to us, which was their observation that a relatively small number of Trinidad and Tobago nationals were misusing the UK immigration system by being processed for an ETA in the normal existing process and then suddenly applying for asylum after arrival.
On the other hand, the British high commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, Jon Dean, noted that these changes show support for safe and secure travel, as an article published by The Guardian reads.
The decision will be effective immediately, but there will be a transition period that will last until April 23. During this period, visitors with ETAs can complete their stay in the UK without having to apply for a visa.
The British high commission in Port of Spain has worked closely with the UK government to put in place arrangements that allow Trinidad and Tobago nationals to apply for their visitor visas right here at home. We remain committed to welcoming visitors and look forward to continuing the strong ties between our people.
Trinidadians will be joining Jamaicans and Dominicans, who were also introduced to visas earlier this year. All visa-exempt nationals have been introduced to the ETA requirements by the UK, effective from April 2025.