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Update 4pm, March 12, 2025:
Trinidad and Tobago’s Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, Dr Amery Browne, said the UK’s announcement to remove visa-free entry for Trinidadians and implement short-stay visa requirements is a disproportionate response to the UK government’s reasons which cite an increase in asylum claims by people abusing the system.
In an update Wednesday afternoon, following the announcement by the UK High Commission, Dr Browne said:
“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 T&T 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.
“We have noted their decision to reintroduce visa requirements will be kept under review. We have indicated our disappointment with the new visa requirement and will continue our consistent engagement with our UK counterparts.
“We are not of the view that regular travellers to the UK should be negatively affected by a relatively small number of persons who have been trying to abuse the British immigration system.”
Data released by the UK government showed 117 applications for asylum were refused in the last quarter of 2024, compared to 81 for the corresponding period in 2023.
UK High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago Jon Dean shared a post via social media explaining the development which takes effect today (March 12, 2025):
“IMPORTANT NEWS FOR TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
“Effective today, 12 March 2025, all nationals of Trinidad and Tobago will need a visa before travelling to or through (transiting) the UK, including on short visits.
“This is in addition to established requirements to obtain a visa to travel to the UK for the purpose of Work, Study and Settlement.”
Dean cited a “significant increase” in the number of “unjustified” asylum applications to the UK.
A statement laid in British Parliament by the Home Secretary on March 12, 2025 said:
“We are taking this action due to an increase in the number of Trinidad and Tobago nationals travelling to the UK for purposes other than those permitted under visitor rules. This has included a significant and sustained increase in asylum claims, which has added significantly to operational pressures at the border and resulted in frontline resource being diverted from other operational priorities.
“The decision to introduce a visa requirement has been taken solely for migration and border security reasons. Our relationship with our Commonwealth partner Trinidad and Tobago remains a strong and friendly one. Any decision to change a visa status is not taken lightly and we keep the border and immigration system under regular review to ensure it continues to work in the UK national interest.”
The UK High Commission said there will be a six-week transition period until 3pm on April 23, 2025, during which time visitors who booked their travel and obtained an ETA before the changes can still enter the UK without a visa.
The UK High Commission said there is also a transition period for passengers who are transiting via the UK to an onward destination.
For more details visit: https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration
This is a developing story; more as this is updated.
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