PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — The British Government Wednesday announced that it is imposing, with immediate effect, a visa requirement for Trinidad and Tobago nationals wanting to travel to or transiting the United Kingdom (UK), including on short visits.

London said that this is in addition to established requirements to obtain a visa to travel to the UK for the purpose of work, study and settlement.

“There will be a six-week transition period until 15:00 on 23 April 2025, during which time visitors who booked their travel and obtained an ETA (electronic travel authorisations) before the changes can still enter the UK without a visa. There is also a transition period for passengers who are transiting via the UK to an onward destination,” London said in its statement.

There has been no reaction as yet from the Trinidad and Tobago Government to this latest development.

But, the British High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, John Dean, said the new requirement means that all Trinidad and Tobago nationals “must obtain a visa”  for travelling to the UK.

“Trinidad and Tobago nationals will no longer be eligible to travel under the electronic travel authorisations scheme and those planning to transit the UK will now need a direct …visa. In any country, including the UK, security including border security has to be our priority.

“We regularly review our visa and immigration policies to ensure that they remain effective. On this occasion there has been significant increase in the number of unjustified asylum applications by Trinidad and Tobago nationals at the UK border. Unfortunately, the actions of a small minority have meant that our ministers have had to take the difficult decision to introduce a visa requirement.”

The British diplomat said there will be a short transition period until April 23 this year for visitors with a frim booking and an ETA.

“I understand many of you will find this news disappointing and that’s why I wanted to explain it to you personally. Of course, here at the British High Commission, we will continue to work hand in hand with our friends colleagues in Trinidad and Tobago to strengthen our partnership.

“As part of that we want you to continue to travel to the UK as much as brits do to Trinidad and Tobago to discover the best of both countries,” he added.

Trinidad and Tobago remains a perennial favourite with British holidaymakers, with thousands flocking to the island each year.

Almost 300,000 people arrived in Trinidad and Tobago by air or sea in 2024, according to government statistics — a figure that rises to almost half a million once cruise ship arrivals are factored in.

The British Home Office has reported a ninefold increase in asylum applications from the Caribbean Islands.  It said claims rose from an average of 49 a year between 2015 and 2019 to 173 in 2022 and 348 in 2023. There were a significant number of 439 claims in the last year alone.

Earlier this week, the Conservatives leader, Kemi Badenoch, said she would be tabling an amendment to the Government’s Border Security Bill that would force asylum seekers to pay back the cost of housing them in hotels under a student loan-style scheme.

Under the proposed law change, support to asylum seekers would be given as a loan rather than a gift. It would hand powers to the Home Secretary to cap the maximum amount of money that can be loaned to asylum seekers in any year.

It would hand powers to the Home Secretary to cap the maximum amount of money that can be loaned to asylum seekers in any year.