Statement by Home Secretary
I am today laying before the House a Statement of Changes in
Immigration Rules.
We are today imposing a visa requirement on all visitors from
Dominica, Honduras, Namibia, Timor-Leste and Vanuatu. Nationals
of these countries will also be required to obtain a Direct
Airside Transit Visa if they intend to transit via the UK having
booked travel to another country.
Careful consideration of Dominica’s and Vanuatu’s operation of a
citizenship by investment scheme has shown clear and evident
abuse of the scheme, including the granting of citizenship to
individuals known to pose a risk to the UK. From Honduras and
Namibia there has been a sustained and significant increase in
the number of UK asylum applications being made by these
nationals, who have abused the provision to visit the UK for a
limited period as non-visa nationals in order to claim asylum. As
such, Namibians and Hondurans rank first amongst non-visa
nationals for asylum claims. These high numbers are
unsustainable, contributing significantly to operational
pressures which have resulted in frontline resource being
diverted from other operational priorities. Lastly, there has
been a sustained increase in the number of Timorese nationals
arriving at the UK border as non-genuine visitors, often with the
intention to fraudulently claim EU Settlement Scheme status as
dependants or to work illegally in the UK.
Arrangements are in place so that the nationals of these
countries can apply for visas. We are also publicising the
changes so travellers are aware and can plan accordingly. There
will be a four-week, visa-free transition period for those who
hold confirmed bookings to the UK made on or before 1500 BST 19
July 2023 where arrival in the UK is no later than 16 August
2023. We have arrangements in hand to provide visas for diplomats
from these countries currently working at the embassy in London.
The decision to impose these visa requirements has been taken
solely for migration and border security reasons and is not a
sign of poor relations with these countries. Any decision to
change a visa regime is not taken lightly and we keep our border
and immigration system under regular review to ensure it
continues to work in the UK national interest.
The changes to the Immigration Rules will come into force at 3pm
today.
