New UK Visa Requirements for Colombian and Ukrainian Citizens

Visa Requirements for Colombian Citizens

From 15:00 on 26 November 2024, the UK government has reinstated visa requirements for Colombian citizens traveling to the UK. The UK government had initially planned to allow nationals of Colombia to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) from 27 November 2024, however, these plans have been retracted.

Colombian citizens must now apply for the appropriate visa to travel to the UK, or the Direct Airside Transit Visa for transit through the UK. There will be a four-week visa-free transition period for Colombian citizens who have confirmed travel arrangements before 26 November and will arrive no later than 24 December 2024.

The decision was announced in a statement published by the Home Office in response to a significant increase in Colombian nationals traveling to the UK for purposes not permitted under visitor rules, such as living, working, or claiming asylum. Seema Malhotra, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Migration and Citizenship, emphasized that this decision was made “solely for migration and border security reasons.”

Immigration Rule Changes for Ukrainian Citizens

The UK government has also announced the creation of a Ukraine Permission Extension (UPE) Scheme to enable Ukrainian citizens to extend their sanctuary in the UK while the war continues. The opening of the UPE will coincide with the final closure of the previous Ukraine Extension Scheme (UES) which was closed to all individuals in May 2024 except UK-born children with a parent who has, or has had, Ukraine scheme permission.

The UPE will be available to Ukrainians who were given sanctuary under previous Ukraine Schemes and are current residents of the UK. The scheme will come into effect on 4 February 2025. Successful applicants will be able to extend their stay in the UK for a further 18 months and continue to have access to work, benefits, healthcare, and education in the country. 

Additionally, the UK government has announced the end of Permission To Travel (PTT) letters to defer biometrics during the process. As PTT letters can no longer be used from 13 February 2025, Ukrainian citizens will need to attend a Visa Application Centre (VAC) to provide biometrics before they travel.

The Home Office statement also confirms minor changes to the eligibility requirements for the Long Residence route to the UK from 18 December 2024. These changes will reiterate that permission to stay in the UK under the UPE does not qualify Ukrainian citizens for settlement under the Long Residence route.