Three Latin American countries now visa-free for the UK
From November 9, 2022, citizens of Guyana, Colombia, and Peru can enter the UK without a visitor visa for stays up to six months. All travel purposes except work or permanent relocation are covered. ETA system to launch in 2023 for visa-exempt visitors.
As of 00:01 on 9 November 2022, citizens of Guyana, Colombia and Peru will be able to enter the UK without a visitor visa.
For trips of up to six months—covering tourism, family visits, short-term business meetings, medical treatment, cultural and academic exchanges, or sports competitions—nationals of these three Latin American countries will no longer require a visa to enter England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.
Those planning to work, study long-term or relocate permanently to the UK will still need to apply for the appropriate visa. UK embassies in Colombia, Peru and Guyana have welcomed the change, which is expected to facilitate travel and boost tourism.
Starting in 2023, the UK will roll out its new Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system for visa-exempt visitors, including French and other EU citizens.
The ETA should be issued within 78 hours of completing an online application and paying the £18 fee (approximately €21). Designed on the model of the US ESTA and Canada’s eTA, the process is expected to take less than 15 minutes.
The system will be tested first in Qatar, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia between late Q1 and early Q3 2023. From late Q2 2023 onwards, countries no longer required to obtain an entry visa to the UK will need to use the ETA.
