UK Removes Tourist Visa Requirement for 3 South American Countries

Last Tuesday, 18 October, the United Kingdom (UK) stated that starting 9 November citizens of Colombia, Peru and Guyana will not need to apply for a visa to travel and visit the UK for periods of up to six months. 

The visa will still be required for those who want to undertake long-term studies, work in or settle permanently in the UK.

Colombians have long been able to travel to the 26 European countries in the Schengen Area without a visa. But the same has not been true of the United Kingdom, which has maintained its visitor visa requirement for Colombian nationals. That visa requirement has been accompanied as well by processing times of up to 60 days, and an additional expense for visa fees.

The UK Ambassador to Colombia George Hodgson announced the removal of the visitor visa requirement, effective 9 November 2022. 

“The UK will open up its doors to tourism and other sectors for Colombians,”

“This is a great step forward in our bilateral relations.”

UK Ambassador to Colombia George Hodgson

Citizens of these 3 countries will now be able to travel to the UK as “standard visitors“, which means they can stay in the country for up to six months, for “tourism, business, study (courses up to 6 months) and other permitted activities.” Needless to say, the move improves the competitive position of institutions and schools in the UK that aim to recruit international students for short-term programmes.

The UK Visa-Free Countries

Citizens of a number of countries are able to visit the UK as tourists without a visa. These countries include:

1. Andorra
2. Antigua and Barbuda
3. Australia
4. Bahamas
5. Barbados
6. Belize
7. Bermuda
8. Canada
9. Dominica
10. Falkland Islands
11. Grenada
12. Hong Kong (SAR)
13. Israel
14. Japan
15. Kiribati
16. Macau (SAR)
17. Malaysia
18. Maldives
19. Marshall Islands
20. Mauritius
21. Mexico
22. Micronesia
23. Monaco
24. Montserrat
25. New Zealand
26. Palau
27. Panama
28. Papua New Guinea
29. Samoa
30. San Marino
31. Seychelles
32. Singapore
33. Solomon Islands
34. St Kitts and Nevis
35. St Lucia
36. St Vincent and the Grenadines
37. Tonga
38. Trinidad and Tobago
39. Tuvalu
40. United Arab Emirates
41. United States of America
42. Vanuatu
43. Vatican City

Now Columbia, Guyana and Peru join that list of countries that can travel to the Uk for up to six months without the need to get a UK visa first.

Please note that this list is subject to change and it is always a good idea to check the latest visa requirements before planning a trip to the UK. But please note that the UK is introducing an ETA for these travellers and you will soon need to register before you travel.

What are the Impacts of being on the UK Visa-Free List?

Being on the UK visa-free country list means that if you are a citizen of those countries, you do not need to obtain a visa in order to visit the UK for tourism, business, visiting families or other purposes that do not require work or study. It means that you can enter the UK for up to six months for tourism or business purposes without applying for a visa in advance.

Even so, you may still need to meet other requirements in order to be allowed to enter the UK. For example, you still need to show that you have enough money to support yourself during your stay, that you have a return or onward ticket, and that you have a valid passport with at least six months of validity left. You may also need to provide evidence of your purpose for travel and details of your plans in the UK.

Regardless, being on the UK visa-free country list does not guarantee entry to the UK. The final decision to allow entry to the UK remains with immigration officials at the airport or other port of entry. They can ask you about your plans and may ask you to provide documentation to support your entry into the UK. So you may want to have these pieces of evidence handy when you arrive.

Checklist for Visa-Free Nationals

When planning a trip to the UK as a citizen of a visa-free country, you may want to plan ahead. Here are a few tips to consider:

1. Check the validity of your passport: Make sure that your passport is valid for at least six months from the date you plan to enter the UK. If your passport is not valid for this length of time, you may not be allowed to enter the country.
2. Make sure you have enough funds: Take copies of your recent bank statements. You may need to show that you have enough money to look after yourself during your stay in the UK. Depending on your arrangements, this may include money for accommodation, transportation, and other expenses.
3. Have a return or onward ticket: It may help to show that you have a return or onward ticket, which demonstrates that you have plans to leave the UK at the end of your visit. But this is not mandatory especially if you have open plans.
4. Consider obtaining travel insurance: It is always a good idea to have travel insurance when travelling abroad, in case of unexpected events such as illness or injury. Check out options for travel insurance for the UK and Europe.
5. Research your destination and plan your trip: Depending on the purpose of your travels, you may want to familiarise yourself with your destination and make a plan for your trip, including your travel arrangements, accommodation, and activities.
6. Be prepared for questioning at the border: Immigration officials at the port of entry may ask you questions about your plans in the UK and may ask you to provide additional documentation to support your application to enter the country. Be prepared to answer these questions and provide any required documentation.

Which countries can Columbians travel to visa-free?

Colombians are allowed to travel visa-free to many countries around the world, including the following:

• Members of the European Union: Colombia has a visa-free agreement with all member countries of the EU, so Colombians can travel to these countries without a visa for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
• Mercosur countries: Colombia is a member of the Mercosur trade bloc, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Colombians can travel to these countries without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
• Other countries: Colombians can also travel without a visa to a number of other countries, including Andorra, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Peru, Serbia, and Thailand, among others.

Which countries can Guyanians travel to visa-free?

Guyana is a country located in South America, and citizens of Guyana are allowed to travel visa-free to a number of other countries around the world, including the following:

• Members of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM): Guyana is a member of the CARICOM, which includes Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. Citizens of CARICOM member countries can travel to these countries without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
• Other countries: Guyana is also a member of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), which includes Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela. Citizens of UNASUR member countries can travel to these countries without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.

Guyana is also included in the list of countries eligible for visa-free travel to the Republic of Korea (South Korea).

Which countries can Peruvians travel to visa-free?

Peruvians are allowed to travel visa-free to a number of countries around the world, including the following:

• Members of the European Union: Peru has a visa-free agreement with all member countries of the EU, so Peruvians can travel to these countries without a visa for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
• Mercosur countries: Peru is a member of the Mercosur trade bloc, which includes Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay. Peruvians can travel to these countries without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
• Other countries: Peruvians can also travel without a visa to a number of other countries, including Andorra, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Serbia, and Thailand, among others.

It's important to note that these visa-free arrangements may be subject to change, so it's always a good idea to check the visa requirements of the country you plan to visit before you travel. It's also a good idea to check with the embassy or consulate of the country you plan to visit to confirm the most up-to-date information on visa requirements. Also, check out our list of countries that Refugee travel documents can travel to visa-free.

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Charlie

Travel and Immigration Writer and Client Relationship Manager at IaM (Immigration and Migration)

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