The United Kingdom government has made an important announcement regarding its visa-waiver agreement with Dominican nationals. They have decided to suspend the existing agreement, which means that all Dominican citizens, including tourists, will require a visa to visit the UK.
Starting from July 19, this suspension will be in effect, impacting a wide range of individuals, including Nigerians who had plans to travel to the UK. However, there is a silver lining for those who already booked their travel visas before 3 pm UK time on July 19. They will still be allowed to enter the UK without needing to obtain a visa.
Additionally, for those who made confirmed bookings before the same deadline, there will be a four-week visa-free transition period. This means that if they arrive in the UK no later than August 16, they can still enjoy visa-free entry.
Fortunately, this new requirement will not affect Dominican visitors who are already in the UK before the policy takes effect. They can complete their visit without needing a visa. However, if they leave the UK after this period, they will need to apply for a visa to re-enter.
As part of the policy change, citizens of Dominica will now be required to obtain a visitor visa if they intend to travel to the UK for a duration of up to six months.
The decision to suspend the visa-waiver agreement was prompted by concerns regarding the misuse of the Dominican citizenship by investment scheme. The UK Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, stated that there has been evidence of abuse in granting citizenship to individuals known to pose risks to the UK. In light of this, the UK government made the decision to address these concerns and safeguard the country’s security.
The new policy will also have implications for many Nigerians who hold dual citizenship with Dominica. Previously, this citizenship offered them visa-free access to numerous countries, including the UK and other popular destinations like China, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Schengen countries. Figures like Diezani Alison-Madueke, Nigeria’s former Minister of Petroleum, sought Dominica citizenship when appointed Commissioner for Trade and Investment by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit.
With these recent developments, traveling to the UK will become more challenging for Nigerians who had previously relied on their Dominican citizenship. It’s essential for affected individuals to be aware of these changes and plan their travel arrangements accordingly.
