Dr Amery Browne, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, has formally lodged a complaint with the United Kingdom over its recent decision to impose a visa requirement on Trinidad and Tobago nationals traveling to the UK.
In a meeting with His Excellency Jon Mark Dean, UK High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, Minister Browne expressed concerns over the lack of prior notice and the absence of a collaborative approach in addressing the UK’s concerns about asylum seekers.
The UK government announced the new visa requirement On Wednesday, citing an increase in asylum claims from Trinidad and Tobago nationals.
The policy, which took immediate effect, now requires all Trinidad and Tobago citizens to apply for a visa before traveling to or transiting through the UK, ending decades of visa-free travel between the two countries.
The abrupt change has disrupted travel plans for many nationals, prompting diplomatic engagement from the Trinidad and Tobago government.
During the discussions at the Ministry’s headquarters, Minister Browne emphasized the hardship caused by the sudden policy shift, particularly for those with prearranged travel plans.
He also raised concerns about the adequacy of transitional arrangements, highlighting cases where travelers have already faced difficulties.
High Commissioner Dean acknowledged the suddenness of the decision and explained that the primary reason for the visa requirement was the increased number of Trinidad and Tobago nationals seeking asylum in the UK.
He assured that his team would work to provide as much public guidance as possible and confirmed that the visa policy would be reviewed later this year.
Both officials agreed to collaborate on an action plan to address the concerns that led to the visa requirement, with the shared goal of working towards its removal in the future.