Colombia removed from the visa free travel list and Ukraine Visa changes in 2024

A Statement of Changes to the immigration rules was published on 26 November 2024 which modified the rules for Colombian nationals, and introduced changes to the rules for Ukraine visas. Read on to find out more.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

On 26 November 2024, the UK Government released a new Statement of Changes to the immigration rules.

There are two main changes, with one being Colombia removed from the visa free travel list. Rules around Ukrainians coming to the UK have also seen updates. Changes for Ukraine nationals have also resulted in alterations to the long residence route to settlement in the UK.

Read on to see what the changes are, what they might mean for you, and how we might be able to help you with your immigration needs.

Key changes

Section	Details
1. Visa Requirement on Colombia	Colombia removed from the visa free travel list Introduction of a visa requirement for Colombian nationals. Allows assessment of individual eligibility under Immigration Rules before travel. Refusal of visit visa applications are possible if requirements are not met. Removal of Colombia from the Appendix ETA National List, effective 27 November 2024, as a visa requirement starts on 26 November 2024.
2. Changes to Ukraine Schemes	Introduction of the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme, allowing Ukrainian nationals and eligible family members to apply for 18 months’ additional stay. Closure of the existing Ukraine Extension Scheme on 4 February 2025 at 09:00 GMT. Homes for Ukraine Sponsorship changes include ending open-ended Permission to Travel (PTT) Letters, requiring biometrics for entry clearance before arrival in the UK.
3. Long Residence Route	Clarification that time spent under Ukraine Schemes does not count towards the qualifying period for a Long Residence application. Aligns the Immigration Rules with the policy that Ukraine Scheme permissions do not lead to settlement in the UK.

Colombia removed from the visa free travel list

The first announcement in this new Statement of Changes, is that Colombia is no longer included on the visa free travel list, with immediate effect. As a result, it will be harder for Colombian nationals to enter the UK, as they will be subject to the full immigration rules, and could even have their visa application rejected if the Home Office are not satisfied that the applicant has shown they will, for example, be able to support themselves or return home once their visa ends.

Additionally, due to Colombian nationals now having a visa requirement, Colombia will no longer be added to the list of countries on the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme. Originally, Colombia was going to be added to the ETA alongside several other countries, so that they did not require a visa for trips from the 8 January 2025 onwards. This is no longer the case.

Ukraine Schemes changes

After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the UK Government created special visa routes for Ukraine nationals to come to the UK and escape the war.

Now, the Ukraine Scheme is receiving some changes. On 4 February 2025 at 9am, the existing Ukraine Extension Scheme, which allows Ukraine nationals to extend their stay in the UK, will close.

However, it will be replaced by a new scheme called the Ukraine Permission Extension Scheme. Ukrainian nationals will be able to extend their stay in the UK by a further 18 months, and this also applies to their children born in the UK.

Additionally, the Homes for Ukraine Scheme, which allows British homeowners to sponsor Ukrainians to come and live with them, is also receiving an update. The open-ended permission to travel letters, which allowed Ukrainian nationals to come to the UK without first doing their biometrics in Ukraine, has now ended. This means that people will no longer be able to defer having their biometrics taken until their arrival in the UK, and will now need them to be taken at a biometrics centre in or near Ukraine.

Long residence for Ukrainians

As a result of changes to the Ukraine Schemes, the UK Government has updated the immigration rules to clarify the rules around getting long residence for those in the UK on those routes.

They have clarified that the Ukraine Schemes do not contribute towards the number of years required to be able to apply for settlement under long residence, which is 10 years. Normally, to get 10 years’ long residence, people need to have been in the UK on a combination of certain types of visas for a combined number of 10 unbroken years. If Ukraine nationals want to settle in the UK, they will need to find another visa route that will lead to settlement.

How we can help

The new Statement of Changes only covers a few areas of immigration law, but they will likely impact a number of people. Luckily, we are here to help you with applying for visas, whether you are a Colombian national who needs a Visitor Visa to come to the UK, or you are a Ukrainian national who needs assistance in finding the best visa to eventually settle in the UK.

Our expert law team has helped countless clients over the years, and they can help you too. To talk to them, you can either contact us by phone, email, our website chatbot, or by booking a free 10-minute assessment to see how we can help you. After this, you can book a longer, paid consultation that lasts either 30 minutes or an hour. This can take place with one of our Immigration Specialists, or with our Principal Solicitor, Nathan Woodcock.

Visit our other webpages to learn more about what you can expect, see our clients’ testimonials, and read our past success stories.

Get in touch with us today to see how we can help you get a UK visa.

Ready for assistance?

If you have any questions, or want to book an appointment with one of our legal experts, contact Woodcock Law today. Call us on +44 (0)20 7712 1705 or email info@woodcocklaw.co.uk.

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