The UK has banned tourists from Trinidad and Tobago from entering the country without a visa as part of a Government crackdown on asylum applications.
The Home Office is set to announce the changes later today following a major increase in applications from the Caribbean Islands.
Last year, there were a staggering 439 claims. This follows 348 in 2023, a hike by 173 in 2022 and an average of 49 a year between 2015 and 2019.
Citizens from certain countries, such as Trinidad and Tobago, can apply for electronic travel authorisation (ETA), allowing them to stay in the UK for six months without a visa.
The government is now seeking to crackdown on the loophole by removing the ETA status from the country, a government source told The Times.
“There has been a significant increase in the number of Trinidad and Tobago nationals coming to the UK as visitors only to claim asylum on arrival, which constitutes a misuse of our immigration system,” the inside source said.
“The UK’s relationship with Trinidad and Tobago remains a strong one, and we will continue to warmly welcome visitors, who will now need to apply for a visit visa.
“This decision will be kept under review.”
This follows the Conservatives tabling a series of amendments to Labour’s Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, on Monday. They are calling for tougher measures to end “mass low-skilled low-wage immigration into the UK.”
The Tories have proposed that migrants should not be able to bring their partners to the UK for at least two years.
Foreign workers will also have to earn at least £38,700, with the party proposing to revoking someone’s asylum claim if they return to their country of origin – even for a holiday.
Other suggested changes include anyone who has been granted a work visa will be unable to apply for any form of benefits from the Government, including housing support.
More than 4,000 people have arrived in the UK so far this year, according to Home Office figures.
Some 237 people made the journey in four boats on Sunday, taking the provisional total this year to 4,131.
This is 23% higher than the same period in 2024 (3,358) and also 33% up on 2023 (3,150), and a further increase of 87% compared with 2022 (2,212).
Migrants have crossed on 10 consecutive days.
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