Gustavo Petro, the president of Colombia, has revealed an exciting development for Colombian citizens. They will now be able to travel to the United Kingdom visa-free for tourism. This announcement marks the first time Colombians have been granted this privilege. The new visa policy changes will officially take effect on November 9, 2022.

Quote:

“I thank the United Kingdom for its decision to eliminate the tourism visa requirement for Colombians,” expressed President Gustavo Petro. He took to Twitter to express his appreciation for this significant move that will enhance travel opportunities for Colombian citizens.

The former President of Colombia, Iván Duque, also expressed his gratitude for the visa-free travel announcement. He acknowledged the collective effort put into achieving this outcome after months of hard work. Furthermore, Duque highlighted that his government had previously signed the post-Brexit Free Trade Agreement with former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, which has likely contributed to this positive development in bilateral relations.

UK Ambassador: Visa-Free Entry for Colombians Long Overdue

In an important announcement, George Hodgson, the British ambassador to Colombia, confirmed the long-awaited news of visa-free entry for Colombians to the United Kingdom. The confirmation came during a press conference held at Hodgson's residence in Bogotá. Expressing his enthusiasm, Hodgson stated that the UK would now welcome Colombians for tourism and other sectors.

"The UK will open up its doors to tourism and other sectors for Colombians. Without a doubt, the elimination of visitor visas, a process we have been working on for quite some time, marks a big step in our thriving relationship between the United Kingdom and Colombia," said Ambassador Hodgson.

• The process of obtaining visa exemption for the UK for Colombian citizens was initiated during the two-term government of previous President Juan Manuel Santos.
• It appears that Petro's administration has successfully concluded the negotiations, bringing an end to the long process.
• The visa exemption signifies a significant development in the bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and Colombia.

Streamlined Travel to UK: Visa Exemption for Colombians

The elimination of tourist visa requirements for Colombians marks a significant milestone, bringing relief to citizens of Colombia who previously had to navigate an expensive and time-consuming visa application process. Waiting times of up to 60 days to obtain a tourism permit will now be a thing of the past.

Streamlined Travel Experience for Colombians

Under the new rules, Colombians can now enter the UK without the need for a visa. A valid passport is all that is required for a stay of up to 6 consecutive months. This policy change is anticipated to have a substantial impact on the number of Colombian visitors to the UK, as statistics show 45,788 arrivals between January and September 2022.

Key Benefits and Considerations

• Visa-free entry allows Colombians to avoid the burdensome visa application process and long waiting times.
• Increased ease of travel is expected to boost the number of Colombian arrivals in the UK.
• Colombians who had previously applied for a UK tourist visa but hadn't provided biometric data will be eligible for a refund of their visa fee.
• The current visa exemption applies to tourism, business travel, and short-term study, with the potential for expansion to other purposes in the future.
• While there is significant interest in studying visa-free long-term in the UK, study visa policies will remain unchanged for now.

Ambassador's Perspective

Hosgodn, the UK Ambassador, recognizes the long-awaited nature of the visa exemption for Colombians. He expects the number of Colombian arrivals to increase further due to this new policy. He also emphasizes that the visa fee refund will apply to those who had already initiated the visa application process but hadn't completed the biometric data submission before the announcement.

Please note that the information provided is accurate as of the knowledge cutoff date in September 2021, and it is advisable to consult official sources for the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and policies.