Information contained in this publication is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice or opinion, nor is it a substitute for the professional judgment of an attorney.
The United Kingdom's government has announced the start dates for new short stay visitor visa requirements for nationals of Bolivia, Lesotho, South Africa, Swaziland and Venezuela. Under the new requirements, nationals of these countries wishing to visit the UK for up to six months, will need to obtain a visit visa, and provide their fingerprints before they travel. Travelers from these countries who transit through the UK en route to other countries also will need a transit visa.
Start dates for the new visa requirements are:
- May 18, 2009 for Bolivian and Venezuelan nationals. Venezuelan nationals holding valid biometric passports containing an electronic chip will be exempt from the visa requirement.
- July 1, 2009 for nationals of South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland.