By Ghazali Ibrahim
The United Kingdom has introduced updated travel requirements requiring citizens of Nigeria and 32 other African countries to obtain entry clearance before travelling to or transiting through the UK.
The new directive was contained in revised immigration guidance issued by the UK Home Office, which urges travellers to confirm they meet the UK’s visa requirements before booking flights.
According to the guidance, passengers without the required travel documents may face delays, disruption to their journeys, or be denied boarding by airlines.
The Home Office said nationals of more than 100 countries and territories are still required to obtain a visa before entering the UK for visits of up to six months unless they qualify for an exemption. The requirement also applies to certain passengers transiting through UK airports.
The updated rules further state that stateless individuals and travellers using documents other than officially recognised national passports or identity cards must also obtain entry clearance before travelling.
UK authorities said the revised guidance is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen border security and ensure compliance with the country’s immigration laws.
The African countries affected by the requirement are Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
The Home Office advised travellers to check their visa status and ensure they have the necessary entry clearance before making travel arrangements to the UK.
