LONDON, United Kingdom — The UK Home Office has updated its Immigration Rules, confirming the full list of over 100 countries whose nationals require a visa for stays of under six months, with Nigeria, India, Pakistan, China, Ghana, and South Africa among those affected.
The updated rules, which took effect on July 10, 2026, clarify the visa requirements for citizens of various countries planning to visit the UK for tourism, business, or family visits for short periods. The list includes nationals from countries across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, South America, Central America, the Caribbean, and Europe who must obtain a Standard Visitor Visa before travelling to the UK.
Among the affected countries are Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Ghana, South Africa, Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Colombia, Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Malawi, Namibia, Nepal, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Turkey, Uganda, Vietnam, Yemen, and Zimbabwe.
The Home Office has also introduced significant policy changes, including the introduction of a “visa brake” from March 26, 2026, which refuses Student visa applications from nationals of Afghanistan, Cameroon, Myanmar, and Sudan, as well as Skilled Worker visa applications from Afghan nationals, in response to rising asylum claims from these groups.
Additionally, nationals of Nicaragua and St Lucia now require a visit visa to travel to the UK and are no longer eligible to enter using an Electronic Travel Authorisation, following an increase in asylum claims from these countries. A six-week transition period was implemented until April 16, 2026, allowing travellers with confirmed bookings made before the announcement to travel without a visa.
Applicants from visa-required countries must apply online, pay the applicable fee of £115, and attend a biometric appointment at a UK visa application centre in their home country, with processing times typically taking three weeks. The Home Office has urged all prospective visitors to check the official UK government website for the most up-to-date information before making any travel arrangements.
The list is subject to change based on diplomatic agreements and immigration policy reviews. Travellers are advised to verify their visa status well in advance of any planned travel to avoid complications at the border. The Home Office has also reminded visitors that meeting the visa requirement does not guarantee entry, as all arrivals are subject to assessment by UK Border Force officers.
