Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of new visa requirements on travellers from Trinidad and Tobago; and if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of introducing an exemption for cultural workers from Trinidad and Tobago with confirmed professional work in the UK.

Nationals of Trinidad and Tobago are now required to obtain a visa prior to travelling to the UK. The UK introduced a visitor visa requirement for nationals of Trinidad and Tobago on 12 March 2025 due to the number of nationals of Trinidad and Tobago travelling to the UK for reasons other than those permitted under the Immigration Rules for visitors. This included a significant increase in asylum claims made on arrival at the UK border. Full reasons for the introduction of the visa requirement and a summary of the impact were provided in the Explanatory Memorandum to the changes in the Immigration Rules.

We have no plans to introduce a visa exemption for cultural workers. The Creative Worker visa concession is available to individuals who do not require a visa to enter the UK as a visitor. Nationals of Trinidad and Tobago can apply for the Creative Worker route, but are required to obtain a visa before travelling.