How to travel to the UK without a visa
Citizenship of some countries allows you to come to the UK without visas. Learn what kind of passport to get to come to the country for up to six months.
Passports providing visa-free entry to the UK
Investments: $100,000+
Obtaining period: 2+ months
Benefits. Malta, Vanuatu, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis and St Luciaare members of the Commonwealth of Nations. Therefore, citizens of these countries can come to the UK without visas and stay for up to 6 months.
If your main goal is to gain visa-free entry to the UK, a Caribbean or Vanuatu passport may be the best solution. The investment amount for participation in the Caribbean and Vanuatu citizenship programs is lower than obtaining Malta citizenship for exceptional services.
A Vanuatu or Caribbean passport can be obtained in a few months. The procedure is remote.
Terms and conditions for obtaining Caribbean or Vanuatu citizenship
Country
Investments and time frames
Qualifying family members
$100,000+
3—6 months
Spouse
Children under 30
Spouses’ parents over 55
Spouses’ siblings
$100,000+
3—6 months
Spouse
Children under 30
Spouses’ parents over 65
$150,000+
4—6 months
Spouse
Children under 30
Spouses’ parents
Spouses’ siblings over 18
$150,000+
2—6 months
Spouse
Children under 30
Spouses’ parents over 55
Spouses’ siblings under 30
$100,000+
3—4 months
Spouse
Children under 30
Spouses’ parents over 55
Spouses’ siblings under 18
$130,000+
1+ months
Spouse
Children under 25
Spouses’ parents over 50
You can extend your stay by applying for a visa. The visa type depends on the purpose of your stay in the country: for example, you need a Tier 2 visa to work and a Start-Up visa to open a unique business.
Opening a bank account is quite difficult for a non-UK resident due to strict Due Diligence standards. Because of this, most British banks refuse to work with people who do not live in the country. But there are exceptions, for example, Lloyds and HSBC. The conditions for opening an account must be clarified in person at a bank branch, by phone or using another communication channel.
Conditions for visiting the UK with a second passport
Reasons for visa-free entry to the UK include tourism, visiting family and friends, short-term studies, treatment, negotiations, and job interviews.
While in the UK, you cannot:
take long-term courses, for example, at school or a university;
work, including unpaid positions;
apply for benefits and payments from the state;
get married or register a civil partnership.
For these activities, you need to obtain a visa in advance.
At the border, you need to present a passport of the second citizenship country. It must be valid for the entire duration of the trip. You may also be asked to confirm the purpose of the visit, the availability of money and a place to stay, and the intention to leave the country at the end of the trip.
The maximum trip duration to the UK without a visa is 6 months for Commonwealth citizens. It is forbidden to reside in the country while leaving the UK for short periods.
Material prepared by Julia Loko, Investment programs expert
Frequently asked questions
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