Please be advised that the British government are rolling out a mandatory Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system which will soon apply to all foreign nationals who do not need to apply for a visitor visa to travel to the United Kingdom.
From January 8, 2025, Barbadian citizens must have a valid Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to travel to the United Kingdom, even if it is only to transit through the UK to visit another country. However, if you are a Barbadian citizen, but also have—
then you do not need to apply for an ETA. However, you must prove that you are not required to obtain an ETA. For example, if you are a British or Irish citizen, you should present your British or Irish passport for travel to the United Kingdom. You should still take your Barbadian passport when travelling overseas since it must be presented on return to Barbados.
If you are travelling to the United Kingdom on or after January 8, 2025 and are required to apply for an ETA, it will be possible to do so from November 27, 2024. For more information, please read the official guidance on GOV.UK. It costs £10 to apply for an ETA (approx $27 BBD). An ETA is valid for two years or until the expiration date of the passport (whichever is sooner).
Airlines have a responsibility to deny boarding to any foreign national who is not able to prove that they have permission to travel to the United Kingdom.
Please note an ETA only gives the applicant permission to travel to the United Kingdom. All persons in receipt of an ETA are still assessed by UK Border Force on arrival, and are granted or denied entry in accordance with the immigration rules.
Barbadians which are granted entry for tourism purposes, or to see friends or family, can usually stay in the United Kingdom for that purpose for up to six months a year. However, the maximum period of time granted to a person who has permission to enter the United Kingdom is at the discretion of UK Border Force. Six months a year represents the maximum permitted by law.
Foreign nationals who frequently visit the United Kingdom for long periods of time may be denied entry or questioned by UK Border Force in order to satisfy the authorities that they are not attempting to live in the United Kingdom, or undertake activities that visitors are not permitted to do (e.g. work).
If you are an Irish-Barbadian dual national, you do not need permission to live and work in the United Kingdom under the terms of the Common Travel Area, as long as you enter the United Kingdom using your Irish passport.
For all intents and purposes, an Irish citizen is not subject to immigration control in the United Kingdom, but the authorities have the right to deport an Irish citizen in exceptional cases where it is in the public interest to do so.