The UK government had lifted visitor visa requirements for Colombian nationals in November 2022, enabling them to stay in the country for up to six months without a visa.

However, on November 26, 2024, the Home Office announced the reinstatement of this obligation for Colombians.

As per the new rules, Colombian visitors, including students, who had booked and paid for a trip to the UK before 3pm GMT on November 26 will be allowed to enter the UK without a visa until 3pm GMT on December 24. 

According to a memorandum by the UK Home Office, there has been a significant increase in Colombian nationals traveling for reasons that are not permitted, including living, working, and seeking asylum. 

In the first two quarters of 2024, 468 asylum claims were made by Colombian nationals, a significant increase compared to just 19 in 2019, the Home Office stated. 

Additionally, the number of Colombian passengers refused entry at the border rose to 285 between January and June 2024, compared to 162 for the entirety of 2019.

With a significant number of Colombian students traveling to the UK for English language training courses, the sector is likely to face new challenges.

National ELT association English UK, which saw Colombia as its 13th largest source market with 28,559 weeks, believes the re-imposed visa requirements will impact the sector heavily. 

“We are saddened to learn that visa free travel has been removed for Colombians. Colombia is a growth source market for UK ELT and we know this news will impact our sector.”
_{English UK spokesperson}

“We are saddened to learn that visa free travel has been removed for Colombians. Colombia is a growth source market for UK ELT and we know this news will impact our sector,” read the statement by English UK. 

“We continue to support our member centres, Colombian agents and students to help them navigate the UK visa regulations.”

The association maintained that Colombian nationals currently in the UK do not need to take any action.

Still, it highlighted that students (non-visa nationals) planning to take a holiday in the next few weeks may need to make a visa application if they return to the UK after December 24 or before the date in case they don’t have any travel booked. 

According to Niel Pama, director of ES London, the new rules could influence the number of legitimate ELT students from Colombia but not ‘dramatically’. 

Colombian students made up a significant chunk of students at the English language school. 

While Colombian students in English UK schools ranged between 2%, 6%, and 4% in the first three quarters of 2024, students at ES London represented 17%, 23%, and 20% of the cohort in the respective quarters. 

“In our experience, the Colombian students that studied at ES always played by the rules, studied, made progress and then left the UK, after their courses were complete,” Pama told The PIE. 

“For those students on a low budget, the £150 visa fee and cost of needing documents translated will act as a barrier, but these are not the type of students who study at ES, so only time will tell what impact the change in policy will have.”

The recent rules could benefit an already strong Australian and Canadian ELT market, which is home to a large number of Colombian students pursuing English language courses. 

As per data released by the Apply Board, Australia’s English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students sector is reliant on Colombian students for recruitment. 

In 2022 and 2023, Colombian students made up 31% of all ELICOS visa holders. During this time, 94% of student visas issued to Colombians were specifically for ELICOS studies.

The recent visa curbs have also led to a diplomatic hurdle between Colombia and the UK, with Colombian president Gustavo Petro stating that the South American country will initiate a reciprocal move. 

“If the United Kingdom has reinstated the need for visas for the Colombian people, I have to say that by the principle of reciprocity, the Colombian government will ask for visas from British citizens who want to come to Colombia,” stated the English translation of a post by Petro, on X.