BEVERLY HILLS, December 03, (THEWILL) – The exit of the United Kingdom from Europe on December 31, 2020 has brought about a new travel regime for Nigerians, Ghanaians and other nationals who hold a British visa, long stay visa or a British residence permit, and who are travelling to the UK.
As a result of the exit, Air France-KLM has taken different measures by the reintroduction of airport transit visa requirements for citizens of certain nationalities, including Nigeria and Ghana.
A statement from Air-France-KLM dated December 29, 2020, titled; ‘Travel on Air France or KLM to and from United Kingdom after Brexit-January 1, 2021’, stated that, as from January 1, 2021, citizens of the following countries, “will need to be in possession of an airport transit visa if they transit through France and or the Netherlands”.
The affected countries are Nigeria, Angola, Bangladesh, Congo, Chad, Republic of Congo, Iran, Mali, Mauritania, Afghanistan, Haiti, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Turkey, Egypt and Senegal.
Others are Moldova, Belarus-Georgia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Sri Lanka, Armenia, Palestine, who are holders of a British visa, long stay visa or residence permit issued by the British authorities.
It further stated that citizens of the above-mentioned countries holding a visa or residence permit in addition to the UK visa/residence permit from Canada, Japan, the US, or European countries are exempted from the new policy.
‘Exception for Nigerian nationals travelling on KLM, the Dutch Minister of Justice and Security has decided to waive the ATV requirement for transit visa for Nigerian nationals only with a valid UK visa or residence permit at Schiphol Airport until February 1, 2021.
Meanwhile, a renowned immigration lawyer, John Falode had earlier predicted that with the official exit of Britain from the European Union (EU), such development will benefit Nigerians and other immigrants from different parts of the world.
Falode, a United Kingdom trained immigration lawyer made the observation while speaking at a public lecture entitled: ‘Immigration and how to settle /work in the UK’ organised by the Ojota Development Foundation (ODF) at the Kosofe Local Government Secretariat in Ojota in Lagos, recently.
Falode stated that before the exit and with Britain as an EU member, Britain did not have control for who comes to EU from other parts of the Union.
The lawyer, therefore, emphasised that with the status quo, there would be a level playing ground for immigrants wishing to migrate to UK.
After three years of division, delay and parliamentary deadlock, the United Kingdom had finally left the EU, bringing an end to almost half a century of Britain’s membership of the continental body.
About the Author
