The United Arab Emirates was added on Monday to the list of nations that can use the UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system, which will end the need for visas for UAE passport holders traveling to the UK beginning in 2023.
With the historical news, UAE citizens will no longer need a visa to visit the UK, bringing the regulations into line with those of other essential allies of the UK, such as the USA and Canada. The decision would greatly benefit the numerous UAE nationals who visit the UK each year and further establish the UK as one of the most well-liked tourism destinations for Emiratis.
The essential commercial and diplomatic connections between the two nations will also be strengthened by providing the UAE with more access to the UK.
One of the UK’s most significant trading partners in the area and one of the UK exports’ fastest-growing markets is the UAE. The UAE and UK have strengthened their cooperation in a number of areas, including the transition to a sustainable energy source, environmental protection, educational reform, and cultural advancement, through the signing of the Partnership for the Future and the Sovereign Investment Partnership last year.
H.E. Mansoor Abulhoul, UAE Ambassador to the UK, commented: “Achieving greater ease of travel for Emiratis seeking to visit the UK has been one of our top priorities. Their travel to the UK for leisure or business will be hugely simplified. Today’s historic achievement will also serve to strengthen the close diplomatic relations between the UAE and the UK and spur further growth in our economies. It indicates the high regard in which the UAE is held in the UK and internationally.”
The UK Home Office announced the decision, which is part of the UK Government’s commitment to an entirely digital border by the end of 2025 and has been extended to additional Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations.
UK Home Secretary Priti Patel commented that the UAE and other Gulf states “will be among the first countries in the world to benefit from ETAs and visa-free travel to the UK.”
UAE nationals traveling to the UK can still use Electronic Visa Waivers, which let them apply for a waiver online for each trip to the UK until the ETA system is implemented in 2023.
UK entry requirements for UAE nationals
If you are a citizen of Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, or the United Arab Emirates, you can apply for an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) in place of a visa. The cost of an EVW is £30.
You can travel to the UK with an EVW for up to six months for leisure, work, study, or medical care. Check to see if you require a visa instead if you’re traveling for another reason.
Between three months and the day before you go, you must apply.
To apply you need:
- your current passport
- an address in the UK where you will stay
- details of your journey, including departure and arrival dates and times
EVW application link
Within 24 hours, you’ll receive an email with a link to download your EVW. When visiting the UK, present your EVW. You can print it off or display it on a phone, tablet, or other electronic devices.
You cannot use your EVW to:
- work in the UK
- get married or register a civil partnership
- You may only enter the UK once with your EVW. If you want to enter the UK again, you must obtain a new EVW or a visa.
