New visa waiver valid from 1st January for UAE citizens
Visa Waiver programme for UAE citizens effective from 1 January, 2014. This allows them to visit the UK for up to six months without a visa.
From 1st January 2014 United Arab Emirates passport holders can travel to the UK with an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) document. This allows them to visit the UK for up to six months without a visa.
An Electronic Visa Waiver is very simple to complete, free of charge and quicker than applying for a visa. There is no requirement to provide biometrics, attend a visa application centre or hand in passports prior to travel. The document is issued immediately via a secure web site and can be obtained online from anywhere in the world for travel to the UK.
Travellers must complete their Electronic Visa Waiver online at least 48 hours before departure and present a printed copy on departure and again on arrival in the UK.
The Electronic Visa Waiver is only valid for a single entry to the UK on the date and time specified. The biographic details on the Electronic Visa Waiver document must match exactly with the holder’s passport.
Those who travel frequently, at short notice or may need to re-enter the UK as part of the same trip are advised to apply for a multi-entry visitor visa or longer term visa. This offers more flexibility and can last up to ten years.
United Arab Emirates passport holders wishing to work, study or visit the UK for longer than six months must obtain a visa and cannot travel on an Electronic Visa Waiver document.
HM Ambassador Dominic Jermey said:
We are delighted to introduce the new Visa Waiver programme for UAE citizens effective from 1 January, 2014. This is the first time the United Kingdom has ever introduced this type of scheme. For me, this just underlines the dynamism and importance of the relationship between the UK and UAE. This is a very exciting innovation for us, strengthening even further the appeal of the UK to Emirati tourists, investors and business partners.
Matt Heath Regional Director Middle East and Pakistan UK Visas and Immigration said:
Each year we welcome ever increasing numbers of Emirati visitors to the UK for business and leisure. The new visa waiver will now make it cheaper and even easier to visit and I look forward to warmly welcoming record numbers of Emirati travellers in 2014.