Visitors from GCC states can now look forward to a more seamless travel experience when visiting the UK.
Starting February 2024, visitors from GCC states and Jordan will be able to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) ahead of their trip, ensuring they meet the necessary security checks and requirements for entry into the UK.
The ETA scheme will entirely replace the current Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) scheme, which required visitors from GCC states to pay a higher cost for a single-use visit.
With the ETA scheme, visitors can apply in advance and receive a swift decision on their application, making travel to the UK more accessible and straightforward.
Qatari visitors will be the first to be able to apply for an ETA in October 2023, ahead of the rest of the GCC states and Jordan.
By February 2024, visitors from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE can apply for an ETA and enjoy a more streamlined travel experience.
According to the UK government website, the ETA scheme will strengthen border security by ensuring robust security checks are conducted on every visitor pre-travel.
As part of the application process, visitors will need to provide biometric details and answer a set of suitability questions to prevent dangerous individuals, such as criminals, from entering the UK.
Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said: “Strengthening our border remains one of the government’s top priorities. ETAs will enhance our border security by increasing our knowledge about those seeking to come to the UK and preventing the arrival of those who pose a threat. It will also improve travel for legitimate visitors, with those visiting from Gulf Cooperation Council states being among the first to benefit.”
The cost of an ETA will be in line with similar international schemes, and visitors can make multiple visits to the UK over a two-year validity period.
British and Irish nationals will not need an ETA to travel to the UK, but individuals arriving in the UK via Ireland will still be subject to UK immigration requirements, including the need for visitors to have an ETA.
The ETA scheme is a positive step forward in improving travel for legitimate visitors from the GCC states, ensuring they can enter the UK with ease and convenience.
With the introduction of biometric details and suitability questions, the UK government can strengthen border security and prevent dangerous individuals from entering the country, making it a safer place for all who visit or reside there.
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