The online tourist e-visa service launched by Australia for UAE nationals underpins the confidence Canberra has in citizens from this part of the world. It also demonstrates Australia most emphatically does not believe UAE nationals constitute a security risk.
"Significantly, we do not subject those seeking to visit Australia to being fingerprinted," Peter Linford, consul general, said yesterday. He explained that the pilot project allows nationals anywhere in the world to lodge an application online for a multiple-entry, year-long tourist visa.
The submission of application and payment through credit cards can be made by any third party - including tourist agents.
"The idea was to make the entire process of getting visas smoother, easier and more friendly," he said. "The project has been launched on a trial basis and will be monitored for six months before, possibly, being extended to other nationalities and regions as well."
The project claims a double, first in making the UAE the first country in which an electronic tourist visa application has been introduced, and second, making Australia's immigration department the first worldwide to implement such a service.
Linford added the initiative, launched earlier this week, forms part of overall services to make visa procedures simpler, including a shift to more spacious premises in Dubai, manned by more staff. Australia's UAE offices handle all visa-related issues throughout the GCC.
"Our visa issuing system is based on a non-discriminatory immigration policy - meaning all applicants everywhere will be assessed in exactly the same way, through a computer-generated process. This entails a 7-9 day lag in process times for tourist visas, and a maximum 28-day wait in issuing student visas."
The country also offers a five-year multiple entry visa, particularly for businessmen. Linford clarified delays in visa issues are more due to the computer-driven nature of the documentation processing system, rather than security concerns.
Other concerns deal with overstay issues, and here Australia's experience has been UAE - as other GCC - nationals form the smallest percentage of such offenders.
"Particularly on the tourism front, this is in fact the fastest growing region for us: despite only an estimated 4,500 Australians living in the UAE, with 70 firms from Down Under having set up base here, this year should see 15,000 Australians coming through. Further, we expect to issue around 9,000 tourist visas from February to end-July."
Consular official Joseph Petyanszki added the number of student visas likely to be issued during this financial year is also set to soar to 3,000, from a mere 190 in 2000.
"Interest in Australian education has risen throughout the Gulf, which is why we have, for instance, firmed up a pact with Oman's Ministry of Education, whereby we ourselves will travel to Muscat regularly to process student visa applications. "We are also willing to do so in Sharjah, and elsewhere," he added.
Saeed Obaid Al Jarwan, director general, Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry, welcomed the proposal, while explaining the Australian team was in Sharjah yesterday at the chamber's behest.
"Our international relations cell is working hard to improve links with the Australian - as all other - diplomatic corps. Moreover, national families from Sharjah form a significant proportion of UAE holidaymakers to Australia, which is why we took the lead in inviting the consular team here to explain the initiative."
Yesterday's meeting was also attended by several travel agents who felt the surge in regular flights to Australia augured well for the future.
Gulf News
