Monday, Dec 09, 2013
Dubai: As of January 1, 2014, Emiratis will be able to travel to the United Kingdom with an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) document, which allows them to visit the country for up to six months without a visa.
The UK is the second most visited destination by residents of the UAE, with the number of visits doubling in the last 10 years. Visa applications from UAE are growing year on year and the number of visas issued in 2012 from the UAE is 30,148, an increase of 43 per cent (from September 2012 to September 2013).
The introduction of the service will allow Emiratis to apply for an EVW online and free of charge without having to go to a visa application centre or hand in passports prior to travel.
All they have to do is complete their EVW online at least 48 hours before departure and present a printed copy on departure and again on arrival in the UK.
“This is the first time the United Kingdom has ever introduced this type of scheme,” said Ambassador Dominic Jermey. “This is a very exciting innovation for us, strengthening even further the appeal of the UK to Emirati tourists, investors and business partners.”
The EVW is only valid for a single entry to the UK on the date and time specified. The biographical details on the EVW 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, which offers more flexibility and can last up to 10 years.
UAE passport holders wishing to work, study or visit the UK for longer than six months must obtain a visa and cannot travel on an EVW document.
“Each year we welcome ever increasing numbers of Emirati visitors to the UK for business and leisure,” said Matt Heath, Regional Director Middle East and Pakistan UK Visas and Immigration. “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.”
Staff Report
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