UK offers visa relaxation for citizens from these Islamic countries

LONDON – The UK government has declared that tourists from several Islamic countries would be able to enter the country through the Electronic Travel Authorisation.

The United Kingdom has declared substantial modifications to its visa regulations to enable more effortless entrance for citizens of Jordan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the Emirates) from February 22, 2024.

As per a statement from the British government, these nations will shift to an electronic travel permit system by 2024. With this change, residents of the Gulf countries (Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the Emirates), and Jordan, would need authorization to enter the UK to streamline the entry process.

Additionally, travelers of various age groups must electronically apply for a travel permit, priced at £10, issued for two years.

Furthermore, this ETA scheme is designed to streamline travel procedures, reduce costs, and simplify visa requirements, ensuring that visitors from the Gulf countries and Jordan can travel to the UK with greater ease.

Earlier this year, the UK government unveiled plans to implement a new ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization) scheme by 2025, as part of the digitization of the UK border, aiming to enhance both border security and the customer experience. An ETA, or Electronic Travel Authorization, serves as a digital travel permit for individuals visiting or transiting through the UK without needing a visa for short stays or lacking another UK visa.

Moreover, the visa relaxation for the Gulf countries might bode well for the UK as in 2022, over 790,000 Gulf visitors spent about £2 billion during their stays in the UK.