UK Electronic Visa Waiver Introduced for Oman, Qatar and UAE

Passport holders of Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates can now visit the UK for up to six months with an electronic visa waiver (EVW). The scheme is effective from 1 January 2014 and is open to those visiting the UK for tourism, business or study purposes. However, an EVW cannot be used if the traveller intends to study or stay in the UK for more than six months, work, or get married or register a civil partnership in the UK.

The EVW can be obtained free of charge by registering online and completing the electronic form with arrival and departure details and other traveller information. The EVW form must be completed at least 48 hours before departure in order to be effective. A paper copy of the completed form will then need to be presented at the departure port and again on arrival in the UK. Each EVW form is only valid for a single entry into the UK.

The EVW scheme will be welcome news for many travellers as it eliminates the requirement to provide biometric information (photographs and fingerprints), attend a visa application centre or hand in passports before travelling to the UK. However, in some cases, obtaining a visa will continue to be the best option. For example, a visa may be more convenient for frequent visitors to the UK or for those who will re-enter the UK multiple times as part of the same trip. Persons with unspent criminal convictions or who have previously been refused entry or deported from the UK would also be advised to obtain a visa rather than rely on the EVW scheme.