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UK starts visa-free entry for several Islamic countries

UK government has announced that starting February 22, 2024 it has allowed visa-free entry to visitors from several Islamic countries

By Murtaza Ali Shah
December 31, 2023
In this picture, the UK flag can be seen. — AFP/File
In this picture, the UK flag can be seen. — AFP/File

LONDON: The UK government has announced that starting February 22, 2024 it has allowed visa-free entry to visitors from several Islamic countries.

The UK has announced significant changes to its visa policies, aiming to facilitate easier entry for citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations and Jordan.

Travellers from Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates will no longer need visa for visitors. The nationals of these countries will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter the UK from February 2024. Travellers from Qatar are already entering the UK on ETA after November 15, 2023.

A statement released by the British government said the move towards an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system is poised to simplify the entry process, doing away with the necessity of obtaining a visit visa. Under this new system, tourists of all age groups will be required to electronically apply for a travel permit, priced at £10, which will then be issued for their travel purposes to last for two years. This strategic shift in visa regulations aims to streamline entry procedures, fostering smoother and more accessible travel for citizens of these nations intending to visit the United Kingdom.

Earlier this year, the UK government announced plans to introduce a new ETA scheme as part of a digitisation of the UK border by 2025 to further enhance border security and the customer experience.

An ETA is a digital permission to travel for those visiting or transiting through the UK who do not need a visa for short stays, or who do not currently hold another UK visa.

By cutting costs and visa requirements, the ETA scheme will ensure visitors from the Gulf states and Jordan to enjoy travelling with ease to the UK, boosting business and tourism links between these countries, the UK govt said in a statement. Gulf visitors are highly valuable to the UK economy, with over 790,000 Gulf visitors spending £2 billion during their stays in the UK in 2022.