From 2023 UAE nationals will not need a UK visit visa

According to a directive from the United Kingdom home office, from 2023 UAE nationals will not need a UK visit visa to enter the Kingdom.

The directive was announced yesterday, June 27 by the Home Office of the United Kingdom and shared via Twitter by UAE UK Embassy.

In the statement, it was noted that from next year onwards, UAE citizens will no longer require a UK visit visa to travel to the United Kingdom.

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Existing travel and visa restrictions will be removed as the UAE has been added to a list of countries eligible on the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system.

1? UK TRAVEL UPDATE ?
The UAE has been added to the UK’s list of countries eligible for its Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, removing existing visa restrictions.

From 2023, Emirati nationals will no longer need a visa to visit the UK.
— UAE Embassy UK (@UAEEmbassyUK) June 27, 2022

It is expected that the UK ETA system will work similarly to entry permits for USA and Canada whereby visitors must complete an online document (potentially with a small payment) prior to their arrival into the country. Applicants must submit several levels of detail; passport information, travel details and reason for entry (business, pleasure, study etc).

Once a passenger’s details have been submitted online, the application is processed and reviewed by government authorities and a response is usually given within 48-72 hours.

After the ETA visa waiver has been approved, it entitles the holder a single entry into the country. Visitors will generally be allowed to spend 180 days (6 months) in the UK and to visit any part of the country.

view of London, which UAE Nationals will be able to visit without a UK visit visa

The addition of the UAE to the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system, means that Emiratis and UAE passport holders will no longer need a visa to enter the country from 2023.

In the meantime, Emirati nationals travelling to the UK can use electronic visa waivers. This means that they will just need to complete an online waiver for each visit to the UK.

UK Home Secretary Priti Patel said that the UAE and other GCC countries “will be among the first countries in the world to benefit from ETAs and visa-free travel to the UK.”

The move is expected to ease travel to the UK for UAE nationals and stands as a testament to the larger economic and diplomatic relationship between the countries.

The move comes in sync with the UK government’s plans to make the country’s borders fully digital by the end of 2025.