UK entry made easy for Emiratis

ABU DHABI // An online campaign to offer guidance to Emiratis about a visa-waiver scheme for travelling to the UK was launched on Monday by the British embassy in the UAE.

The campaign, on the embassy’s Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts, comes ahead of Eid and the holiday season. It will run until mid-August.

The British government introduced the scheme on January 1 last year. Nearly 50,000 Emiratis used the service last year, allowing them to travel in the UK visa-free for up to six months.

The procedure involves completing an online application form at least 48 hours before departure. A printed copy must then be presented upon departure from the UAE and on arrival in the UK.

The system is a straightforward online process and the vast majority of Emiratis who use the service do so without any issues.

The electronic visa waiver (EVW) form must match exactly the name in the passport being used to travel, including any other character, such as hyphens or apostrophes.

The passport number on the form must match the number in the passport.

The form is valid only for the journey being taken so users must ensure that the flight number, point and time of departure and arrival on the form match that of their travel itinerary.

For indirect flights, flight details on the EVW must be of the final flight to the UK.

If EVW users change their travel plans, miss their flight, or choose a different flight, the EVW will not be valid for the new flight.

They must complete a new form with the new travel details. Again, this must be completed at least 48 hours before departure.

The digital campaign also highlights other options available to obtain UK visas. Emiratis, for example, can apply for a multiple-entry UK visa, with validity of up to 10 years.

A new and popular passport passback service allows applicants to keep their passport while their visa is being processed.

For those who need to travel urgently, the UK offers a priority service for three-to-five-day processing and a super-priority visa service, which is open to all visitors.

The super-priority service allows individuals to obtain long-term, multiple-entry visas –as well as visas to study, work or do business in the UK – on the same day as they submit their application.