UK electronic visa waiver introduced for Oman, Qatar and UAE

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From 1 January 2014 passport holders of Oman, Qatar and United Arab Emirates can visit the UK for up to 6 months with an electronic visa waiver.

From 1 January 2014, if you hold a passport from United Arab Emirates, Qatar or Oman you can visit the UK (for tourism, business or study purposes) for up to six months with an electronic visa waiver (EVW).

An EVW form can be completed online; it is free of charge and quicker than applying for a visa. You do not need to provide biometric information (photo and fingerprints), attend a visa application centre or hand in your passport in advance of travel.

You cannot travel on an EVW if you wish to:

• study or stay in the UK for more than six months
• work; or
• get married or register a civil partnership in the UK

What you need to know

• an EVW can be completed up to 3 months before the travel date and must be completed at least 48 hours before departure to the UK
• each traveller must present a paper copy of their EVW at the departure port (air, sea or train) and again on arrival in the UK. Electronic copies on phones, tablets or personal computers will not be accepted
• any traveller without an EVW for the journey they are taking or a valid visa will not be allowed to depart
• each EVW document is only valid for a single entry to the UK

How to complete an EVW

You can fill in an EVW form at Visa4UK, our online applications system. Anyone can help you to complete the form, but it is your responsibility to check that the information is accurate and correct.

You first need to register with your personal details and then log in. The web site provides you with an option of applying for a visa or an EVW if you are eligible. If you decide to complete an EVW you must provide details on:

• your port of departure, including time, date and plane/train/ship number
• your arrival in the UK, including time and date; and
• your departure from the UK including time, date and plane/train/ship number

The personal details on the EVW form must exactly match those shown in the passport you use to travel to the UK.

On the EVW form you must specify details of your journey to the UK. If you are visiting the UK as part of a multi-leg trip, you must include details of the last leg of your journey to the UK. If you leave the UK and want to re-enter, you will need a separate EVW for that journey.

Once an EVW form is successfully submitted, you must complete the signature and declaration sections. You will receive confirmation that the form has been submitted by email which contains a link to the EVW document which you can save and print immediately or at a later date. You must take a printed copy with you when you depart.

Travelling on a visa

If you are a frequent visitor to the UK, travel at short notice or want to re-enter the UK multiple times as part of the same trip you may prefer to choose to travel on a visit visa to meet your needs. Visit visas are available for durations of up to ten years.

We strongly advise you to apply for a visa before travelling to the UK if you have:

• unspent criminal convictions in any country, including the UK
• previously been refused entry, deported or otherwise removed from the UK
• breached the terms of any previous entry to the UK – for example, by working illegally or staying in the UK after permission to stay expired
• previously refused a visa on last application; or been warned by a UK Immigration official that you should obtain a visa before travelling to the UK

If you are passing through the UK on the way to another country, please consult the In transit through the UK section.

Further information on EVW

Once an EVW form is successfully submitted, you must complete the signature and declaration sections. You will receive confirmation that the form has been submitted by email which contains a link to the EVW document. You can save and print this immediately or at a later date.

If any of the details in the EVW change after you have submitted your form, including the departure time you originally stated, you must complete and print a new EVW document. You must do this at least 48 hours before you depart. However, once you have completed one EVW form you can create a template saved within your customer account making it quicker and easier for you to amend.

An EVW form can be completed online in any location with an internet connection.

Each EVW is only valid for a single entry to the UK. When completing your EVW form, you must include details of your journey to the UK. If you are on a multi-leg journey then you must provide details of the last part of the journey before you arrive in the UK.

Each visitor needs to complete a new EVW form for each visit to the UK including children.

Children travelling to the UK without a parent or guardian may be required to provide written evidence of parental consent to the Border Force Officer at the UK border. Further guidance on accompanied and unaccompanied child visitors can be found in child requirements guidance

In addition to your EVW document, you must also present your passport on departure and again on arrival in the UK. The EVW document will replace the requirement to complete a landing card on arrival.

gov.uk