Also in the news...
Foreign travel advice Indonesia
FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Indonesia.
Foreign travel advice Romania
Warnings and insurance Still current at: 24 April 2024 Updated: 23 April 2024 Latest update: Information related to drug offences and Romanian music festivals (under 'Laws and cultural differences' subheading on the 'Safety and security' page).
Foreign travel advice The Gambia
Warnings and insurance Still current at: 23 April 2024 Updated: 22 April 2024 Latest update: Ferry services between Banjul and Barra have been suspended until further notice; The Islamic Summit of the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) will be held in Banjul on 4-5 May; road closures and delays at Banjul International Airport ('Safety and security' page).
Foreign travel advice China
Warnings and insurance Still current at: 23 April 2024 Updated: 22 April 2024 Latest update: Updated information on flooding (‘Safety and security’ page).
Guidance Living in South Korea
Information for British citizens moving to or living in South Korea, including guidance on residency, healthcare, driving and more.
Five Year Visas for the UK
Some of you will know that an MoU was recently signed between the UK and KSA to make the UK only the second country, behind the US, eligible for 5 year multi-entry business visit visas..
Well the word is out – the first 5 year visas for UK nationals have started to be issued! Our visa services manager received news of our first eligible applicant last week and has now confirmed that these new 5 year visas have successfully been issued this week.
This is great news for the UK and will have an immediate impact on the ease of doing business between the UK and KSA. Because as we so often say, long term face to face relationship building is one of the secrets to success in Saudi Arabia.
Up until now, UK citizens had only been entitled to multi-entry visas valid for a time period of between 90 days and two years.
This news comes off the back of a separate announcement that Saudi Arabia will be implementing a new electronic visa system, called Sharek, which will allow tourists to visit the country temporarily to attend conferences, exhibitions and events such as the Formula E Ad Diriyah E-Prix taking place in Riyadh in December.
These announcements are a continuation of the Vision 2030 plan that is opening up the Kingdom to tourism and investment and diversifying the economy away from its dependence on oil, while ultimately creating a more business-friendly environment for British companies to make the most of the vast opportunities in the marketplace.