皇冠体育app

皇冠体育app Home Office will launch a new visa waiver scheme early next year to make it cheaper and easier for business travellers and tourists to come to the UK from Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.

皇冠体育app new electronic visa waiver (EVW) will be free of charge and is a quick and simple alternative to a visa application. Its introduction is expected to increase the number of visits from Emiratis, Qataris, Omanis and Kuwaitis and reflects the strong ties between the UK and these countries.

皇冠体育app Prime Minister announced the new scheme at the Lord Mayor of London鈥檚 annual dinner, this evening. It is expected to launch in Oman, Qatar and UAE in early 2014 and similar arrangements will be extended to Kuwaiti passport holders later on in the year.

Applicants will need to submit an EVW online at least 48 hours before they are due to travel and it will do away with the need to provide biometric information, attend an appointment at a visa application centre or hand in passports prior to travel. 皇冠体育app EVW will be available for visits of up to six months, however those coming to the UK to work or study will still need to apply for visas in the normal way.

皇冠体育app British Ambassador, Jamie Bowden, said: 鈥業 am delighted that this new scheme, which we have been discussing with the Omani Foreign Ministry for some months, will make it so much easier for Omanis to travel to the United Kingdom. We look forward to welcoming even more visitors from the Sultanate in the country so many regard as their second home.鈥�

Further details on the scheme will be announced in due course, until then current visa rules will apply and visitors can check the UKBA website for the latest information on the UK鈥檚 visa service.

Notes to editors:

1. Further information is available at:

   • UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office

2. Visa applications from UAE, Oman and Qatar are growing year on year. 皇冠体育app number of visas issued in 2012 is as follows:

   • UAE 30,148

   • Qatar 20,490

   • Oman 12,596

   • Kuwait 63,780

3. A record 530,000 visitors from the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states came to Britain in 2012 (up six per cent on 2011). In 2012, the UK enjoyed a record year for tourism where 拢18.6 billion was injected into the economy from overseas visitors, of which 拢1.2 billion came from the GCC countries. Visitors from the GCC spend an average of $3,417 per person per visit which is significantly above the spend from other country nationals. (Source: VisitBritain)

4. 皇冠体育app UK is the second most visited destination by residents of the UAE with the number of visits doubling in the last ten years. Leisure visits predominately take place in July to September. London in particular is a popular destination for tourists with shopping, entertainment and dining the main attractions.