MUSCAT: Omani citizens and nationals of other GCC countries are exempt from visa requirements to visit the United Kingdom from 2023, the UK’s Home Office said in a statement.
According to the Home Office, Britain will remove the visa requirement for GCC nationals wishing to visit the country, making them the first countries to benefit from the UK’s new visa scheme, the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA).
Travellers from GCC countries will only need to apply online to get the entry permit (ETA).
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ETA, a UK-entry permit document available online, allows travellers from eligible nations to visit Great Britain for several purposes without acquiring a visa.
“This move means that Gulf states will be among the first countries in the world to benefit from ETAs and visa-free travel to the UK,” British Home secretary Priti Patel has said.
The decision is applicable to all six GCC countries including Oman, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia. The ETA scheme is a key part of the UK government’s move to have a fully digital border by the end of 2025.
