MUSCAT : Nationals from the GCC countries and Jordan will soon be required to pay just £10 to apply for an ETA permit, which allows them to visit the UK multiple times over a two-year period.

As per the announcement on the official Twitter account of the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Development, the ETA system is expected to begin for Qatari citizens in October 2023 and for citizens of the rest of the GCC countries and Jordan in February 2024, before expanding its application throughout the world.

The transition to the ETA system means canceling visa requirements for citizens of the GCC countries and Jordan, and thus equating them with other visitors, such as those from the United States and Australia.

The application process for obtaining an ETA will be simple and it will be completely digital using a mobile application. To apply, travelers need to provide personal and biometric details, such as provide a digital photo, and answer a number of appropriate questions.

Earlier this year, the British government announced the start of the new ETA system in the context of its endeavor to digitize UK border crossings by 2025 to enhance border security and the experience of visitors coming through it. The ETA is a digital pass for travelers visiting the UK or transiting through the UK who do not need a visa for short visits, or who do not currently hold another UK visa.

By reducing visa costs and requirements, this e-visit permit program will ensure that visitors from the Gulf countries and from Jordan can visit the UK with ease, strengthening business and tourism links between our countries. As per the available figures, more than 790,000 visitors from the Gulf countries visited the UK last year and spent two billion pounds during their stay there.

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