Before you travel to a foreign country, the most important thing you need is a travel authorization - unless you are from a country that enjoys visa exemption, and the same goes for the United Kingdom.
The UK government offers different types of visa documents for different purposes, including tourist visas, transit visas, as well as business visas. Recently, the UK has also started the visa waiver program, allowing citizens to enter the country visa applying for a traditional paper or stamp visa.
Electronic Visa Waiver - An Overview
In the past, foreign nationals were required to apply for a traditional paper visa to enter the United Kingdom. However, now the UK government has started the electronic visa waiver (EVW). The following countries are eligible for an EVW:
United Arab Emirates
Saudi Arabia
Qatar
Oman
Kuwait
Bahrain
The best thing about a UK EVW is that you can apply for it from the comfort of your home. Unlike a traditional UK visa, applicants can apply for a UK electronic visa waiver online. No need to visit the UK embassy or consulate office. No need to follow complicated steps. No need to schedule a visa interview. All you need to do is visit VisaHQ, select your citizenship, and apply for an EVW.
Validity Period
An electronic visa waiver allows a holder to enter the country for tourism and business purposes, including:
Visit relatives
Meet with business associates
Attend conferences and meetings
Explore the country
Spend vacations
An EVW is a single-entry travel document that allows a holder to stay in the country for a maximum of 180 days.
Required Documents
To apply for a UK EVW, you're required to have some necessary documents, also known as the visa waiver requirements. Luckily, you only need to fulfill a handful of visa requirements, including:
Valid passport - an applicant must have a clear, signed passport copy with at least 2 blank pages for stamps. Plus, make sure your passport stays valid for at least 6 months from the date of application submission.
E-mail address - to submit your application, you'll need a valid and active email address. Your email will be linked electronically to your passport. Upon approval, you'll receive your e-visa waiver via email.
Means of payment - you'll need to pay the embassy fee as well as the visa service fee to get your travel authorization. As this entire process is streamlined, you will need online payment methods, such as a debit card, credit card, or PayPal account.
Depending on your nationality and the purpose of your visit, you might ask to submit some additional supporting documents. Therefore, it's recommended to visit VisaHQ and check the UK visa requirements for your citizenship before you start the application process.
How To Apply For A UK Electronic Visa Waiver?
Unlike a traditional paper or stamp visa, you don’t need to visit the UK embassy to apply for a visa waiver. An electronic visa waiver is designed to make the application process simple and fast. So, you can apply for an e-visa waiver from the comfort of your home. All you need is a stable internet connection and a laptop or mobile device.
To apply online for an e-visa waiver, you need to follow the following 3 steps:
Fill out the EVW application form
Pay the EVW fee
Submit your online form
That's it! This entire process can be done within 10 minutes. Afterwards, the UK embassy will process your application and you'll get your approved EVW via email!
Application Form
To fill out the EVW form, you'll need to provide travel, passport, contact, and personal details, such as:
Name and surname
Date of birth
Nationality
Phone number
Email address
Passport number
Passport issue and expiry date
Travel details
During this step, you need to be extra careful. Before you submit your application, make sure to double-check your provided information. If there are errors or mistakes in your form, your EVW will be delayed or denied.
Processing Time
The average processing time for an EVW is 3-4 business days. However, due to high demands and secondary checks, you might need to wait a little longer. Therefore, it's recommended to apply for an e-visa waiver at least 1-2 weeks prior to intended departure and arrival dates.
Travel To UK - Entry Requirements
Keep in mind that an EVW does not guarantee your entry to the country. The immigration officials have the final say. Therefore, fulfill all the entry requirements while traveling to the United Kingdom.
You can use an EVW to visit the UK for tourism, transit, and business purposes. So, if you want to work in the UK, you must apply for a traditional visa. Moreover, if you change your travel plans, you must modify your EVW form as well!