Get The Visibility Your Company Needs
Reduce compliance risks and mobility costs while managing individual and project-related travel with ImmiSMART: the solution that unifies your travel and mobility programs.
UNITED KINGDOM – ETA for Gulf and Jordanian Visitors
June 16, 2023
The UK Government has recently published further information regarding the Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) system, which is due to be phased in from late October this year. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nationals and Jordanian nationals will be required to pay £10 to apply for an ETA, which will allow them to visit the UK multiple times over a two-year period.
The ETA fee is much lower than the current costs incurred by nationals of these countries to travel to the UK. Currently, Gulf nationals pay £30 for a UK Electronic Visa Waiver EVW, while Jordanians pay £100 per visit, both of which allow a maximum stay in the UK of 6 months. In contrast, an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), which costs no more than £10, will allow multiple visits to the UK within a two-year validity period.
Moving to the ETA scheme means that visa requirements for citizens of the GCC and Jordan will be in line with other visitors, such as those from the US and Australia.
This reflected the desire of the respective governments to strengthen people’s ties among the countries, and help contribute to the UK economy. According to the gov.uk website, visitors from the Gulf are hugely important to the UK economy, with more than 790,000 of them spending £2 billion during their stay in the UK last year.
Newland Chase Insights
If you have any compliance queries on the above or which are more nuanced please contact us directly on [email protected]. For general advice and information on immigration and business travel to the UK, please contact us.
