LONDON — The UK’s new Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) scheme will make travel to Britain cheaper for visitors from Saudi Arabia, the Gulf states and Jordan.

Nationals of Saudi Arabia, other GCC states and Jordan will be required to pay £10 only to apply for an ETA, which will allow them to visit the UK multiple times over a two-year period.

GCC nationals currently pay £30 per visit to the UK under the Electronic Visa Wavier (EVW) scheme and Jordanian nationals £100 for a visit visa.

The new scheme is set to launch for Qatari nationals in October 2023, and for the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council states and Jordan in February 2024 ahead of a worldwide expansion throughout 2024.

Earlier this year, the UK government announced plans to introduce a new ETA scheme as part of the digitization of the UK border by 2025 to further enhance border security and the customer experience. An ETA is a digital permission to travel for those visiting or transiting through the UK who do not need a visa for short stays, or who do not currently hold another UK visa.

The move to the ETA scheme means the visa requirement will be removed for nationals from GCC states and Jordan, bringing the requirements for them to visit the UK in line with other visitors, such as those from the US and Australia.

The application process for an ETA will be simple and fast to complete, with the process being entirely digital via a mobile phone app. To apply, individuals will need to provide biographic and biometric details such as a digital photograph and answer a set of suitability questions. — Agencies