Travelers from Saudi and Bahrain can now enter the United Kingdom (UK) without providing biometric information, visiting an application center, or handing in their passports before the trip.
From June 1st, 2022, Saudi and Bahrain will join other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in attaining electronic visa waiver status that lasts up to six months, to travel to the UK.
With the visa waiver, Saudis will no longer have to make an appointment with a visa application center, hand in their passport in advance of travel, or provide biometric information such as photos and fingerprints. Additionally, the waiver will cost a nominal fee in comparison to the previous visa cost of $125.
Eligible individuals can provide notification of travel with an electronic visa waiver up to three months before travel and as late as 48 hours before travel.
In 2013, the UK Home Office launched a new visa waiver scheme for travelers from Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Kuwait.
Saudis make up a notable group of the tourists who visit the UK capital, London annually — consistently amongst the most visited cities in the world.
Over 100,000 Saudis flock to the UK annually, a 2020 survey by Statista reported.
