Summer in London, a graduation in Manchester or a family visit in Birmingham: the UK is one of the most popular trips from the Gulf. If you live in the UAE or Saudi Arabia, the first question is simple to ask and easy to get wrong. Do you need a UK ETA (electronic travel authorisation) or a Standard Visitor visa?
Your Emirates ID or iqama does not decide it. Your passport does. The official GOV.UK checker starts with one question: your nationality as shown on your passport. Two people who live on the same street in Dubai or Riyadh can need two different things.
Looking up the UK ETA for UAE residents or Saudi residents? This guide explains both routes, with a by-passport table and where to apply for a visa from the UAE or Saudi Arabia. We checked every rule and fee on the official GOV.UK pages listed under Sources on 6 October 2026. Voyfaro does not apply for ETAs or visas.
Quick answer
- Emirati, Saudi, Kuwaiti, Qatari, Bahraini and Omani citizens: for a visit of up to 6 months, you need a UK ETA, not a visa. It costs £20 and you apply on GOV.UK or the official UK ETA app.
- Most other passports common in the Gulf need a Standard Visitor visa. That includes Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Nepali, Filipino, Indonesian, Egyptian, Jordanian, Lebanese, Syrian, Nigerian, Kenyan and Ghanaian passports. The visa costs £135 for up to 6 months.
- US, Canadian, Australian, EU (except Irish), Japanese, South Korean, Malaysian and Singaporean passports: ETA.
- British or Irish citizens, including dual citizens: no ETA or visa. Travel on your British or Irish passport. A dual British citizen cannot get an ETA.
- Living in the UAE or Saudi Arabia does not change the rule. GOV.UK’s list of people who do not need an ETA includes people who live in Ireland and travel from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man, but not residents of any Gulf country.
- Visa applicants apply online, then attend a visa application centre. For both the UAE and Saudi Arabia, GOV.UK’s centre finder links to VFS Global.
- Decision times: an ETA usually takes a day, but allow 3 working days. A visit visa usually takes 3 weeks after your appointment.
Who this guide is for
- Anyone who lives in the UAE or Saudi Arabia and wants to visit the UK for up to 6 months: tourism, family, friends, some business trips or short courses.
- Gulf citizens who want to check the ETA rules before their next trip.
- Expatriate families with mixed passports, for example a parent with an Egyptian passport and a child with a Canadian one.
It does not cover work, long study, settlement or marriage in the UK. Those need a different visa, so check GOV.UK.
Your passport decides, not your residence
The UK keeps two official lists in its Immigration Rules. The ETA national list names the nationalities that need an ETA for a visit. The visa national list names the nationalities that need a visa before they travel. Both lists were last updated on 3 August 2026.
Neither list says anything about where you live. A Saudi iqama, a UAE golden visa, a US green card or a Schengen visa does not move you from one list to the other. GOV.UK does name some groups that do not need an ETA, such as people who already hold a UK visa or UK immigration permission, and people who live in Ireland and travel from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man. Gulf residence is not one of them.
UK ETA or visa: by passport
Based on both official lists, checked on 6 October 2026:
| Your passport | What you need for a UK visit (up to 6 months) | Official fee |
|---|---|---|
| Emirati, Saudi | ETA | £20 |
| Kuwaiti, Qatari, Bahraini, Omani | ETA | £20 |
| US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand | ETA | £20 |
| EU (except Irish), Swiss, Norwegian | ETA | £20 |
| Japanese, South Korean, Malaysian, Singaporean, Bruneian | ETA | £20 |
| Mexican, Brazilian, Argentine, Chilean, Peruvian | ETA | £20 |
| Maldivian, Mauritian, Seychellois | ETA | £20 |
| British or Irish, including dual citizens (for example US and British) | Neither. Travel on your British or Irish passport | None |
| Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Nepali, Afghan | Standard Visitor visa | £135 |
| Filipino, Indonesian, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese (mainland) | Standard Visitor visa | £135 |
| Egyptian, Jordanian, Lebanese, Syrian, Iraqi, Yemeni, Palestinian | Standard Visitor visa | £135 |
| Sudanese, Moroccan, Tunisian, Algerian | Standard Visitor visa | £135 |
| Nigerian, Kenyan, Ghanaian, Ethiopian, Ugandan, South African | Standard Visitor visa | £135 |
| Turkish, Russian, Ukrainian, Uzbek, Kazakh | Standard Visitor visa | £135 |
This table covers common passports, not all of them. Lists can change at short notice. Before you book, run the official checker, Check if you need a UK visa (gov.uk/check-uk-visa).
Dual nationals and mixed-passport families
- Two passports, neither British or Irish: the Immigration Rules say you apply for an ETA with the national passport of a country on the ETA list, and the ETA is valid only when you travel on the passport you applied with. Run the GOV.UK checker for the passport you plan to use, and travel on that same passport.
- Dual British citizens: you cannot get an ETA. Travel on a valid British passport, or on your other passport with a certificate of entitlement to the right of abode.
- Families: each person follows their own passport. A child on a US passport needs an ETA, while a parent on an Indian passport needs a visa. Every traveller, including babies, needs their own ETA or visa.
Route 1: the UK ETA (Gulf, US, EU and other ETA passports)
Gulf nationals have needed an ETA since 22 February 2024 (Qatar since 15 November 2023). Here is what GOV.UK says:
- Fee: £20 per person. You cannot get a refund after you apply. The Home Office fee table that applies from 8 October 2026 keeps it at £20.
- Where to apply: only on GOV.UK (gov.uk/eta) or the official UK ETA app. GOV.UK says you cannot get a faster decision through another website or app.
- What you need: the passport you will travel with, an email address, and a credit or debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
- Decision: usually within a day by email, but it can take up to 3 working days.
- Validity: 2 years, or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner. You can visit for up to 6 months at a time.
- Where it works: the UK, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
- No guarantee: GOV.UK says an ETA does not guarantee entry. A Border Force officer still decides.
- Not for every trip: an ETA covers visits of up to 6 months. If your ETA application is rejected, GOV.UK says you need to apply again. To marry in the UK, get a long-term visit visa, or work, study or stay longer, check GOV.UK for the visa you need.
For the step-by-step process, the app and transit rules, read our full UK ETA guide.
Route 2: the Standard Visitor visa (visa-national passports)
If your passport is on the visa list, you need a Standard Visitor visa before you travel. You cannot use an ETA instead.
Fees
| Visa | Official fee |
|---|---|
| Standard Visitor visa, up to 6 months | £135 |
| Long-term visit visa, 2 years | £506 |
| Long-term visit visa, 5 years | £903 |
| Long-term visit visa, 10 years | £1,128 |
Fees are from the Home Office fee table that applies from 8 October 2026, which lists no change to these amounts. A long-term visit visa still lets you stay up to 6 months per visit. If you are under 18 when you apply, GOV.UK says a long-term visa is only valid until 6 months after you turn 18.
How to apply from the UAE or Saudi Arabia
- Check your route with gov.uk/check-uk-visa. Choose your nationality as shown on your passport.
- Apply online on GOV.UK. The earliest you can apply is 3 months before you travel.
- Pay the visa fee as part of the online application.
- Book and attend your appointment at a visa application centre, where you give your fingerprints and photo and provide your documents. GOV.UK’s “Find a visa application centre” page links to VFS Global for both the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. Use that link to see the locations and opening times.
- Get your passport back. GOV.UK says you get your passport or travel document back on the same day.
- Wait for the decision. GOV.UK says you will usually get a decision within 3 weeks, and that you should not book travel until you have it.
GOV.UK says you may be able to pay for a faster decision. The Home Office fee table lists £500 for the priority visa service and £1,000 for super priority. GOV.UK’s faster-decision page does not confirm which visit visa applications made outside the UK can use these services. Whether either is offered depends on where you apply, so check the VFS Global page for the UAE or Saudi Arabia (linked from GOV.UK’s centre finder) before you pay.
Documents for UAE and Saudi residents
The only document GOV.UK lists as mandatory is a valid passport or travel document. Its guide to supporting documents suggests evidence such as:
- Proof that you live legally in the UAE or Saudi Arabia. GOV.UK asks for this if you are not a national of the country you apply in, or your right to live there is not in your passport. For expatriates this usually means your residence visa or iqama
- A letter from your employer about your job, salary and how long you have worked there
- Bank statements showing you can pay for the trip. GOV.UK lists bank statements issued more than 1 year before you apply as less useful evidence
- Old passports that show your travel history
- Full English translations, which the Home Office can independently verify, of any documents in Arabic or another language. GOV.UK says each translation must confirm it is accurate and give the translator’s full name, signature, contact details and the date
GOV.UK lists hotel and flight bookings as less useful evidence, apart from flights when you are transiting. Submitting any document does not guarantee a visa.
Transit through the UK
- ETA passports: you do not need an ETA if you change planes without passing through UK border control (airside). If you go through border control, you do.
- Visa-national passports: you may need a Direct Airside Transit visa (£41.50), or a Visitor in Transit visa (£74.50) if you pass through border control and leave within 48 hours. GOV.UK says you do not need a transit visa if you already hold a Standard Visitor visa, among other exemptions. Run the GOV.UK checker for your exact route.
Common mistakes and scams
- Thinking residence counts. A UAE residence visa or Saudi iqama does not make an Indian, Egyptian or Nigerian passport holder eligible for an ETA.
- Paying an unofficial ETA website. The official fee is £20 on GOV.UK or the UK ETA app. GOV.UK warns that other websites may charge more and tells you to avoid sites that imitate government services.
- Paying for “guaranteed” visas or fast appointments. Only the Home Office decides. If you think you have been targeted by a visa scam, GOV.UK asks you to report it to Report Fraud.
- Dual British citizens applying for an ETA. You cannot get one. Travel on your British passport.
- Travelling on a different passport. An ETA stays with the passport you applied with. If you renew your passport, you need a new ETA.
- Booking non-refundable flights before the visa decision. GOV.UK says not to book travel until you have a decision.
- Using a Schengen visa for the UK. The UK is not in the Schengen area. A Schengen visa does not let you visit the UK, and a UK ETA or visa does not cover Schengen countries. See our Schengen visa travel insurance guide.
- Forgetting the children. Every traveller needs their own ETA or visa.
Planning your UK trip from the Gulf
- Flights: compare routes from Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam to London and other UK airports. Compare flights. Until your visa is issued, choose refundable fares.
- Hotels: free-cancellation rooms give you room to move if your decision takes longer. Compare hotels.
- Mobile data: an eSIM can give you data for maps and rail apps when you land. See eSIM options.
- Travel insurance: a policy can cover medical costs, delays and lost baggage, depending on its terms. Compare travel insurance.
How Voyfaro can help
- ETA and visas: we point you to the official GOV.UK pages and explain them in plain English. We do not apply for, issue or guarantee ETAs or visas, and we do not book visa appointments. See our visa guidance.
- Bookings: we help you compare flights, hotels, eSIMs and travel insurance from partners we reach through the Travelpayouts affiliate network.
- You stay in control: you book and pay directly with the partner. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See our affiliate disclosure.
- Questions? Contact us with where you live, your passports, your dates and who is travelling. Asking is free.
FAQ
Do UAE residents need a UK ETA?
Only if their passport is on the ETA list. Emirati citizens need an ETA. A resident of the UAE with, for example, an Indian, Filipino, Egyptian or Pakistani passport needs a Standard Visitor visa. A resident with a US, Canadian or EU passport (other than Irish) needs an ETA.
Can Saudi iqama holders get a UK ETA?
Not because of the iqama. The iqama does not change what your passport needs. Saudi citizens use the ETA. An iqama holder with a Bangladeshi, Jordanian or Nigerian passport, for example, needs a Standard Visitor visa.
How much does a UK ETA cost for Emiratis and Saudis?
£20 per person, on GOV.UK or the UK ETA app. It lasts 2 years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner, and you cannot get a refund after you apply.
Where do I apply for a UK visa in the UAE or Saudi Arabia?
You apply online on GOV.UK, then attend an appointment at a visa application centre. GOV.UK’s “Find a visa application centre” page links to VFS Global for both countries. GOV.UK says the centre could be in another country, so check the locations before you book.
How long does a UK visit visa take from Dubai or Riyadh?
GOV.UK says you will usually get a decision within 3 weeks after your appointment. You can apply up to 3 months before you travel. GOV.UK says not to book travel until you have a decision.
I have a US green card or Schengen visa. Can I get a UK ETA?
Not if your passport is on the UK visa list. Neither list makes an exception for these documents, so an Indian or Filipino passport holder with a green card still needs a UK visa.
Can Voyfaro get my UK visa or ETA approved?
No. Only the Home Office decides. We point you to the official pages and help you compare flights, hotels, eSIMs and insurance for your trip.
Sources
Official pages we checked on 6 October 2026:
- GOV.UK, Get an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to visit the UK (£20 fee, 6-month visits, UK, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man, every family member needs an ETA, warning about imitation websites, no guarantee of entry)
- GOV.UK, Apply for an ETA (what you need, decision within a day or up to 3 working days, 2-year validity, no refunds, no faster decision through other websites, apply again if rejected)
- GOV.UK, Check your electronic travel authorisation (ETA) (new ETA needed if your passport has expired or changed)
- GOV.UK, Immigration Rules Appendix Electronic Travel Authorisation (apply with a national passport of a country on the ETA list; ETA valid only when you travel on the passport used in the application)
- GOV.UK, When you do not need an ETA (British and Irish citizens, UK visa holders, dual British or Irish citizens cannot get an ETA, Ireland residents, airside transit)
- GOV.UK, Immigration Rules Appendix ETA National List (ETA nationalities and start dates, including Qatar from 15 November 2023 and Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE from 22 February 2024; updated 3 August 2026)
- GOV.UK, Immigration Rules Appendix Visitor: Visa national list (visa nationalities, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Nigeria; updated 3 August 2026)
- GOV.UK, Check if you need a UK visa (official checker; first question asks for your nationality as shown on your passport)
- GOV.UK, Visit the UK as a Standard Visitor (visa, ETA or neither depending on nationality, what visitors can and cannot do, up to 6 months)
- GOV.UK, Apply for a Standard Visitor visa (£135 and long-term visa fees, apply online, check if you can get a faster decision, fingerprints and photo at a visa application centre that could be in another country, earliest 3 months before travel, decision usually within 3 weeks, passport back the same day, under-18 rule)
- GOV.UK, Find a visa application centre (links to VFS Global for the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia)
- UK Visas and Immigration, Visiting the UK: guide to supporting documents (passport mandatory, proof of legal residence, full translations that can be independently verified, bank statements over 1 year old and bookings as less useful evidence)
- GOV.UK, Visa processing times: applications outside the UK (3 weeks for visit and transit visas; do not book travel before a decision; updated 9 September 2026)
- GOV.UK, Get a faster decision on your visa or settlement application (£500 priority and £1,000 super priority fees; its eligibility detail covers applications from inside the UK)
- UK Visas and Immigration, Home Office immigration and nationality fees, 8 October 2026 (ETA £20, visit visas £135 to £1,128, transit visas £41.50 and £74.50, priority £500 and super priority £1,000, all unchanged)
- GOV.UK, Visa to pass through the UK in transit (transit visa exemptions, including Standard Visitor visa and ETA holders, 48-hour rule)
- GOV.UK, Report visa and immigration scams (report to Report Fraud)