Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW)

An Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) lets you visit the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, business, study, or medical treatment. If you’re visiting for another reason, such as longer-term study (over 6 months) or work you should check if you need a visa instead. For longer term stays and other visits, you may need a different visa. 

You can get an (EVW) instead of a Visitor Visa if you are a national of:

• Bahrain
• Kuwait
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates

An EVW costs £30 per application and you must apply between 3 months and 48 hours before you travel. Each person travelling needs their own EVW, including children.

If someone applies on your behalf, they must enter their own contact details as well as yours.

To apply you will need:

• your current passport
• an address in the UK where you will stay
• details of your journey, including departure and arrival dates and times

You must enter your personal details so that they match your passport exactly. This includes any punctuation, for example spaces, hyphens, apostrophes, or full stops.

Your travel details must also be exactly right - you will not be allowed to travel if your personal or travel details are wrong.

You need to apply online at the government website: Apply for EVW

You will receive an email within 24 hours with a link to download your EVW if it is successful.

You will need to show your EVW at the UK Border when you travel to the UK. You can print it or show it on an electronic device, such as a phone or tablet.

You cannot use your EVW to:

• work in the UK
• get married or register a civil partnership

Your EVW will only let you enter the UK once.

You must get another EVW or a visa if you want to enter the UK again.

Changes to your travel plans

You must change your travel details on your EVW if you:

• decide to travel at a different time
• leave from or arrive at a different airport, port or train station than planned
• arrive in the UK more than 8 hours later than planned

You will need your EVW number and your date of birth to change your details.

The EVW will be replaced by the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) over the coming year.

In the first instance it will replace Electronic Visa Waivers (EVW) for nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia who will need the ETA to come to the UK once their county enters the scheme. You will still need an EVW until the dates shown below, after which you must have an ETA.

From 15^th November 2023, you will need an ETA if you’re travelling to the UK and you’re a national of Qatar. You’ll be able to apply for an ETA from 25th October.

From 22nd February 2024, you will need an ETA if you’re travelling to the UK and you’re a national of:

• Bahrain
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• Oman
• Saudi Arabia
• United Arab Emirates

You will not need an ETA if you have either:

• a British or Irish passport
• permission to live, work or study in the UK (Indefinite Leave to Remain, EU Settled Status etc)
• a visa to enter the UK (A Standard Visitor Visa, Student Route visa or other work visa etc)

If you’re legally resident in Ireland, and you do not need a visa to visit the UK, you will not need an ETA if you’re entering the UK from either:

• Ireland
• Guernsey
• Jersey
• Isle of Man

You can read more information about the ETA at our website which will be coming soon.