Jungtinės Karalystės ETA reikalavimai Saudo Arabijos ir Emyratų keliautojams 2026 m.: išsamus kontrolinis sąrašas

Įstojimo į JK reikalavimai Saudo Arabijos ir Emyratų piliečiams 2026 m.

Saudi and Emirati passport holders do not need a visa for a short trip to the UK, but they do need an approved electronic travel authorisation (ETA). Gulf nationals were among the first to join the scheme: under the Immigration Rules (Appendix ETA National List), nationals of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman have needed an ETA for travel on or after 22 February 2024, and Qatar joined first, from 15 November 2023. Since 2026 m. vasario 25 d. the requirement has been fully enforced at check-in.

Key facts: the UK ETA costs 20 svarų sterlingų asmeniui, lasts 2 years or until your passport expires (whichever is sooner) and lets you make multiple trips of up to 6 months each. Visitors of 85 nationalities need an ETA (Home Office figure). An ETA is not a visa and does not guarantee entry to the UK (sources: GOV.UK, Vidaus reikalų ministerija).

Klausimas	Answer for Saudi and Emirati travellers
Visa or ETA?	ETA – no visa needed for visits of up to 6 months
Oficialus mokestis	£20 per person, children included
Galiojimas	2 years or until the passport expires
Kiekvieno pobūvio trukmė	Iki 6 mėnesių
Sprendimas	Usually within a day; allow up to 3 working days
Kur kreiptis	Official UK ETA app or online via GOV.UK
Required since	22 February 2024 (fully enforced from 25 February 2026)

ETA Requirements Checklist for Saudi and Emirati Travellers

GOV.UK lists the same essentials whether you use the app or the website. Have these ready before you start:

• The passport you will travel with – the ETA is linked electronically to this passport, and you must travel on it.
• An email address – the decision is sent by email.
• A payment method – a credit or debit card, Apple Pay or Google Pay.
• Photos – a photo of your face that follows the rules for digital photos (see our JK ETA nuotraukos reikalavimai), plus a photo of your passport if you apply online. In the app, you use your phone’s camera to scan your passport and your face.
• Honest answers to the suitability questions – if you have a criminal record or have been refused entry to the UK before, GOV.UK suggests applying for a Standard Visitor visa instead.
• The £20 fee – it rose from £16 to £20 on 8 April 2026.

Who Does Not Need a UK ETA?

Not every Saudi and Emirati traveller needs one. According to GOV.UK, you do not need an ETA if, for example:

• you are also a British or Irish citizen – travel on that passport (the Home Office strongly advises dual British citizens to carry a valid British passport)
• you already have a UK visa, or permission to live, work or study in the UK – including settled or pre-settled status
• you live in Ireland and are travelling from Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man
• you are changing planes airside without passing through UK border control

If you are unsure, use the official patikrinkite, ar jums reikalinga UK viza tool, or read our guide Kam reikalingas Jungtinės Karalystės ETA?.

JK ETA mokestis Saudo Arabijos ir Emyratų piliečiams: 20 svarų sterlingų 2026 m.

The official fee is 20 svarų sterlingų asmeniui whether you apply in the app or online, and it is not refundable. It was £16 until the Home Office fee changes took effect on 8 April 2026. There is no reduced rate for children, so a family pays for each traveller.

Keliautojas	Official ETA fee	Galiojimas
Suaugusieji iš Saudo Arabijos ir JAE	£20	2 metai arba paso galiojimo laikas
Child or baby	£20	2 metai arba paso galiojimo laikas
Keturių asmenų šeima	£80 in total	Each ETA linked to its own passport

Because one ETA covers repeat trips while it is valid, a regular visitor pays once rather than per journey. The Home Office reports that 24.8 million ETAs were issued between the October 2023 launch and the end of 2025 (ETA factsheet).

Kaip pateikti UK ETA paraišką: žingsnis po žingsnio

You apply in the official JK ETA programa (Google Play or App Store) or online through GOV.UK. If you cannot download the app on your phone, GOV.UK says you should apply online.

1. Download the UK ETA app, or open the online application from GOV.UK.
2. Scan or photograph your passport – the app uses your phone’s camera; online you upload a photo of the passport.
3. Take or upload a photo of your face. If it does not meet the rules, the application may be delayed or rejected.
4. Answer the questions and check every passport detail before you submit.
5. Pay the £20 fee.
6. Wait for the email. You must not travel until you get an email confirming you have an ETA.

Applying for someone else? In the app you can apply for another person if they are with you; if they are not, you must apply for them online. Our guide Kaip kreiptis dėl Jungtinės Karalystės ETA walks through every screen, and our JK ETA programa guide explains how to check your status afterwards.

Saudo Arabijos ir Emyratų pareiškėjų prašymų nagrinėjimo laikas

GOV.UK says you will usually get a decision by email within a day, but it can take up to 3 working days. The Home Office factsheet adds that most people who apply through the app get an automatic decision in minutes. Plan around the longer figure: allow up to 3 working days before departure, and remember that weekends and UK bank holidays are not working days.

Once granted, you can confirm that you have an ETA, and when it expires, with GOV.UK’s online check service. Nothing needs to be printed – the ETA is linked to your passport.

What You Can and Cannot Do with a UK ETA

Pagal GOV.UK, an ETA lets you come to the UK for up to 6 months for:

• tourism and holidays
• visiting family and friends
• a business trip, such as meetings
• trumpalaikis tyrimas
• a permitted paid engagement or event
• work under the Creative Worker visa concession (up to 3 months)
• transit through a UK airport where you pass through border control

It does not allow you to:

• stay longer than 6 months
• do paid or unpaid work for a UK company or as a self-employed person, apart from the narrow exceptions above
• claim public funds (benefits)
• live in the UK through frequent or successive visits
• get married, form a civil partnership or give notice of either – that needs a Marriage Visitor visa

There is no way to use an ETA to stay beyond 6 months. If you want to stay longer, work or study long-term, you need the right visa before you travel.

From EVW to ETA: What Changed for Gulf Travellers

Before the ETA, many Gulf nationals visited on an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW). The EVW provisions in the Imigracijos taisyklės are now marked as deleted, and the ETA has taken their place. The practical differences matter:

Gulf nationality	ETA required for travel on or after
Qatar	15 November 2023
Saudo Arabija	22 February 2024
Jungtiniai Arabų Emyratai	22 February 2024
Bahreinas	22 February 2024
Kuveitas	22 February 2024
Omanas	22 February 2024

• An ETA lasts 2 years (or until your passport expires) and covers multiple journeys, so you do not need a new authorisation for each trip.
• Each traveller, including babies and children, needs their own ETA.
• The ETA covers the UK, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.

Arriving at a UK airport

Saudi and Emirati passports are not on GOV.UK’s list of passports that can use the ePassport gates, so expect to queue for a Border Force officer. Keep your accommodation address and return booking handy – officers will usually ask why you are coming to the UK.

Ką daryti, jei jūsų paraiška atmetama?

Most applications are granted, but not all. According to the Home Office caseworker guidance, there is no right of appeal or administrative review against an ETA decision. If your ETA is refused, you can apply for a visa instead. If an application is rejected for a fixable reason – for example, an identity check that fails because of a poor photo – you can make a new application.

Read our guide on ką daryti, jei jūsų ETA Jungtinėje Karalystėje atsisakyta išduoti for the next steps.

Important Dates for Saudi and Emirati Travellers

• 15 November 2023 – Qatar became the first nationality in the scheme.
• 22 February 2024 – Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman joined.
• 2026 m. vasario 25 d. – full enforcement began; see also our note on the end of the grace period.
• 2026 m. balandžio 8 d. – the fee went up from £16 to £20.
• Vykdoma – an ETA stays valid for 2 years or until the passport expires, so you do not reapply for every trip.

At UK Border Control: What Saudi and Emirati Travellers Should Expect

An ETA gives you permission to travel, not a guarantee of entry. At the border your passport is checked and you will usually be asked why you are coming to the UK. Keep your accommodation details and your return or onward booking easy to find, along with anything that supports the purpose of your trip, such as a conference registration or an invitation from family.

Travelling with children? You may be asked to prove your relationship to them – for example with a birth or adoption certificate, or a letter from the child’s parent if you are not the parent (GOV.UK).

The ETA covers the UK, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It is not permission to enter Ireland, which has its own entry rules.

JK ETA ir JK standartinė lankytojo viza

Funkcija	JK ETA	Standartinė lankytojo viza
Who uses it	ETA-eligible nationalities, including Saudi and Emirati citizens	Visa nationals, or travellers whose ETA was refused
Mokestis	£20	£135 (6 months); long-term visas £506 (2 years), £903 (5 years), £1,128 (10 years)
Sprendimas	Usually within a day; up to 3 working days	Usually within 3 weeks
How you apply	App or online, no appointment	Online, plus fingerprints and a photo at a visa application centre
Kiekviena vizitas	Iki 6 mėnesių	Usually up to 6 months
Galiojimas	2 metai arba paso galiojimo laikas	6 months up to 10 years, depending on the visa
Darbas	No (narrow exceptions)	No (narrow exceptions)

Most Saudi and Emirati visitors only need the ETA. A visa route is the right choice if you want to marry in the UK, stay longer than 6 months, work or study long-term, or if your ETA has been refused (visa fees and times: GOV.UK).

Populiariausios Jungtinės Karalystės lankytinos vietos Saudo Arabijos ir Emyratų lankytojams

• Londonas – the British Museum, the Tower of London, Westminster, West End theatres and Borough Market.
• Edinburgas – Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile and Arthur’s Seat; the Fringe festival fills the city every August.
• Vonios – the Roman Baths, the Royal Crescent and Georgian streets.
• Kotsvoldai – honey-coloured stone villages and countryside walks.
• Oksfordas ir Kembridžas – historic colleges, libraries and punting.
• Ežerų kraštas – Windermere, Ambleside and fell walks.

For more ideas, see our list of geriausi JK turistų lankomi objektai.

Practical Travel Tips for Saudi and Emirati Visitors

• Valiuta: British pound sterling (£). Contactless card payment is widely used.
• Transportas: in London you can tap in with a contactless card or Oyster card; book long-distance trains early for cheaper fares.
• Orai: changeable in every season – pack a waterproof layer.
• Plugs: three-pin Type G sockets, so bring an adapter.
• Vairavimas: check whether your licence is valid with the GOV.UK non-GB licence checker.
• Muitai: paprastai galite įvežti kitus prekes, kurių vertė iki £390 (£270, jei atvykstate privačiu lėktuvu ar baidarė) – GOV.UK.
• Draudimas: kelionės draudimas su medicinine apimtimi yra labai rekomenduojamas.
• Ekstremaliosios situacijos: skambinti 999 policijai, gaisrui ar greitajai pagalbai; 101 nepavadžiam policijai.

More Saudi Arabia & UAE UK ETA Guides

• Saudo Arabijos ir Emyratų piliečiai: Pilnas vadovas 2026 m.
• Saudo Arabijos ir JAE kelionių į Jungtinę Karalystę vadovas 2026 m.: ETA, atvykimo taisyklės ir patarimai

FAQs for Saudi and Emirati Travellers

Do Saudi and Emirati citizens need a visa to visit the UK?

No, not for visits of up to 6 months. Saudi and Emirati citizens need an approved UK ETA instead, which costs £20. A visa is only needed for longer stays, work, long-term study or getting married in the UK.

How much does the UK ETA cost for Saudi and Emirati citizens?

£20 per person, including children and babies. The fee is not refundable and is the same in the app and online.

How long does a UK ETA decision take?

GOV.UK says you usually get a decision by email within a day, but it can take up to 3 working days. You must not travel until you get the email confirming your ETA.

Kiek laiko galioja JK ETA?

2 years or until your passport expires, whichever is sooner. You can make multiple trips of up to 6 months each. If you get a new passport, you need a new ETA, because you must travel on the passport linked to it.

Can I appeal a refused UK ETA?

No. There is no right of appeal or administrative review against an ETA decision. If your ETA is refused, you can apply for a visa instead; if your application was rejected for a fixable reason, you can apply again.

Ar vaikams reikia atskiro Jungtinės Karalystės ETA?

Yes. Every traveller needs their own ETA, including babies and children. You can apply for them in the app if they are with you, or online if they are not.

Is the UK ETA valid for Ireland?

No. The UK ETA covers the UK, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Ireland has its own entry rules.

Summary: UK ETA Requirements for Saudi and Emirati Travellers

Norint aplankyti JK iš Kroatijos 2026 m., kroatų pilietis turi galiojantį pasą ir patvirtintą UK ETA: £20, prašytą oficialią programą arba internete, paprastai išspręstą per dieną ir galiojantį 2 metus arba kol galioja pasas. Ji apima turizmą, šeimos vizitus, verslo susitikimus ir trumpus kursus iki 6 mėnesių per kelionę, bet ne darbą, apsigyvenimą ar vedybas. Numatyti iki 3 darbo dienų prieš kelionę, turėti savo rezervavimo duomenis pasiruošę prie sienos ir patikrinti oficialias GOV.UK puslapius, jei jūsų situacija yra neordinari.

Oficialūs šaltiniai ir nuorodos

1. GOV.UK – Gauti UK ETA: prašymas
2. GOV.UK – Ką galite ir ko negalite daryti su UK ETA
3. GOV.UK – Kai jums nereikalinga ETA
4. Immigration Rules – ETA nacionalinio sąrašo priedas
5. Immigration Rules – Appendix Visitor: Visa national list
6. GOV.UK – JK pradeda taikyti ETA sistemą (85 nacionalumai, 2026 m. vasario 25 d.)
7. GOV.UK – ETA diegimo skelbimas
8. Home Office – ETA faktų lapas, 2026 m. balandis
9. Home Office – ETA specialisto vadovas
10. GOV.UK – Pasienio kontrolėje (ePassport vartai)
11. GOV.UK – Pateikite Standard Visitor vizos paraišką
12. GOV.UK – Patikrinkite, ar jums reikalingas UK viza