Travel visa · Europe · 2026

UK visa for UAE residents (2026)

Since 2024 UAE passport holders do not need a UK visa — they apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) in the UK ETA app before travel. Most other residents, including Indian, Pakistani, Filipino and Egyptian passports common in the UAE, still need a Standard Visitor Visa, applied online and completed with biometrics at VFS Global in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

ETA (UAE passports): £16 Paid in the app; valid 2 years, multiple entries, up to 6 months per visit
Standard Visitor Visa (6 months): £127 Fee as of 2026; 2-, 5- and 10-year visas cost more
Visa decision target: About 3 weeks From the biometrics appointment; paid priority services are faster
Biometrics: VFS Dubai / Abu Dhabi ETA applicants skip this — everything happens in the app

Visas

Who needs this visa

UAE citizens: ETA instead of a visa — apply in the UK ETA app; decisions usually land within 3 working days
Residents on visa-required passports (India, Pakistan, Philippines, Egypt and many others): Standard Visitor Visa
Other GCC passports (Saudi, Qatari, Kuwaiti, Bahraini, Omani): the same ETA route as UAE citizens
Where to apply: ETA fully in the app; visitor visa via gov.uk plus a biometrics appointment at VFS Global in Dubai or Abu Dhabi

Document checklist

Passport valid for the whole trip (ETA requires an NFC-chip passport)
Completed online application on gov.uk (visa route)
Current UAE residence visa page and Emirates ID
Bank statements for the last 6 months
Employer letter or NOC: position, salary, approved leave dates
Hotel booking or host address in the UK
Provisional itinerary (reservations — paid tickets are not required)
Business visitors: invitation letter from the UK company
Applicants under 18: birth certificate and parental consent

Process

How it works

Check your passport track
Day 0

UAE and other GCC passports go ETA-in-app; visa-required passports take the Standard Visitor Visa on gov.uk.
Apply for the ETA
Usually up to 3 working days

Download the UK ETA app, scan the passport chip, take a selfie and pay £16 — the authorisation is linked to the passport electronically.
Submit the visa application
1 day to prepare

Fill the online form, pay the fee and book an appointment at a VFS centre.
Biometrics at VFS Global
Appointment within 1-2 weeks

Fingerprints and photo in Dubai or Abu Dhabi; supporting documents are uploaded or handed in as instructed.
Wait for the decision
About 3 weeks

UKVI aims to decide within about 3 weeks of biometrics; priority processing is a paid add-on.
Travel
-

The vignette or ETA is checked by the carrier at check-in; carry the NOC and hotel booking in hand luggage.

Fees and rules checked September 2026 — confirm with the application center before booking.

Visa fees

Fee item	Amount
UK ETA (UAE and GCC passports)	£16
Standard Visitor Visa, 6 months	£127
Standard Visitor Visa, longer validity (2-10 years)	Higher tier — check gov.uk
Priority decision services	Paid add-on at application

Government fees are set in local currency; service fees are set by the application center. Checked Sep 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Do UAE citizens need a visa for the UK?

No. Since 2024 they apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation instead — £16, valid 2 years, multiple entries. The application is made in the UK ETA app and is usually cleared within 3 working days. Nothing needs printing: the ETA is linked to the passport.

I live in Dubai on an Indian passport — can I use the ETA?

No. The ETA list is passport-based, not residence-based, so Indian passport holders need a Standard Visitor Visa. UAE residence and stable employment work in your favour as proof of ties, but the online application and biometrics at VFS are mandatory.

How long is the ETA valid and how long can I stay?

Two years, or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. Each visit can last up to 6 months and must be tourism, family visits or permitted business activity. The ETA does not allow paid work or formal study.

Can I work or study on a visitor visa or ETA?

No paid work is allowed. Short business activities are permitted — meetings, negotiations, conferences. A course of up to 6 months is possible on a Standard Visitor Visa, while the ETA covers only brief recreational study. Employment or formal study always requires a work or student visa.

Where do I give biometrics in the UAE?

At the VFS Global visa application centres in Dubai and Abu Dhabi; the appointment is booked while submitting the online application on gov.uk. ETA applicants do not visit a centre at all.