Riyadh, January 31, 2024, The Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eng. Waleed bin Abdulkarim El-Khereiji, hosted the British Minister of State for the Middle East, North Africa, South Asia, and United Nations at the Foreign and Development Office, Tariq Ahmad, at the ministry’s headquarters in Riyadh today.
In the course of their meeting, the two dignitaries jointly announced a new set of procedures for the electronic visa waiver system for Saudi citizens traveling to Britain. The updated system, known as the "ETA visa," replaces the previous "EVW visa." This novel visa provides a validity period of up to two years, permitting multiple entries within that timeframe, and is accompanied by a nominal fee of 10 pounds sterling. The effective date for the new visa is slated for February 22nd, with applications open from February 1st. It caters to various purposes, including tourism, business, short-term study, or medical treatment.
The introduction of this enhanced visa mechanism was underscored as a testament to the robust Saudi-British relations and the ongoing collaboration between the foreign ministries of both nations. This collaborative effort is dedicated to realizing the aspirations of the leaderships and citizens of the two friendly countries.
Additionally, the officials engaged in discussions on bilateral relations, exploring avenues to fortify and diversify ties across different sectors. The meeting also delved into an overview of regional and international developments that hold shared significance for both Saudi Arabia and Britain.
Neil Crompton, the British Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was present at the meeting, further underscoring the diplomatic significance of the discussions held between the two sides.
