Visitors to the UK from dozens of countries, including the United States, Canada and Australia, must now pay to enter Britain after a new visa-waiver entry system took effect on Wednesday.
The Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme - similar to the ESTA system in the United States requires visitors who do not need a visa to enter Britain to acquire pre-travel authorisation.
Costing £10 ($12.50) and allowing stays of up to six months at a time over two years, it first launched in 2023, with Qatar, before being extended last year to five regional Gulf neighbours.
Now, it has been expanded to include citizens of around 50 more countries and territories, from Argentina, Brazil and New Zealand to Japan, South Korea and Caribbean nations.
With the system kicking in for them on Wednesday, they have been able to apply since last November.
This story is from the January 09, 2025 edition of Khaleej Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 09, 2025 edition of Khaleej Times.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
UAE banks to remain on stable path this year
UAE banks are on a stable path heading into 2025, reflecting their strong performance deriving from improved asset quality, significant lending growth, and still high profitability, a report said on Thursday.
Sky Force's first song Maaye out
The much-awaited song Maaye from Akshay Kumar's upcoming historical action thriller Sky Force has been re-leased.
Armaan Malik, Aashna Shroff make first public appearance post wedding
Singer Armaan Malik and his wife, influencer Aashna Shroff, were spotted at the Mumbai airport for the first time after their wedding in December last year.
Girish Malik on Band of Maharajas at the Oscars
The Oscars are slotted for a March ceremony this year. A couple of Indian films may be headed to the awards this year, under several categories. Recently, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences revealed the \"reminder list\", and it includes the name of director Girish Malik's film Band of Maharajas among several others.
Gold hits four-week peak amid Trump concerns
Gold prices rose to a near four-week high on Thursday, supported by safe-haven demand, while investors weighed how US President-elect Donald Trump's policies would impact the economy and inflation.
Frshar Mail set to redefine secure communication, data privacy
Frshar Mail, an innovative e-mail programme, looks set to redefine secure communication and data privacy by addressing the vulnerabilities that plague mainstream platforms.
Borders Bookstore celebrates inspirational journey of Lord Rami Ranger
Borders Bookstore at Mall of the Emirates hosted an extraordinary book signing event on January 2, 2025, featuring Lord Rami Ranger to celebrate the launch of the revised edition of his inspirational autobiography, From Nothing to Everything. The event was a remarkable success, drawing a large audience of readers, business enthusiasts, and admirers eager to meet the distinguished author.
UAE airports drive air traffic surge in the Middle East
Major international aviation hubs in the Middle East, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh and Doha, saw a significant increase in traffic demand, supported by the exceptional performance of the region's largest aviation hubs, despite some countries being affected by geopolitical conflicts.
Jumbo Group marks a milestone year with strong growth in business divisions
Jumbo Group, a leading retailer of consumer electronics and technology products in the UAE, concluded 2024 with an impressive performance across its retail, distribution, and enterprise divisions, while celebrating half a century of serving the region under the banner \"50 Years of Trust.\"
Meta move to axe independent fact-checkers sets off alarm bells
This shift could undermine public confidence and make it difficult for users to discern truth from fiction, says expert
