UK visa
The bilateral relations between Britain and Saudi Arabia are a very old relationship, as work to strengthen cultural, trade, investment, educational, development, energy, climate security and defense ties between the two countries is ongoing . The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is working to facilitate the movement of people between the two countries and provide support and assistance to Saudi citizens in cases of emergency and basic need .
There is no doubt that the Economic Partnership and knowledge exchange will strengthen relations between the two countries and enhance trust and mutual respect between the two governments and people.
The kingdom of Saudi Arabia cares about the interests of its citizens, so it provides them with the best facilities and services when they apply for a British visa and travel to England.
Exemption of Saudis from the British visa
The new British e-travel permit scheme ( E-exemption) has been launched, which allows Saudi citizens to enter the UK in an easy and convenient way.
They will now be able to use the electronic permit (EVW) instead of obtaining a regular entry visa, starting from this year 2023.
These measures allow tourists, business travelers and students to obtain an entry permit to the UK faster, more easily and conveniently.
This contributes to strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing trade and cultural exchange between the two countries.
This measure reflects the UK’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties and economic and cultural cooperation with the GCC countries, and is an important step in facilitating travel for Saudi citizens who want to visit the UK for tourism, study or business.
Duration of UK visa processing
The British electronic visa law provides a clear and specific answer for the duration of visa extraction, as it takes a maximum of 48 hours to obtain a visa, and the traveler can print it and travel to the UK without any problem. The British e-visa service is one of the fastest services in obtaining global visas, a service provided by the British state to facilitate travel for foreign citizens.
In Saudi Arabia, in addition to the regular service for obtaining a British visa, travelers can apply for an expedited visa service that allows obtaining a visa in just one day.
This can be done by filling out online applications and printing the necessary forms for the visa.
This service is ideal for travelers who need to travel urgently for business or personal reasons.
What documents are needed to obtain a UK visa?
There are several documents required to obtain a British visa for Saudis:
-Saudi passport valid for at least 6 months.-
-Passport-sized personal photo.
-Proof of identity (photo ID or family record).
-Proof of address and residence in Saudi Arabia (recent electricity, water or phone bill).
– Proof of professional status (official business letter indicating the job title, salary and date of appointment).
-Proof of the financial condition of the trip (bank letter or any official document proving the financing of the trip).
-Visa application form (VAF1B) is fully completed and signed.
The visa application fee is equivalent to GBP 95.-
-Book a return ticket (if it is a tourist trip).
-Proof of residence in the UK (whether it is a business trip or a family visit).
Steps to apply for a UK visa
If you want to apply for a British visa in Saudi Arabia this year, you will need to follow some basic steps. First, you must complete and sign the visa application form (VAF1B) in full. You can complete the form electronically via the embassy’s official website and then print and sign it.
After that, you must attach the required documents to the application form such as passport, photo, proof of profession, housing and others. You must also pay a visa application fee of GBP 95. Payment can be made by credit card or direct debit card through the embassy’s website.
Once this is done, you must book an appointment for the delivery of the visa application and documents at the VFS Global Visa Application Center in your city. The appointment can be booked electronically via the VFS website. When you come to the Application Center on the reserved date, the application center employee will review the application and make sure that it is completed before receiving it.
Finally, you should wait for the duration of processing and review of applications by the embassy, which ranges from 7 to 15 working days. Please do not contact the embassy during this period. Therefore, you should follow the status of the visa application via the embassy’s website. After the application is accepted, the visa will be issued and sent to you by mail.
The right time to apply for a British visa in Saudi Arabia
It is advisable to apply for a British visa in Saudi Arabia well in advance of the travel date, ranging from 4 to 12 weeks to ensure that the visa is granted before the trip date.
The following dates are considered suitable for applying for a British visa:
-For short tourist trips (no more than 6 months): it is advisable to apply at least 8 weeks before the travel date.
-For short business trips (no more than 6 months): it is advisable to apply at least 10 weeks before the travel date.
-For extended family visits (over 6 months): it is recommended to apply at least 12 weeks before the travel date.
-To study in the UK: it is recommended to apply at least 3 months before the start of study in the UK.
-To immigrate to Britain: it is advisable to apply at least 3 months before the date of the trip.
-If the visa is not granted two weeks before the travel date, it is advisable to re-book The travel to avoid being refused entry to the UK.
There are also several things to consider when choosing the right time to apply for a British visa in Saudi Arabia:
-It is preferable to Apply Before busy dates such as Ramadan and summer holidays to avoid congestion and a long processing period for applications.
-The application must be submitted well in advance of the travel date, at least 3-4 weeks to give the embassy sufficient time to process the application and issue a visa.
-If you are traveling during the busy periods of the Hajj season or holidays (July and August), it is better to apply about 6-8 weeks before these periods.
-Monday and Tuesday are the best days of the week for applying for a visa.