Where the UK route commonly goes wrong in the Gulf
Assuming residence decides the route
Living in Bahrain or Saudi Arabia does not put you on the ETA list; holding a Bahraini or Saudi passport does. A Bahraini national taking an ordinary eligible holiday should not be pushed into a full Standard Visitor visa application, and an expatriate resident on an Indian or Pakistani passport should not be told an ETA will cover the trip.
Assuming an ETA covers every purpose
Work, settlement, longer study and stays beyond the published visitor allowance sit outside the ETA. Where the purpose does not fit, the correct answer is a visa route — and saying so early is cheaper than being refused entry.
Relying on the old Electronic Visa Waiver
GOV.UK states that the electronic visa waiver is closed and that nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates should apply for an ETA instead. Older advice still circulating online refers to the withdrawn EVW.
Official sources
- Immigration Rules Appendix ETA National List — GOV.UKThe nationalities required to obtain an ETA before travelling to the UK
- Immigration Rules Appendix Electronic Travel Authorisation — GOV.UKThe rules governing ETA applications, validity and refusal
- Electronic visa waivers — GOV.UKConfirms the EVW is closed and that Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE nationals apply for an ETA instead
Last reviewed: 10 September 2026
Requirements are set and changed by the UK government. Always confirm the current position for your nationality on GOV.UK before booking travel or submitting anything.
Frequently asked questions
Do Bahraini and Saudi passport holders need a UK visa for a short holiday?
GOV.UK places Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on the Electronic Travel Authorisation national list. For eligible short visits those nationals normally travel with an ETA rather than a Standard Visitor visa. The requirement is set by the UK government and can change, so confirm your own position on GOV.UK before booking travel.
What happened to the Electronic Visa Waiver?
GOV.UK states that you can no longer apply for an electronic visa waiver, and that nationals of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates should apply for an Electronic Travel Authorisation instead.
Is an ETA a visa?
No. An ETA is a permission to travel that is applied for online before departure. It is not a visa and it does not guarantee entry: permission to enter the UK is still granted by a Border Force officer on arrival.
When would I still need a Standard Visitor visa instead?
If your passport is not on the ETA national list, if the purpose or length of your visit falls outside what the ETA covers, or if the route you need is a work, study or settlement route. Many expatriate residents of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the UAE hold visa-national passports and apply for the Standard Visitor visa in their country of residence.
What does Gulf United Mobility actually do on an ETA case?
We confirm which permission your nationality and travel purpose require, check passport validity and details, prepare and review the online submission with you, and explain what to expect at the border. Where travel arrangements are part of the agreed scope we can also coordinate flights, accommodation and insurance. We do not issue ETAs and we do not influence any decision.
Can you fast-track an ETA?
No. Processing is controlled entirely by the UK authorities. We prepare submissions carefully and early; nobody can shorten an official processing time.