EVW UK

Get your visa waiver smoothly with UK Visa Kingdom

The EVW is no longer available. Eligible travellers now need a UK ETA.

International travellers to the UK must follow the country’s entry requirements. This may include a valid travel authorisation, such as a visa waiver.

The UK Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) is no longer active and has been replaced by the ETA, which can be obtained quickly and easily online.

What is the EVW UK?

The UK Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW UK) was a travel authorisation which allowed citizens from eligible countries to enter the UK without a visa.

Visitors could use a EVW to enter the UK for periods of up to 6 months. It was designed to simplify the process of obtaining permission to enter.

Eligible foreign nationals were able to apply for an Electronic Visa Waiver by submitting an online application form. The form required travellers to answer a range of questions and only took a matter of minutes to complete.

Once an application was submitted and approved, the applicant was sent a link to download the EVW. A copy of the visa waiver could then be printed and shown to the UK border authorities upon arrival.


evw uk document

Key details: ETA for the UK

There’s only one type of Electronic Travel Authorisation for the UK. Here’s some important information about what your ETA entitles you to.

Who needed the UK visa waiver?

The UK Electronic Visa Waiver was obtained online by international travellers who met the EVW requirements. These same nationalities must now apply for the UK ETA online.

Applicants must be a citizen of an eligible country, with a valid passport issued by one of these sovereign states. They must also be travelling for one of the reasons listed in the table below to be considered eligible for the UK ETA.

UK ETA countries

Citizens of the following countries must apply online to obtain ETA online before travelling to the UK:

  • bh
    Bahrain
  • kw
    Kuwait
  • om
    Oman
  • qa
    Qatar
  • sa
    Saudi Arabia
  • ae
    United Arab Emirates

From 8 January 2025, citizens of the following countries also need an ETA to enter the UK:

  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • The Bahamas
  • Barbados
  • Belize
  • Botswana
  • Brazil
  • Brunei
  • Canada
  • Chile
  • Colombia
  • Costa Rica
  • Grenada
  • Guatemala
  • Guyana
  • Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (including British national overseas)
  • Israel
  • Japan
  • Kiribati
  • Macao Special Administrative Region
  • Malaysia
  • Maldives
  • Marshall Islands
  • Mauritius
  • Mexico
  • Federated States of Micronesia
  • Nauru
  • New Zealand
  • Nicaragua
  • Palau
  • Panama
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Paraguay
  • Peru
  • Samoa
  • Seychelles
  • Singapore
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Korea
  • St Kitts and Nevis
  • St Lucia
  • St Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Taiwan
  • Tonga
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Tuvalu
  • United States
  • Uruguay

More countries may be added in the future. Stay up-to-date here.

EVW key details

The EVW had the same features as the ETA. The key features of the ETA are shown in the table below.

  • Number of entries

    Multiple-entry

  • Validity

    2 years

  • Length of stay

    6 months

  • Travel purposes

    Tourism, business, study, medical treatment

The ETA allows the holder to travel to any of the 4 constituent countries in the UK: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The ETA also permits the holder to visit the Republic of Ireland for up to 90 days once the holder has cleared immigration in the United Kingdom.

Apply for an ETA UK instead EVW

By choosing UK Visa Kingdom for your ETA application, you not only benefit from our comprehensive service but also increase your chances of approval.

Apply with us today and embark on your journey to the UK with confidence.

More information about the ETA UK

ETA

FAQs about the UK EVW

Here are some key questions and answers about the UK visa waiver.

What was the UK Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW)? Toggle faqs

The UK Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW) was a travel authorisation that allowed citizens from eligible countries to enter the UK without a visa for stays of up to 6 months. It was designed to simplify the entry process for eligible travellers.

Why is the UK EVW no longer active? Toggle faqs

The UK EVW has been replaced by the ETA (Electronic Travel Authorisation) for the UK. The ETA offers similar benefits and can be obtained quickly and easily online.

Who was eligible for the UK visa waiver? Toggle faqs

The UK Electronic Visa Waiver was required for international travellers from eligible visa-exempt countries. These include GCC countries, and Jordan.

What were the key features of the UK EVW? Toggle faqs

The UK EVW had similar features to the ETA. It allowed for multiple entries, was valid for up to 6 months, and permitted various travel purposes including tourism, business, study, and medical treatment.

How did travellers apply for the UK EVW? Toggle faqs

To apply for the UK EVW, travellers had to submit an online application form. The form required applicants to provide personal details and travel information.

Once approved, applicants received a link to download and print the EVW for presentation to UK border authorities upon arrival.

Can I still use my existing UK EVW for travel? Toggle faqs

No, the UK EVW is no longer valid for travel to the UK. Travellers from eligible countries must now apply for the UK ETA online before their trip.

Where can I find more information about the UK EVW replacement? Toggle faqs

For more information about the replacement of the UK EVW with the ETA, travellers can visit the our ETA page.