Dubai: For UK visa applicants from UAE who need extra speed and flexibility, UK embassy is offering a ‘Super Priority’ visa service at its centres in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The optional service, which gets kicked off on Monday (March 23), guarantees processing of applications within 24 hours. Applicants who submit the completed forms in the morning will normally receive the decisions and the documents later the same day, said the embassy.
The new service, which costs £600 (Dh3294) in addition to the regular visa fee, is aimed at those who want extra speed and flexibility. The service can be used to apply for long term, multi-entry visas, valid for up to ten years, and also for long term study and work visas.
Emiratis wishing to visit the UK for up to six months will still be able to take advantage of the electronic visa waiver, which offers visa-free travel for those who register online at least 48 hours before their departure to the UK.
The following categories of customer will be eligible for the super-priority service for the following types of visa:
- Tourist and short stay visas: Residents of the UAE or one of the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.
- Tier 2 (i.e. worker) visas: UAE residents.
- Tier 4 (i.e. long-term student) visas: UAE residents who are subject to different documentary requirements under Tier 4 of the Points Based System.
- Tier 5 (i.e. temporary worker) visas: UAE residents.
- Tier 5 (Creative and Sporting) visas: those currently in the United Arab Emirates for a purpose similar to the activity proposed to be undertaken in the UK.
The UK’s Ambassador to the UAE, Philip Parham, said:
“I am delighted that we are launching the UK super-priority visa service in the UAE - one of only a handful of countries where we provide this service. The super-priority visa service offers another option for tourists, business people and students who need to travel to the UK at the last minute.”