Visa free boost for Bahrainis

TDT | Manama                                     

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Reported by Mahir Haneef

Bahraini citizens intending to travel to the United Kingdom have good news coming up as the visa waiver programme, which allows them to stay up to six months without a visa, is going to get an upgrade, with more relaxations on the way. The change is likely to occur by February next year.

Responding to a question raised by The Daily Tribune on further easing travel regulations between the two countries, His Excellency Alastair Long, Ambassador of the UK to the Kingdom of Bahrain, said the visa waiver programme would move on to the next level early next year.

While the existing visa waiver programme, which was announced in May last year, allows Bahraini citizens to stay in the UK for up to 6 months for tourism, business, study, or medical treatment, the next level of the programme could provide more benefits.

Major steps in relaxing visa rules after a visa waiver programme commonly include extending the length of the visa-free stay, expanding the eligibility requirements to include citizens of other countries living in Bahrain, reducing the number of documents required, or streamlining the process.

While answering the query, the Ambassador pointed out that a balance has to be struck between risk and opportunity and that innovative ways are being tried out in implementing the visa waiver programme.

“We have good news coming in early in 2024 on that. We set up an electronic visa waiver scheme in the GCC not very long ago. We’re moving to the next level at the beginning of next year, and more will follow on that, but it’s very, very good news,” the ambassador said.

Commenting on the development, MP Dr. Maryam Al-Dhaen said the move would contribute to connecting the two peoples and promoting economic prosperity, noting that the friendship of Bahrainis with the United Kingdom is of great importance and is based on common priorities such as trade, investment, and security.

Noting that many Bahrainis go to the UK for education, training, exchange, and experience, the MP said the friendly state was an ideal and preferred destination for Bahrainis and referred to her personal experience there. Through her work in the UK over the years, she accumulated experience and was eager to transfer it to the Kingdom of Bahrain to benefit from it, the MP stated.