Dubai residents applying for a UK visa can now do so via a ‘platinum’ service.
The VIP visa application for citizens of the Emirate allows people to pay a hefty fee in order to access a mobile visa service, which will visit them in their own home, and skip the requirement of visiting an application centre.
The Foreign Office said: “The new services have been designed specifically for customers who want to sit back and relax while their visa application is taken care of, whether at the application centre, or in their own office or home.”
The mobile UK visa application service includes a team of officials who will visit the applicant at home and bring the eye-scanning device required as part of the process with them. Once the UK visa has been approved, it will be hand-delivered to the applicant. The cost of the VIP service is £750.
The Foreign Office has also introduced a luxury fast-track Platinum Lounge visa application centre. Applicants can relax in the lounge while VFS visa applicant processing staff complete the paperwork. The £435 price tag includes a chauffeur service to pick up applicants and deliver them home again.
The Foreign Office said the Platinum Lounge, based in the upmarket Wafi Mall, was the first the UK has set up anywhere in the world.
It added: “The lounge offers privacy and comfort, away from the hustle and bustle of the main application centre. Customers can relax in their own private booth within the tranquil and modern lounge, while VFS staff take care of the entire process.”
Applicants using the Platinum Lounge received their hand-delivered visa in three to five days although there is also the option to upgrade to the 24-hour ‘super priority’ service.
The new UK visa services for Dubai are in addition to the short visit documents that can be obtained with 48 hours’ notice. They are intended for people who want to make longer or repeat visits to Britain.