Online visa application on trial

Foreigners travelling to the UK will be able to apply for visas over the internet by 2004 if trials prove successful.

UKvisas, the government unit that run's the country's visa service, will begin trials of online visa processing services in November initially applicable to five Commonwealth countries.

If the tests are successful, the service will be extended to cover up to 30 countries.

'It is intended that a pilot scheme will begin by early November in Malaysia and Singapore, followed by Australia, New Zealand and Canada before the end of 2003,' junior Foreign Office minister Chris Mullins told Parliament last week.

'It is intended to make online visa applications available in up to 30 countries in 2004.'

Other countries where the scheme is likely to be rolled out include France, Germany, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and South Africa.

Software and a web site to support the service are being developed by UKvisas, a joint Home Office and Foreign and Commonwealth Office unit.

The government decided to proceed with the scheme 'following the success of online visa applications in the US,' said Mullins.

The process was piloted in New York and extended to Chigaco and Los Angeles in February 2003.

UKvisas says 'the timescale and order in which this (e-applications in countries) will be done is yet to be decided, but the process is expected to be fairly simple to introduce.'

Applicants will be able to pay by credit card and will also receive emails advising how their application is progressing.