The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has denied imposing a $10,000 bank balance and a N640,000 fee requirement on Nigerians applying for visas, according to reports by The Cable. This announcement comes amidst concerns raised by Nigerian travelers regarding these purported conditions......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, stated on Monday that the UAE had agreed to lift the travel restrictions previously imposed on Nigerians. Idris further mentioned that applicants would need to fulfill specific conditions, including obtaining a document verification number from the website documentverificationhub.ae.
The website indicated that the verification process costs a non-refundable N640,000, excluding VAT, for each application. This fee does not cover the actual visa cost. Additionally, applicants were required to provide a six-month bank statement showing a minimum balance of $10,000. These stipulations were criticized by air travelers, who described them as a “constructive ban.”
However, inquiries by The Cable to the UAE’s Department of Economy and Tourism revealed that the DV hub website is not affiliated with the UAE government. The department clarified that document verification should be directed to Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFAD).
The GDRFAD outlined the actual requirements for a UAE visa application, which include a personal photo, a passport with at least six months of validity, a travel ticket, and valid medical insurance for the UAE. The cost of a tourist visa ranges from approximately 200 to 300 dirhams (N60,000 to N90,000), depending on the length of stay. Regarding the $10,000 bank balance requirement, a GDRFAD representative stated, “We are not aware of such requirements. Make your visa applications through the GDRFAD.”
Eche Abu-Obe, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, assured that the ministry would seek further clarification on the matter from its office in the Middle East.
This situation follows a previous visa ban imposed by the UAE on Nigeria nearly two years ago due to diplomatic disputes.
Additionally, Dubai’s Emirates Airline had suspended flights to Nigeria after the Central Bank of Nigeria failed to remit an estimated $85 million in revenue to the UAE.