The United Arab Emirates has refuted claims of imposing a $10,000 bank balance and a N640,000 fee for Nigerian visa applicants, as per reports by The Cable.
UAE Denies Stricter Visa Conditions
The UAE government has dismissed rumors suggesting that Nigerian visa applicants must maintain a $10,000 bank balance and pay a N640,000 fee for document verification. This clarification follows an announcement by Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stating that UAE authorities had agreed to lift travel restrictions on Nigerians.
The rumors originated from a website, documentverificationhub.ae, which claimed to offer document verification services at a non-refundable cost of N640,000 per application, excluding VAT and visa fees. The site also required a six-month bank statement showing a minimum balance of $10,000, causing outrage among Nigerian travelers who viewed these conditions as a “constructive ban.”
However, the UAE’s Department of Economy and Tourism has confirmed that the document verification website is not affiliated with the UAE government. The department advised that all verification inquiries should be directed to Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFAD).
Official Visa Requirements Simplified
Inquiries by The Cable revealed that GDRFAD requires visa applicants to submit a personal photo, a passport with at least six months of validity, a travel ticket, and valid medical insurance. The cost of a tourist visa ranges from 200 to 300 dirhams (N60,000 to N90,000), depending on the length of stay. When questioned about the purported $10,000 bank balance requirement, GDRFAD responded, “We are not aware of such requirements. Make your visa applications through the GDRFAD.”
Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Eche Abu-Obe, assured that further clarifications would be sought from their office in the Middle East to resolve any misunderstandings.
The UAE had imposed a visa ban on Nigerians nearly two years ago due to diplomatic disputes. This ban led to Emirates Airline halting flights to Nigeria after the Central Bank of Nigeria failed to remit an estimated $85 million in revenue to the UAE.
In June, following several meetings between the Nigerian and UAE governments, the Federal Government of Nigeria announced that the visa ban would soon be lifted. The Nigerian government also stated that it had paid 98 percent of a $850 million debt owed to the UAE.
The recent miscommunication and rumors have caused significant concern among potential travelers, but the UAE’s clarification should ease the process and dispel any confusion.
Source: Punch
