The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has clarified that it is unaware of any requirement for Nigerians to have a $10,000 bank balance and pay a N640,000 application fee to obtain a visa.
On Monday, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced an agreement with UAE authorities to lift travel restrictions on Nigerians immediately.
The minister stated that Nigerian passport holders can now travel to the UAE without hindrance.
Following this development, Minister Idris urged Nigerians seeking updated information on UAE visa conditions to visit documentverificationhub.ae. This site is said to offer a specialized service that authenticates and verifies documents needed for UAE visa applications. .
According to the Document Verification Network (DVN), the service costs a non-refundable fee of N640,000, excluding VAT, per application. This fee does not cover the visa cost.
Additionally, Nigerians seeking a UAE visa were advised to provide a six-month bank statement showing a minimum balance of $10,000.
However, the UAE’s department of economy and tourism has stated that the DV hub website is not affiliated with the UAE government.
The Dubai General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners’ Affairs (GDRFAD) outlined the actual requirements for a visa application: “You will need a personal photo and a copy of your passport which must not have less than six months validity.”
The GDRFAD added, “A tourist visa costs about 200-300 dirhams (N60,000 – 90,000) depending on the stay. You will also need a travel ticket and valid medical insurance within the UAE.”
This clarification from the UAE authorities comes amid confusion over the visa application process and aims to ensure Nigerians have accurate information regarding travel requirements.