The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has refuted claims of imposing a $10,000 bank balance requirement and a N640,000 application fee for Nigerians seeking visas. This comes after recent announcements from the Nigerian government suggesting eased travel restrictions between the two nations.

On Monday, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, declared that an agreement had been reached with the UAE to lift all travel restrictions on Nigerian passport holders. Idris assured Nigerians that they could now travel to the UAE without any hindrances and advised those seeking updated visa information to consult the website documentverificationhub.ae.

The Document Verification Hub (DV Hub) outlines a process for authenticating and verifying documents required for UAE visa applications. According to the website, this service incurs a non-refundable fee of N640,000 per application, excluding VAT, and requires applicants to provide a six-month bank statement showing a minimum balance of $10,000.

Contrary to this information, the UAE’s Department of Economy and Tourism clarified that the DV Hub website is not affiliated with the UAE government. Officials from Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners’ Affairs (GDRFAD) stated that the requirements for a tourist visa include a personal photo, a passport with at least six months validity, a travel ticket, and valid medical insurance within the UAE. The cost for a tourist visa ranges from 200 to 300 dirhams (approximately N60,000 to N90,000), far less than the fees mentioned by the DV Hub.

“You will need a personal photo and a copy of your passport which must not have less than six months validity,” a GDRFAD representative explained. “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 statement directly contradicts the information provided by the DV Hub, leading to confusion among prospective travelers. The UAE authorities have urged Nigerian applicants to rely on official sources for accurate visa requirements.

The Nigerian government has yet to respond to the UAE’s clarification. Meanwhile, travelers are advised to verify all information through official UAE channels to avoid potential scams and misinformation.

Credit: Vanguard