UAE Slams Fresh Visa Restrictions on Nigerians, Bans Transit Visas
In a move that signals escalating immigration control, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has imposed a fresh set of stringent visa conditions targeting Nigerian travelers, with a complete suspension of transit visa applications.
Reliable sources within the travel industry confirmed to Daily Trust that the new directives were issued to Nigerian travel agents on Tuesday by Dubai immigration authorities. The latest policy shift is seen as a significant blow to Nigerian travel to the UAE, long a top destination for both business and leisure.
According to the new guidelines, Nigerian citizens aged between 18 and 45 are now barred from securing tourist visas unless they are accompanied by a family member or in a group. Additionally, those aged 45 and above are subject to strict financial requirements, including the submission of a personal bank statement showing a minimum monthly end balance of $10,000 (or its naira equivalent) over the past six months.
The directive stated:
“For Nigeria nationals, please bear in mind that an applicant aged 18 to 45 years travelling alone is not eligible for the TOURIST VISA CATEGORY.
An applicant who is 45 years or above must provide a single Nigerian personal bank statement for a period of the last six months, with each month’s end balance reflecting a minimum of USD 10,000 or its naira equivalent.”
This development comes less than a year after a diplomatic resolution between Nigeria and the UAE that led to the lifting of a two-year visa ban on Nigerian travelers. Despite the resolution, visa issuances remained limited, and this latest move suggests a further tightening of the UAE’s visa regime for Nigerians.
Travel agents, already grappling with the post-ban restrictions, now express concern that the new visa policy will drastically reduce Nigerian traffic to Dubai, which has historically served as a key gateway for both tourism and commerce in the Middle East.
The UAE has not publicly given a detailed explanation for the revised policy, but experts speculate that it may be linked to immigration control concerns, overstays, or broader bilateral relations.
The implications are wide-ranging, affecting not only leisure travelers but also business stakeholders who rely on Dubai as a hub for meetings, logistics, and trade.
As diplomatic channels remain open, it is yet to be seen whether Nigeria’s foreign affairs authorities will intervene to renegotiate the terms or respond through official statements.
Reference
UAE Slams Fresh Visa Restrictions on Nigerians, Bans Transit Visas