Beware of UAE new visa regime, FG advises Nigerian travelers

The Federal Government of Nigeria through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has advised Nigerians travelling to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to be guided by the new visa regime of the UAE government.

In a statement signed by Francisca Omayuli, the ministry’s spokesperson, it noted that the UAE government has introduced a new visa regime and has stopped issuing Tourist visas to persons under 40 years.

This is following videos on social media showing stranded Nigerians calling out the federal government after arriving in Dubai and being denied entry at the airport.

According to the statement, prospective visa applicants are now to indicate clearly their visa preferences.

The Federal Government urged Nigerians to respect the immigration laws of other countries so as to avoid unwarranted treatment.

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The statement reads, “The attention of the federal government has been drawn to a video on social media, showing purported stranded Nigerians, who arrived the airport in Dubai, UAE on 29th August 2022, but were denied entry into the country despite having valid visas.

“The Nigerian mission in Dubai has clarified that most of the supposedly stranded Nigerians were issued with family visas, only to arrive Dubai alone without any family member. Consequently, they were denied entrREADy and advised to return to their country and apply for the appropriate visa.

“However, those persons allowed entry into the country have their family members in the UAE, while those who claimed their family members were on another flight, were told to wait at the airport, pending their arrival.

“The general public is invited to note and be guided that the government of UAE has introduced a new visa regime and has stopped issuing tourist visas to persons under the age of 40 years, except for those applying for family visas.

“It is therefore instructive for prospective visa applicants to indicate clearly their visa preferences without any ambiguity and also respect the immigration laws of other countries so as to avoid unwarranted treatments.”