File photo of a UAE visa process
The three-year dispute between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Nigeria has been resolved — but not without some caveats.
On Monday, Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, announced that the UAE and Nigeria had reached an agreement for the resumption of travel for citizens beginning July 15.
Idris said the resolution was reached following “successful talks and extensive, mutually beneficial negotiations”.
However, the minister said the new deal includes “updated controls and conditions” to facilitate obtaining a UAE visa.
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One of the new requirements is obtaining a document verification number (DVN).
According to the DV hub, the process is a specialised service designed to authenticate and verify documentation essential for visa applications to the UAE.
The DVN costs a non-refundable ₦640,000 excluding VAT for each application. This does not include the visa fee which must be paid by credit card at the UAE visa centre in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.
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For Nigerians residing abroad, the visa fee can be paid at the nearest UAE visa centre.
“Your issued document verification number will be valid for 14 days from issuance, or once your visa application has been processed by the visa application department (whichever of these come first),” the DV hub said.
Interested travellers are expected to receive their DVN within five business days once payment has been successfully processed.
In addition to obtaining a UAE visa, Nigerians are required to provide proof of a six-month bank statement with a minimum balance of $10,000.
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Applicants are also mandated to show round-trip flight tickets and proof of hotel booking.
A ‘CONSTRUCTIVE BAN’
Nigerians have expressed mixed reactions over the development, with others knocking the federal government for accepting the agreement.
“How many Nigerians have a balance of $10k causally?” tweeted an X user who questioned the authenticity of the UAE’s intentions.
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Nigerians now need to show a bank balance of at least $10,000 and pay a non-refundable fee of N688000 (excluding visa fees) for a DVN in order to get a TOURIST visa to the U.A.E.
Looks like a constructive ban. How many Nigerians have a balance of $10k causally? pic.twitter.com/bPZ1MuvGEN
Advertisement— Moe (@Mochievous) July 16, 2024
Here are more reactions.
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So the UAE wants to collect 640k from Nigerians for Visa. Hahahahah
— oseni rufai (@ruffydfire) July 16, 2024
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It’s obvious the UAE don’t want Nigerians. They reluctantly unbanned the Nigerian passport, but slammed a hefty N640,000 on Nigerians.
Guess what? The money is nonrefundable & has expiration date. This is see finish. FG & your Minister of Information, are shameless. 👎👎 pic.twitter.com/fjethjo3hw
— NEFERTITI (@firstladyship) July 16, 2024
My unsolicited take on this UAE visa thing is that – you see that website? 100% FG trying to fleece Nigerians & UAE has nothing to do with it.
UAE probably just made a simple request to FG “ensure applicants are vetted properly before they apply for our visa”.— Я (@RicDizZLe) July 16, 2024
This UAE visa thing is the most stupid thing I’ve ever seen. We need to wake the hell up and have just a crumb of dignity, or shame at least.
The only time these people are this overzealous is when they’re majoring in the minor and extorting citizens. It’s disgusting.
— Alma Asinobi (@almaasinobi) July 16, 2024
I can wager anything that this money does not go to the UAE govt.
It’s probably UAE saying verify your people before sending them here for visa. Then the Nigerian govt puts that high amount for “Documents verification”
A sort of a racket.
Time will expose it sha. https://t.co/OMOGMgk1af
— Morris Monye (@Morris_Monye) July 16, 2024
N640k for document verification for UAE visa.
N500k for US visa appointment.
What are the similarities and the differences?
Discuss (100 mks).
— Spotlight Abby (@Spotlight_Abby) July 16, 2024
tried to apply for the UAE visa
– you need to show a 6 months bank statement with a balance of USD10,000
(Note this is absurd for a VISIT VISA!)
– Non refundable N688,000 VAT incl. for document verification which is different from the visa fee.
(Note, this is daylight robbery…
— Val (@yuteoflondon) July 16, 2024
Dubai Visa Verification charges a fee of N640,000 for verification purposes only. The total amount required to obtain the UAE visa will be approximately 1 million. This is currently the most expensive visa. The ban should have been maintained. pic.twitter.com/4aIFzTXq5N
— Abdul Rasheeth (@Rasheethe) July 15, 2024
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