Good news! The Federal Government has made a new deal with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Starting from July 15, 2024, Nigerians can now get visas to travel to the UAE.
Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information, shared this announcement on his social media page on Monday. The UAE has ended the visa ban on Nigerian passport holders.
This new agreement came after many talks between Nigeria and the UAE. They set new rules to make it easier for Nigerians to get a UAE visa.
“After successful talks between the Nigerian and UAE governments, an agreement was reached allowing Nigerian passport holders to travel to the UAE again,” the Minister wrote.
New Rules for Getting a UAE Visa
The UAE has new rules for Nigerians who want to visit. Now, Nigerians need to get a Document Verification Number (DVN) before they can apply for a visa.
The UAE Document Verification Hub explained that this rule ensures all documents are checked and approved online before a visa is issued. Kids under 13 do not need a DVN.
How to Get a DVN and a UAE Visa
1. Apply for the DVN:
- Fill out an online form to start the DVN process.
2. Upload Documents:
- Provide your ID, travel history, and other necessary papers for verification.
3. Receive Your DVN:
- After submitting the documents, the UAE will check them. If everything is okay, you will get your DVN in 5 business days.
4. Apply for a UAE Visa:
- Use your DVN to apply for a UAE visa.
Background Story
In October 2022, the UAE stopped giving visas to Nigerians without any clear reason. This caused many travel and diplomatic issues between both countries.
In late 2023, President Bola Tinubu visited the UAE to resolve the visa issue. They talked about lifting the ban and the stoppage of Emirates Airlines flights to Nigeria. After the meeting, they agreed to lift the visa ban.
By May 16, 2024, Emirates Airlines announced that it would start flying to Nigeria again on October 1, 2024. This was after stopping for two years.
Even though they made progress, there was still a delay in officially lifting the visa ban. This caused lots of discussions in Nigeria. The government kept assuring everyone that the UAE would lift the ban soon.
In June 2024, Festus Keyamo, the Minister of Aviation, said the UAE would soon announce the date to lift the ban. He explained that extra steps were needed even though the two presidents had agreed to lift the ban in September 2023.