The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has refuted claims that it has introduced a $10,000 bank balance and N640,000 fee requirements for Nigerian visa applicants. The UAE’s Department of Economy and Tourism clarified that the website requesting these conditions is not affiliated with the UAE government.
Earlier, the Nigerian Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, announced that the UAE had lifted travel restrictions on Nigerians, but with certain conditions. The conditions included obtaining a document verification number on a website that charged a non-refundable N640,000 fee per application, excluding VAT. Additionally, applicants were required to provide a six-month bank statement showing a minimum balance of $10,000.
Nigerian air travelers had condemned these requirements, labeling them a “constructive ban”. However, the UAE’s denial has clarified that these conditions are not official requirements for Nigerian visa applicants. The development has brought relief to many Nigerians who intend to travel to the UAE.
