04/09/2020
MAXIMUM 30DAYS SINGLE TERM TOURIST VISA FOR NIGERIAN NATIONALITY
There is speculation over the week that the United Arab Emirates has opened 30 days Single Term Tourist Visa portal for Nigeria Nationality following the new visa rules and are now requiring that Nigerian nationals provide additional documentation when applying for entry visas.
What does the change mean?
The new requirements are being imposed to ensure that Nigerians visiting UAE on tourism keeps solely to the aim. The 30 days maximum Single Term Tourist visa will help curb against Nigerians that enters into the country with tourism applications but end up indulgencing in criminal activities.
It is important to remind Nigerians that tourist visa are not meant for job seekers but for tourism and leisure only by Law.
Whereas a visit visa can be used for business meetings, to attend a seminar or any other purpose such as job seekers etc. Visit visas are open to job seekers upon family or relatives sponsorships.
Speaking with one of the officials he said, In our 90days visa portal, 75% of Nigerians who came in with 90 days Long Term Tourist visa violated UAE visa policy before March, 2020. They always go against our visa policy of exiting before the visa expires, and these violators are the perpetrators of the criminal activities in the country, they indulge in these criminal activities because they can't sustain themselves.
There are thousands of Nigerians seeking UAE government help to go back home, these people are visa violators. How can we keep allowing people to come in on tourist visas but cannot even sustain themselves when they get here?
As we speak, we keep receiving Nigerians everyday seeking UAE government to take them home, this is terrible!
Therefore, It is not wise to keep issuing long term visa as that could lead to social vices when they have nothing to sustain.
Listen, there are many cases where Nigerians abcond from jobs after being employed for some months. You know what I am talking about and it is true, we have data of these complaints from employers. This is one of the reasons we are careful with approving cancelled visas and Tourist to work permit. Currently we are confident with employer seeking RENEWAL of Nigerian work permit, the company will get approval because if the Nigerian employee is not dedicated, the company will not seek the employee renewal.
Therefore, we are changing policy to enable Nigerians cut their own budget and not to come on Long Term tourist visa and be asking UAE government to take them home.
The long term visit visas meant for job seekers and family visitation will be available if the sponsors meets the requirements and of which undertaking the activities of the applicants are inclusive.
Nigerian tourist visa applicants must include personal bank statements for the previous three months, credit card information and confirmed hotel booking, and couples whose surnames differ must include a copy of a marriage certificate. The documents should be submitted in JPG format not exceeding 375 KB.
Additionally, applications for 96-hour visas must be submitted with proof of a visa for the onward destination country. Business visas cannot be extended in-country and travelers must leave the UAE to apply for a new visa.
Challenges:
80 to 90 percent of travel agencies in UAE will not accept Nigeria applicants due the fear of overstay and absconding. The 10 to 20 percent of the travel agencies that will accept the applicants, it will be very expressive and visa deposit will be included with strict promissory note.