United Arab Emirates (UAE). Shuttershock
Eko Hot Blog reports that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has denied approving $10,000 bank balance and N640,000 fee as visa application requirements.
According to The Cable, UAE’s department of economy and tourism said it was not affiliated with the Document Verification (DV) website which the Nigerian Government had promoted.
Recall that Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, had announced on Monday that the UAE three-year visa ban on Nigerians had been lifted.
However, he said part of the conditions included 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 N640,000 excluding VAT for each application. This does not include the visa fee.
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.
Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris
However, the UAE government said it does not require the non-refundable N640,000 fee.
On the question of the minimum balance of $10,000, Dubai’s general directorate of residency and foreigners’ affairs (GDRFAD) told The Cable that it was not aware of that requirement.
“You will need a personal photo and a copy of your passport which must not have less than six months validity,” the GDRFAD said, while explaining the process for a visa application.
“You will also need a travel ticket and valid medical insurance within the UAE.”
Asked about the need to have a bank balance of $10,000, the directorate said: “We are not aware of such requirements. Make your visa applications through the GDRFAD.”
A tourist visa costs about 200-300 dirhams (N60,000 – 90,000) depending on the stay.
Eche Abu-Obe, spokesperson for Nigeria’s ministry of foreign affairs, told TheCable that clarification on the DVN would be sought and provided from the ministry’s office in the Middle East.
It was not immediately clear where the information minister found the DV hub or whether it is affiliated with the Nigerian government.
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