The United Arab Emirates has put in place stricter entry measures for Nigerian travelers and has stopped accepting transit visa requests completely.
Travel agents shared this update on Tuesday, explaining that the new policy was communicated through fresh directives from Dubai immigration.
As part of the new rules, Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 45 can no longer apply for tourist visas on their own—they must be accompanied.
In addition, Nigerians who are 45 years and above must now present a personal bank statement covering the past six months. This statement must show that they have maintained at least $10,000 (or its naira equivalent) every month during this period.
“For Nigerian nationals, please bear in mind that an applicant aged 18 to 45 years travelling alone is not eligible for the TOURIST VISA CATEGORY,” a notice issued by Dubai immigration reads.
The notice further adds: “An applicant who is 45 years or above must provide a Single Nigerian personal bank statement for a period of the last six months, with each month’s end balance reflecting a minimum ending balance of USD 10,000 or its naira equivalent. Kindly note that the above points must be taken into consideration before sending your applications with other existing documents such as hotel reservation, data page, etc.”
Travel experts note that this new policy will likely reduce the number of Nigerians traveling to Dubai, which has long been a favorite destination for shopping, holidays, and business trips.
Many Nigerians have chosen Dubai because of its attractive tourism offers and welcoming environment, but this change could make travel plans more challenging, especially for younger travelers or those without high financial standing.
New UAE Visa Conditions for Nigerians
- Transit visa applications are no longer allowed for Nigerian nationals.
- Nigerians aged 18 to 45 years are ineligible for tourist visas if traveling alone.
Applicants aged 45 years and above must provide:
- A personal bank statement from a Nigerian bank for the last six months. Each month’s statement must show an ending balance of at least $10,000 or its naira equivalent.
- All existing requirements such as hotel reservations and passport data pages must still be submitted with applications.
