Nigerians to have $10k bank balance, pay N640k application fee for UAE Visa
The three-year dispute between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Nigeria has been resolved, but not without some new conditions.
On Monday, Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, announced that the UAE and Nigeria had reached an agreement for the resumption of travel for citizens beginning July 15. Idris stated that the resolution came after “successful talks and extensive, mutually beneficial negotiations.”
However, the new deal includes “updated controls and conditions” for obtaining a UAE visa. One of the new requirements is obtaining a Document Verification Number (DVN).
According to the DV hub, this process is a specialized service designed to authenticate and verify documentation essential for visa applications to the UAE. The DVN costs a non-refundable ₦640,000 excluding VAT for each application, not including the visa fee, which must be paid by credit card at the UAE visa center in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city. For Nigerians residing abroad, the visa fee can be paid at the nearest UAE visa center.
“Your issued document verification number will be valid for 14 days from issuance, or once your visa application has been processed by the visa application department (whichever comes first),” the DV hub stated. Interested travelers are expected to receive their DVN within five business days once payment has been successfully processed.
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. Applicants must also show round-trip flight tickets and proof of hotel booking.
A ‘Constructive ban’
Nigerians have expressed mixed reactions over the development, with some criticizing the federal government for accepting the agreement. “How many Nigerians have a balance of $10k casually?” tweeted an X user, questioning the authenticity of the UAE’s intentions.
The new requirements have raised concerns about accessibility and the fairness of the process, prompting debates about the broader implications for Nigerian travelers.
