Barely 24 hours after the United States announced visa restrictions for Nigerian non-immigrant travellers, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has introduced new restrictions on visa application policies for Nigerian citizens, affecting transit and tourist visas.
In a notice to travel agents on Tuesday, Dubai immigration authorities confirmed that all transit visa applications from Nigerian nationals would no longer be processed, effectively shutting down a key travel route frequently used by Nigerians connecting through the UAE.
The directive also introduced new eligibility requirements for tourist visa applicants.
“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,” the statement noted.
Additionally, stricter financial documentation is now required for older applicants.
“An applicant who is 45 years or above must provide a single Nigerian personal bank statement for a period of six months, with each month’s end balance reflecting a minimum ending balance of USD 10,000 or its Naira equivalent.”
The notification further emphasised: “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.”
Prior to this, Nigerian passport holders had been entangled in multiple travel disputes with the UAE, marked by a series of restrictions.
The new policy takes immediate effect and is being seen as part of a wider shift among the Gulf and Western countries toward tighter immigration control, particularly in response to perceived irregularities involving travellers from Africa.
Nigerian travellers face twin travel restrictions. This is coming just a year after the UAE and Nigeria resolved a two-year visa ban placed on Nigerian nationals.
One of the most significant events occurred on December 13, 2021, when the Emirates imposed a travel ban on passengers from Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo, citing a surge in COVID-19 cases among travellers from both countries.
The Nigerian government later announced the lifting of that ban in 2024.
Just about 24 hours earlier, the US State Department announced new visa restrictions, limiting most Nigerian non-immigrant visas to single entry and a three-month validity.
