UAE joins US, slams tougher visa rules on Nigerians

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced fresh visa restrictions targeting Nigerian nationals, effectively shutting the doors tighter for those hoping to travel to the Gulf nation.

In a sweeping policy update, the UAE has banned all transit visa applications from Nigerians, while enforcing stiffer requirements for tourist visas — particularly for those within the age range of 18 to 45.

According to new directives circulating within diplomatic circles, Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 45 are no longer eligible to apply for tourist visas unless they are travelling with someone.

But the squeeze doesn’t end there. Even older applicants, aged 45 and above, must now present a personal six-month Nigerian bank statement showing a consistent end-of-month balance of at least $10,000 (or its naira equivalent) to qualify.

“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,” a UAE notice to visa applicants stated.

The development comes at a time of growing international scrutiny on Nigerian travelers. Both the United States and Canada have recently adjusted their visa and immigration policies, placing more hurdles before Nigerian applicants.

While no official reason has been cited by the UAE authorities, there are whispers of a coordinated global clampdown on Nigerian migration, especially as similar restrictions keep surfacing from other countries.

This new policy will likely worsen the plight of many Nigerians currently stranded or seeking better opportunities abroad.

Just last month, officials from the Nigerian embassy visited dozens of stranded citizens in the UAE, many of whom were stuck without documentation or funds.

For now, the message from the UAE is clear: if you’re Nigerian, it’s no longer business as usual when it comes to getting a visa.