UAE denies approving $10k bank balance, N640k fee as visa application requirements

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) says Nigeria has not been exempted from the customary visa application process.

On Monday, the federal government announced that the three-year travel ban from the UAE had been lifted.

However, Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, said the resolution had conditions that were “mutually beneficial”.

Part of the conditions include 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.

While some citizens described the conditions as an upheld ‘constructive ban’, others expressed doubt about the authenticity of the DVN.

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TheCable contacted the UAE’s department of economy and tourism to confirm if obtaining a DVN was part of the resolutions reached.

The department said the DV hub website is not affiliated with the UAE government.

Asked if Nigerians are required to make payments for documents’ verification, TheCable was referred to Dubai’s general directorate of residency and foreigners’ affairs (GDRFAD).

“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.

A tourist visa costs about 200-300 dirhams (N60,000 – 90,000) depending on the stay.

“You will also need a travel ticket and valid medical insurance within the UAE,” the GDRFAD added.

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.”

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.

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha

Ifeoma Okeke-Korieocha is the Aviation Correspondent at BusinessDay Media Limited, publishers of BusinessDay Newspapers. She is also the Deputy Editor, BusinessDay Weekender Magazine, the Saturday Weekend edition of BusinessDay. She holds a BSC in Mass Communication from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka and a Masters degree in Marketing at the University of Lagos. As the lead writer on the aviation desk, Ifeoma is responsible and in charge of the three weekly aviation and travel pages in BusinessDay and BDSunday. She also overseas and edits all pages of BusinessDay Saturday Weekender. She has written various investigative, features and news stories in aviation and business related issues and has been severally nominated for award in the category of Aviation Writer of the Year by the Nigeria Media Nite-Out awards; one of the Nigeria’s most prestigious media awards ceremonies. Ifeoma is a one-time winner of the prestigious Nigeria Media Merit Award under the 'Aviation Writer of the Year' Category. She is the 2025 Eloy Award winner under the Print Media Journalist category. She has undergone several journalism trainings by various prestigious organisations. Ifeoma is also a fellow of the Female Reporters Leadership Fellowship of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism.