Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama
FG alerts Nigerian travellers to Dubai on new tourist visa rules barring under-40s
Federal Government has alerted Nigerian travellers to Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on the Gulf nation’s new tourist visa rules which barred entry to persons under 40 years old.
Reacting to a viral video which trended, Thursday, showing dozens of stranded Nigerians at the Dubai airport refused entry into the country, the Federal Government clarified that the affected persons ‘did not have the valid visas to enter the country.’
It would be recalled that despite possessing valid visas to enter Dubai, Nigerian travellers were left stranded at the Gulf nation’s airport following a newly-implemented visa rule which, among others, stipulated possession of return tickets accompanying the visas, as well as, travellers having family visas.
A statement issued, Thursday, by spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Francisca Omayuli, alerted Nigerian travellers to Dubai that the UAE had stopped issuing tourist visas to persons under the age of 40 years, except for those applying for family visas.
“The Nigerian Mission in Dubai has clarified that most of the supposedly stranded Nigerians were issued with family visas, only to arrive Dubai alone without any family member.
“Consequently, they were denied entry and advised to return to their country and apply for the appropriate visas.
“However, those persons allowed entry into the country have their family members in the UAE, while those who claimed their family members were on another flight were told to wait at the airport pending their arrival.
“The general public is invited to note and be guided that the Government of the UAE has introduced a new visa regime and has stopped issuing tourist visas to persons under the age of 40 years, except for those applying for family visas.
“It is, therefore, instructive for prospective visa applicants to indicate clearly their visa preferences without any ambiguity and also respect the immigration laws of other countries so as to avoid unwarranted treatments,” the Ministry statement read.
