The United Arab Emirates, UAE, has denied it exempted Nigerians from the customary visa application process.
TheCable exclusively reports that it contacted the UAE’s department of economy and tourism to confirm if obtaining a DVN was part of the resolutions reached between the Nigerian government and the UAE authorities before the suspension of the visa ban on Nigerian passport holders.
According to the report, the department said the DV hub website is not affiliated with the UAE government.
This comes after it emerged that Nigerian passport holders intending to visit UAE are now mandated to first obtain a Document Verification Number, DVN, before applying for visa.
Recall that it was announced on Monday that the UAE has lifted a three-year travel ban on Nigeria.
Following the announcement, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said that 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 mandated to provide proof of a six-month bank statement with a minimum balance of $10,000.
Some Nigerians have frowned at the conditions, saying it is a ‘constructive ban’, while others expressed doubt about the authenticity of the DVN.
However, upon enquiry by TheCable, the UAE’s department of economy and tourism said the DV hub website is not affiliated with the UAE government.
When asked if Nigerians are required to make payments for documents’ verification, it referred the media outlet to Dubai’s general directorate of residency and foreigners’ affairs (GDRFAD).
The GDRFAD said, while explaining the process for a visa application: “You will need a personal photo and a copy of your passport which must not have less than six months validity.
“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.”
Also, on the issue of 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.”
Meanwhile, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Eche Abu-Obe, told TheCable that clarification on the DVN would be sought and provided from the Ministry’s office in the Middle East.