The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has announced a sweeping restriction on visa applications from Nigerian nationals, including a complete ban on transit visas and stricter requirements for tourist entries.
In a communication sent to travel agents on Tuesday, Dubai immigration authorities confirmed that transit visa applications from Nigerian nationals will no longer be processed.
The notification also introduced new eligibility conditions for tourist visa applicants. According to the directive, Nigerians aged between 18 and 45 are no longer eligible to apply for a tourist visa unless they are accompanied.
“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 notice read.
It further stated that Nigerians aged 45 and above must now present a personal six-month bank statement with each month reflecting a minimum balance of $10,000 (or its naira equivalent) in order to qualify for a tourist visa.
“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.,” it added.
This development comes barely a year after the diplomatic resolution of a two-year visa ban placed on Nigerian citizens by the UAE authorities. While the travel restrictions were lifted in 2023 following talks between both countries, the process of securing visas remained selective and tightly monitored.
Meanwhile, the development coincides with similar restrictions by the United States government. On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of State announced new visa regulations for Nigerian citizens, stating that most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas will now be issued as single-entry visas valid for only three months.
A statement by the U.S. Embassy in Abuja clarified that visas issued before July 8, 2025, will retain their validity and terms.
