It was recently announced that the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will ban visas for as many as 21 African countries, including Nigeria and Uganda, as of October 18, 2022.
In the coming weeks, we will no longer be posting applications through the Immigration Authorities of the UAE for 30-day visas for these nationalities.
There are a number of other African countries that are affected by the UAE’s visa ban, including.
- Ghana
- Sierra Leone
- Sudan
- Cameroon
- Nigeria
- Liberia
- Burundi
- Republic of Guinea
- The Gambia
- Togo
- Democratic Republic of Congo
- Senegal
- Benin
- Ivory Coast
- Congo
- Rwanda
- Burkina Faso
- Guinea Bissau
- Comoros
- Dominican Republic
- Uganda
The authorities have issued a notice to all trade partners, including travel agents, informing them that all requests from these countries should be refused.
“Any applications from the above-mentioned countries will be sent back or canceled.”
Sources report that the decision was made in order to keep African nationals who had taken advantage of visit visas to overstay in the UAE out of the country.
Historically, many people have used 30-day visit visas to stay in the UAE, particularly in Dubai, especially Africans who wish to work there.
A visit visa is obtained, and the applicant flies to the country as a visitor but spends the time looking for work.
The Sand Dunes country has been reported to have many visitors overstaying their visas and working illegally.
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