Nigerians will have to overcome a new hurdle to obtain a United Arab Emirates (UAE) visa as the UAE government has introduced a mandatory document verification requirement for Nigerian passport holders.
The new regulation, which took effect on July 15, 2024, requires Nigerians to obtain a Document Verification Number (DVN) before applying for a visa to enter the UAE.
According to the Emirate’s verification website, the DVN application process comes with a non-refundable fee of ₦640,000 (six hundred forty thousand Nigerian Naira), excluding VAT. The issued DVN will be valid for only 14 days from issuance, or until the visa application is processed, whichever comes first.
The new guideline, established by the UAE government, reportedly aims to ensure that all necessary documents are digitally verified and authenticated before visa issuance. However, individuals below the age of 13 are exempt from this requirement.
This development comes after the Nigerian government on Monday announced an agreement with the UAE to resume visa issuance to Nigerians. The agreement follows a protracted diplomatic row that led to a two-year suspension of visa issuance to Nigerians.
