By Nwosa Hamilton
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has introduced tougher visa regulations for Nigerian citizens.
Effective immediately, the new visa policies include a complete ban on transit visas and stricter requirements for tourist visa applications.
This move, announced on July 9, 2025, marks the second amendment to the UAE’s visa policy for Nigerians in less than a year.
The new policy has effectively barred Nigerians from using major hubs like Dubai International Airport for layovers.
This decision is expected to disrupt travel plans for thousands of Nigerians who frequently use the UAE as a transit point for international flights.
According to new directives from Dubai immigration, Nigerians aged 18 to 45 will no longer be eligible for tourist visas unless accompanied.
For those aged 45 and above, visa applicants must present a personal six-month bank statement showing a minimum monthly balance of $10,000 (or its naira equivalent).
The directive reads in part: “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.
“An applicant who is 45 years or above must provide a Single Nigerian personal bank statement for a period of the last six months, with each month’s end balance reflecting a minimum ending balance of USD 10,000 or its naira equivalent.
“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.”
