…UAE denies approving $10k bank balance, N640k fee as visa application requirements.
In a recent development regarding Nigerian citizens’ travel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), startling revelations have emerged concerning the federal government’s visa application process. The Nigerian government, under President Bola Tinubu, announced the lifting of the three-year travel ban from the UAE, seemingly bringing relief to many. However, accompanying this announcement were conditions that have sparked controversy and raised eyebrows across the nation.
According to Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, obtaining a DVN is a prerequisite for UAE visa applications, costing a hefty N640,000 per applicant, excluding VAT. This fee, stated as non-refundable, is in addition to other visa application costs and requirements, including maintaining a minimum bank balance of $10,000 for six months.
Central to these conditions is the requirement for Nigerian applicants to obtain a Document Verification Number (DVN) from a purportedly mandated website, allegedly affiliated with UAE visa processing. This DVN, costing a staggering non-refundable sum of N640,000 excluding VAT per application, has drawn severe criticism and suspicion from citizens and experts alike.
The controversy deepened when investigations by reputable sources, including TheCable, revealed that the website responsible for issuing the DVN, “documentverificationhub.ae,” is not officially endorsed by the UAE government. Instead, it operates under the “.ae” domain, contrasting with legitimate UAE government sites that end with “.gov.ae.” Furthermore, inquiries made to UAE authorities directly disavowed any knowledge or endorsement of such exorbitant fees or the DVN requirement.
David Hundeyin, an investigation, highlighted the discrepancies, alleging the website’s ownership hides behind a paid proxy, casting further doubt on its legitimacy. According to him, the official avenue for UAE visa applications remains solely through the UAE’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners’ Affairs (GDRFAD) at “gdrfad.gov.ae.”
Responding to mounting concerns, Eche Abu-Obe, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, pledged to investigate and provide clarity on the DVN issue from their Middle East office. This move comes amidst growing public outcry and accusations that the Nigerian government, through this DVN requirement, might be attempting to exploit its citizens for financial gain.
Critics argue that the imposition of such a hefty fee, coupled with an additional requirement of maintaining a $10,000 minimum balance in applicants’ bank accounts for the past six months, effectively serves as a financial barrier tantamount to a “constructive ban” on travel for many Nigerians. The conditions, they claim, not only lack transparency but also appear to contradict the spirit of the announced travel resumption agreement.
In light of these developments, questions abound regarding the transparency and motives behind the Nigerian government’s handling of the UAE travel resumption. As Nigerians await further clarity from official channels, skepticism remains rife, with many calling for accountability and fairness in the visa application process.
For now, the controversy surrounding the N640,000 DVN fee continues to dominate headlines, underscoring the need for clarity, accountability, and adherence to due process in international travel arrangements affecting Nigerian citizens
