UAE imposes new requirements on Nigerian nationals

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? The United Arab Emirates is now requiring that Nigerian nationals provide additional documentation when applying for entry visas.

What does the change mean? The new requirements are being imposed to ensure that UAE employers are meeting their tax obligations with regard to Nigerian employees.

• Implementation time frame: Immediate.
• Visas/permits affected: Entry visas.
• Who is affected: Nigerian nationals applying for entry visas to the UAE.
• Business impact: UAE employers should plan for additional documentation for Nigerian nationals.
• Next steps: All applications for Nigerian nationals, including pending applications, that do not contain the additional documentation will be rejected.

Background: Nigerian visa applicants must include personal bank statements for the previous three months, credit card information and confirmed hotel booking, and couples whose surnames differ must include a copy of a marriage certificate. The documents should be submitted in JPG format not exceeding 375 KB.

Additionally, new restrictions on visa validity apply to Nigerian nationals. The maximum duration for an individual is 14 days, and the maximum for family members traveling together is 30 days. Applications for 96-hour visas must be submitted with proof of a visa for the onward destination country. Business visas cannot be extended in-country and travelers must leave the UAE to apply for a new visa.

BAL Analysis: UAE employers should be aware of the new restrictions for Nigerian employees and assignees.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Nigeria. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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