UAE Bans Transit Visas for Nigerians, After US Visa Restrictions
Barely 24 hours after the United States imposed new visa restrictions on Nigerian travellers, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has also amended its visa policy, further tightening travel conditions for Nigerians.
This latest directive marks another restrictive turn in UAE’s visa policy towards Nigeria, coming 10 months after a similar amendment that limited Nigerian access to the Gulf nation.
According to credible sources within the travel industry, the UAE has now banned the issuance of transit visas to Nigerian nationals. Travel agencies confirmed receiving the updated directive from UAE authorities on Tuesday.
The new guideline outlines stringent conditions for Nigerians applying for tourist visas. Applicants aged between 18 and 46 years travelling alone are no longer eligible under the tourism category. In addition, applicants aged 45 and above must now present a six-month personal Nigerian bank statement, with each month’s closing balance reflecting a minimum of $10,000 or its naira equivalent.
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This development coincides with changes announced by the US Mission in Nigeria on the same Tuesday, July 8, 2025. The mission revealed that most non-immigrant and non-official visas for Nigerians would now be single-entry and valid for only three months. However, visas issued before this date remain unaffected.
Reacting to the US policy revision, travel expert and tourism ambassador Ikechi Uko described it as a “wake-up call” for the Nigerian government to modernize its visa framework.
“Our visa policy is outdated. We only reciprocate on visa fees, not on access or duration,” Uko said. “The Trump administration previously pressured Nigeria to scrap extra visa fees. Now, this new three-month single-entry rule should prompt serious reforms.”
Uko advocated for Nigeria to adopt policies that align with global best practices, including issuing multiple-entry and long-term visas, as well as offering visas on arrival to citizens of countries that extend similar privileges to Nigeria.
“Countries like Ghana have secured visa-free agreements with Zimbabwe, Kenya, South Africa, and Morocco. Morocco, Kenya, and Qatar have also reformed their visa regimes to attract more visitors. Nigeria must follow suit if it wants to remain competitive in the global travel ecosystem,” he added.
By PRNigeria
