DV Hub Website Not Affiliated with Us, Unaware of $10k Bank Balance, N640k Visa Application Requirements” – UAE Govt

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has refuted claims that it requires Nigerian visa applicants to have a $10,000 bank balance and pay a N640,000 fee for document verification.

On Monday, many Nigerians were excited by reports that the three-year travel ban to the UAE had been lifted. However, their enthusiasm waned after Mohammed Idris, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, mentioned that the resolution included “mutually beneficial” conditions.

One of these conditions was obtaining a Document Verification Number (DVN), a specialised service to authenticate and verify documentation essential for visa applications to the UAE. The DVN process, according to the DV hub, costs a non-refundable N640,000, excluding VAT, per application and does not cover the visa fee. Additionally, applicants were reportedly required to show a six-month bank statement with a minimum balance of $10,000.

Many Nigerians were skeptical, describing the conditions as an implicit ‘constructive ban’. Doubts also arose about the authenticity of the DVN.

The UAE’s Department of Economy and Tourism, when contacted, stated that the DV hub website is not affiliated with the UAE government. They directed further inquiries to Dubai’s General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners’ Affairs (GDRFAD).

A spokesperson for GDRFAD clarified the visa application process, stating that applicants need a personal photo, a passport with at least six months’ validity, a travel ticket, and valid medical insurance within the UAE. Tourist visas typically cost between 200-300 dirhams (N60,000 – 90,000), depending on the duration of stay. GDRFAD confirmed they are unaware of any requirement for a $10,000 bank balance.

Eche Abu-Obe, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, assured that further clarification on the DVN issue would be sought from the ministry’s office in the Middle East.