The 20 African countries affected by the UAE’s visa ban

Due to the sudden ban on visa applications, immigrants from 20 African countries, including Nigeria, have had to turn back home.

According to the UAE government, Friday saw the implementation of a ban on visa issuance to Nigerians. The ban contains rejection notices for applicants which will be sent beginning in batches.

A notice from the UAE government says their citizens will not be accepted for any visas from 20 African countries.

The notice also issued to trade partners, travel agents and government departments informs them that “all applications should be rejected.”

“We will no longer be publishing visa application procedures for these nationalities, as of October 18, 2022.”

The countries affected by the recent visa ban are Ghana, Uganda, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Cameroon, Nigeria, Liberia, Burundi, Republic of Guinea, Gambia, Togo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal, Benin and Ivory Coast. Countries with visas to the United States have been cut to zero.

People from these countries – Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia and Sudan – will not be accepted.

Just this past month, the possible visa-free entry for Nigerians was scrapped by the Ethiopian government.

As a safety measure, the country has imposed guidelines for Nigerians and citizens from 42 African countries to present their yellow fever vaccination cards at any of its borders.

For example, in 2021 the UAE banned foreign airlines from airlifting Nigerian passengers into the country.

Nigerian passengers connecting through Dubai for flights to other destinations have had airlines refuse to allow them to board.

There are currently diplomatic rows with Nigeria and the UAE which involve aviation. These issues have been ongoing for several months.