UAE’s new visa guidelines have led to many travelers being denied boarding at various Indian airports

Thursday, May 23, 2024

UAE Tightens Immigration Norms with New Visa Policy

Indian passengers are being denied boarding at several Indian airports due to the UAE’s tightened immigration norms. Previously, the UAE announced an ease of visa policies, including visa-free travel for more countries to boost tourism. The UAE has instructed all airlines, including Indigo, to strictly follow the new guidelines before allowing travelers to board flights to the UAE, including Dubai. Only passengers who meet the new guidelines are permitted to travel. Here are the new visa guidelines set forth by the UAE immigration department, outlining the norms for visitors.

Here are new visa guidelines issued by the UAE immigration authorities for those arriving in UAE on a visiting visa:

Airport officials will inquire about the purpose of the visit, accommodation facilities, and the amount of money available for expenses. Those unable to provide satisfactory answers will not be allowed to leave the airport.
Visitors on a visiting visa or tourist visa are not permitted to work. It is illegal for travel agencies and recruitment agencies to promise employment opportunities to visiting visa holders.
Individuals arriving on employment visas must complete the necessary visa procedures on their entry permit, which allows them to work in the UAE.
If the purpose of the visit is tourism, visitors should provide information about their hotel, return ticket, and the amount of money available for expenses.
If visiting a relative or friend, officials may request copies of the relative’s or friend’s visa and passport, as well as details of their address, phone number, and place of accommodation.

The immigration department has increased inspections and screenings at UAE airports to identify job seekers arriving on visiting visas. Several passengers from Kottayam and Idukki districts in Kerala were detained due to inadequate travel documents. The heightened scrutiny began at Kerala’s Kochi and Kozhikode airports. This stricter enforcement follows the detainment of passengers in the UAE. On Wednesday alone, over 20 passengers were prevented from boarding at Cochin International Airport, while Calicut International Airport sees up to five such cases daily. So far, at least 30 passengers in Kozhikode have had their trips canceled.

Airline companies are now rigorously enforcing guidelines requiring visiting visa holders to have hotel booking documents and 5,000 dirhams (approximately Rs 1.3 lakh) for expenses. Many passengers with only a visa and air tickets were denied boarding. They were not allowed to travel even after providing visa details and contact information for relatives and friends in the UAE. Those whose trips were canceled received no refunds or rescheduling options, often waiting for hours at the airport before returning home.

Indigo Airlines officials mentioned that they received the directives regarding hotel booking documentation and a 5,000-dirham margin, along with the visa and return ticket requirements, by Tuesday night. The guidelines state that airlines would be held responsible if passengers without proper documents arrive in the UAE, facing fines of 5,000 dirhams per passenger. This is the first time such stringent measures have been implemented at airports for UAE-bound passengers. Travelers must have or carry 3,000 dirhams (Rs 68,000) for a one-month visa and 5,000 dirhams for a three-month visa, with credit cards meeting these limits also accepted.

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Tags: Airline News, travel alert, Travel News, Travelers denied boarding, UAE Immigration, UAE Visa Guideline