The United Arab Emirates (UAE), has stopped issuing 90-days visit visas for Nigerians and other nationalities visiting their country.

According to a local media, Khaleej Times, the Federal Authority For Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP) call centre executive said the three-month visas are no longer available.

The call centre executive disclosed that visitors can only come into the country through a 30 or 60 day visa and not 90 day visa anymore.

“The three-month entry permit was available a few months ago, but not anymore. Visitors to the UAE can come on a 30- or 60-day visa.”

The executive added, “Travel agencies can issue them”. Travel agents confirmed the development to Khaleej Times. They said the option to request a three-month visit visa is unavailable on the portal they use to issue permits.

The three-month visit visa was discontinued during the Covid-19 pandemic, with a 60-day one introduced instead.

However, the three-month scheme was made available again as a leisure visa in May.

In Dubai, the 90-day visa is being issued to visitors who are first-degree relatives of residents.

A call centre executive at Amer confirmed this, saying residents can bring their parents or relatives on the three-month scheme.

Several agents have reported that the three-month visit visas have been temporarily suspended. “As per the information we have received, the issuance of long-term leisure visas has been stopped temporarily.

The demand for this visa was slightly increasing due to the winter months ahead,” said Firoz Maliyakkal, founder and CEO of Tahira Tours and Travels.