UAE tightens visa rules for visitors
Abu Dhabi, September 18, 2012
The UAE has adopted stricter norms for issuing short-term visas for people from many labour exporting countries, a report said.
The visas covered included tourist, visit and conference visas for workers, the Gulf News report said.
The report quoted a senior official as saying the step was to curb the influx of blue-collar workers from many labour exporting countries into the country.
The new rules ban visit visas for some workers, especially from traditional labour exporting countries to the UAE, and sets a university degree as a prerequisite for obtaining a visa, plus other requirements, the report said.
Categories banned from obtaining tourist, visit or conference visas include electricians, pipe fitters, masons, farmers, drivers, tailors and cleaners.
The requirements include round trip tickets, proof of a confirmed hotel booking and enough money to finance the stay, the report said.
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and The Philippines are some of the largest countries exporting labour to the UAE.
The source quoted by Gulf News stressed it is up to applicants to satisfy visa officers that their visit to the UAE is temporary and that they would not overstay, that they have enough money to cover their stay, have health insurance and are not a security risk to citizens and residents.
Tourist visas must be prearranged, usually through a hotel but possibly also through an airline or other travel agents based in the UAE.
Conference participants will have to submit proof of their status as a businessman or woman or investor and have enough money to cover their stay and health insurance, the report said.
