UAE affirms No Visa Ban on Pakistanis Amid Stricter Screening
ISLAMABAD: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially confirmed that there is no formal visa ban on Pakistani nationals, as stated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) in a letter to the National Assembly on Wednesday.
Clarification from UAE Authorities
Responding to a query from Dr. Nafisa Shah, the MoFA relayed that the UAE Embassy had provided clarification regarding visa policies. The Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security in the UAE has introduced a new five-year visa framework that applies to all nationalities, including Pakistani applicants.
In order to guarantee the legitimacy of visa application, applicants must provide certain documents under the updated regulation. Among the necessary prerequisites are,
Tickets for round-trip flights to confirm travel arrangements.
Confirmations of hotel reservations or proof of lodging arrangements.
Evidence of UAE property ownership, if any.
an AED 3,000 refundable down payment, which guarantees financial stability throughout the visit.
More stringent scrutiny of visa applications
Despite the fact that there isn’t a formal prohibition on visas, UAE officials have taken a stricter stance when considering Pakistani individuals’ applications. This increased scrutiny has been caused by a number of issues, such as:
Submission of fraudulent documents: Some applicants have been found presenting fake educational degrees, diplomas, and falsified employment contracts, which has raised concerns among UAE immigration officials.
Overstaying violations: A significant number of Pakistani nationals have remained in the UAE beyond their visa validity, contributing to illegal residency cases.
Political and criminal involvement: Stricter verification procedures have been implemented in response to cases of visa holders participating in illegal activities.
Misconduct on social media: Some people have been reported for using social media sites inappropriately, which has damaged their reputation in the community.
Efforts by the Government of Pakistan
The Pakistani Embassy in Abu Dhabi is actively engaging with the UAE Ministry and Undersecretary officials to resolve these issues. The issue has been raised repeatedly with the UAE Embassy in Islamabad by senior officials from the Middle East Division of the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Pakistani ministry supports the issuance of fair and transparent visas to legitimate candidates and ensures that recommendation letters are sent to the UAE Embassy in Islamabad in a timely manner to streamline the visa application process.
Despite intensive scrutiny, authorities in the UAE have reiterated that there is no formal restriction or visa ban that explicitly targets Pakistanis. The country is still processing visa applications in accordance with its revised immigration laws and security protocols.