Dubai’s visa policy for minors now requires travellers under the age of 18 to be accompanied by at least one parent.
According to the Dubai Visa Processing Centre South Africa, the change was first announced in 2023 and implemented late last year, replacing the previous policy that allowed minors to travel with a consent letter authorising any adult chaperone.
The Dubai Visa Processing Centre South Africa issued a notice with guidelines on the updated policy:
- Visas for travellers below the age of 18 are accepted only when accompanied by a parent.
- The parent and children should be under the same type of visa.
- The parent and child’s applications should be submitted together. If the parent’s visa is already approved, and the child’s application is submitted later, the visa will not be accepted.
- No other relative will be accepted as a chaperone.
- If the parent holds a resident visa, then the child should apply for a visa under their sponsorship, directly from immigration.
According to Jacky Stephens, owner of Jacky Worldwide, the change to the visa policy of minors seems to apply to all African nationals.
However, she also notes that the implementation of the new visa policy has been inconsistent, with some children allowed entry with chaperones and others being refused visas because their chaperone is not their parent.
