New UAE Passport Cover Page Rule Leaves Travellers Scrambling

If you’re planning a trip to the United Arab Emirates, there’s a new travel requirement you’ll need to tick off before packing your bags. From this month, UAE immigration authorities have made it mandatory for all travellers to submit a copy of their passport’s external cover page when applying for an entry permit or visa.

What The Rule Actually Means

The external cover page is the front side of your passport the part most of us rarely think about that displays your country’s emblem, issuing authority and national markings. Until now, travellers were typically only asked to share the inside identity page that carries their photo and personal details.

The UAE has expanded the requirement across all visa categories, from tourist and work permits to residency applications.

Why The UAE Introduced The Change

Authorities say the move is aimed at tightening security checks and improving verification processes. By requesting the cover page, officials can cross-check issuing details more easily, cutting down on processing errors and helping to prevent fraudulent applications. In a country that welcomes millions of visitors and expatriates each year, even small delays in the visa process can have a big impact.

Local And Traveller Reactions

For some, especially frequent fliers and residents used to streamlined online applications, the update has sparked confusion. Social media users shared screenshots of application portals suddenly asking for the extra upload, with comments ranging from “another hoop to jump through” to “makes sense if it speeds things up.”

Travel forums lit up with practical advice too: double-check your scanned documents before submission, since unclear images of the cover page could slow approvals.

The Bigger Picture

This is not the first time the UAE has fine-tuned its entry requirements. In recent years, the country has rolled out long-term residency options like the Golden Visa, while also experimenting with digital IDs and e-gates at airports. Adding the passport cover page fits into a broader trend of using additional verification layers to manage one of the busiest immigration systems in the world.

What Travellers Should Do Now

If you’re applying for a UAE visa, be sure to scan both your identity page and the cover page before uploading. Many travel agents are now advising clients to keep digital copies of their full passport handy to avoid last-minute surprises.

As one Dubai-based expat put it on X, “It’s a small step that could save you from a big headache at the border.”

{Source:Travel News}

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