Travel marketers in some South Asian nations are duping UAE vacationers into paying the visa costs for kids aged 18 or underneath, no matter the approaching temporary rate waiver introduced by using the government.
The UAE had introduced that children elderly 18 or underneath, who are touring with their mother and father, will not pay the traveler visa price from July 15 to September 15.
Even although the waiver will come into impact on July 15, some agents abroad are telling clients the information is “faux,” and they’ll still pay the visa fees for kids.
Travel sellers frequently quote prices as Dh350 for a single-entry 30-day tourist visa and Dh900 for a 90-day one, in keeping with the individual.
Sadia Tariq, a UAE resident who’s visited by way of her sister and her 3 younger youngsters every yr from Lahore, Pakistan, said once they heard approximately the price waiver, they have been pleased as they’d keep Dh900.
“My sister is coming right here together with her three children, who are all elderly underneath six, on July 25. So, we’re waiting to apply for her visa as soon as the waiver comes into impact,” Tariq stated.
“But, the organization in Pakistan we are applying through is saying that the brand new rule would not observe to journey corporations. They stated that if you are buying from them, you have to buy for all the human beings. They are charging us Dh300 in line with individuals because we’re their everyday customers.
“It’s now not proper what they’re doing. They’ll be applying to immigration for us, and if the rate is waived off, then the money will be going directly into their pockets.”
Another Dubai resident, Fatima Hassan, said her brother, sister-in-law, and their two younger children are planning a visit using the stop of July and are trying to follow for their visas after July 15.
Though, the Karachi-based tour organization they inquired via has instructed them they had nonetheless need to pay for the youngsters as they’ve no longer “obtained verification of the news.”
Hassan said: “With the visa waiver for my niece and nephew, we would save Dh700. That’s a massive saving and may be used someplace else while my own family visits us. It’s a splendid initiative to assist the vacationers, but some dealers are frauds, and they’re cheating clients. I am suggesting to every person to locate a sincere travel company, who will no longer cheat you.”
Residents in India are also going through equal difficulty, with journey agents pronouncing they do not confirm this information.
An email to Khaleej Times said: “I’m planning to visit my mother and father within the UAE inside August along with my two kids. I just desired to test if that is carried out as our agent has no facts yet.”
KT is also known as some travel dealers in Pakistan. Almost all stated they might be recommending clients not to attend till July 15 to apply for UAE vacationer visas because the “information is not confirmed.”
One agent in Islamabad stated: “It isn’t always demonstrated but. We are still charging the fees for the youngsters. I can’t guarantee that the fees will not practice for the kids starting July 15.”
How to get a UAE visitor visa fee waiver for youngsters
Tourists to the UAE wishing to avail of the visa fee waiver for youngsters under 18 years can observe for it through certified travel retailers, countrywide companies, or UAE-based totally lodges, the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) has introduced. They can also observe it through the ICAI cell smartphone software or its internet site (www.Ica.Gov.Ae).
The countrywide companies are Emirates, Etihad, flydubai and Air Arabia. The exemption is relevant for travelers traveling to us from July 15 to September 15 each yr.
Major-General Saeed Rakan Al Rashidi, acting director-standard for foreign affairs and ports at the ICA, said if travelers are making use of for the exemption via inns, they need to “comply” with their reservations.
He introduced that the scheme turned into announced with the UAE Cabinet’s aid in advance this year.