DUBAI, Sep 25: Applicants seeking entry permits to the UAE are now required to submit the outer cover page of their passport, according to industry experts. “This requirement was added just last week,” said a representative from an Amer Centre. “Travel agencies notified us about the update, and we have been uploading the external cover page along with the rest of our application documents since then.”

A notice reviewed by Arab Times confirms that the submission of the passport’s external cover page is now mandatory for all entry permit applications, effective immediately. In addition to the cover page, applicants must continue to provide a passport copy, a clear passport-sized photograph, hotel booking confirmation, and a copy of their round-trip ticket.

Another Amer Centre official also confirmed receiving an email regarding the update last week. “Since that notification, we have been including the passport’s external cover page for all visit visas and other entry permits in the system,” he said. “It is no longer possible to obtain an entry permit without submitting this page.”

The reasons behind the amendment have not yet been officially clarified. However, some travel experts suggest that the move aims to reduce confusion and errors in the application process. “Occasionally, applicants provide the wrong nationality,” said one travel agent, who requested anonymity. “For certain passports, nationality details are printed in very small letters, making it difficult to verify. Having the passport cover page will eliminate these ambiguities and allow authorities to confirm the applicant’s nationality quickly and accurately.”