Cablegate: Update On October 1, 2009 Uae Visa Requirement

UNCLASSIFIED STATE 00101976
VZCZCXRO8504
OO RUEHAG RUEHAO RUEHAP RUEHAST RUEHAT RUEHBC RUEHBI RUEHBL RUEHBZ
RUEHCD RUEHCHI RUEHCI RUEHCN RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDE RUEHDF RUEHDH
RUEHDT RUEHDU RUEHED RUEHEL RUEHFK RUEHFL RUEHGA RUEHGD RUEHGH RUEHGI
RUEHGR RUEHHA RUEHHM RUEHHO RUEHHT RUEHIHL RUEHIK RUEHJO RUEHJS RUEHKN
RUEHKR RUEHKSO RUEHKUK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLH RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHMA
RUEHMC RUEHMJ RUEHMR RUEHMRE RUEHMT RUEHNAG RUEHNEH RUEHNG RUEHNH
RUEHNL RUEHNP RUEHNZ RUEHPA RUEHPB RUEHPD RUEHPOD RUEHPT RUEHPW RUEHQU
RUEHRD RUEHRG RUEHRN RUEHROV RUEHRS RUEHSK RUEHSL RUEHTM RUEHTRO
RUEHVC RUEHVK RUEHYG
DE RUEHC #1976 2732128
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 302109Z SEP 09
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI IMMEDIATE 9979

UNCLAS STATE 101976

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: CVIS APER AMGT AE AF
SUBJECT: UPDATE ON OCTOBER 1, 2009 UAE VISA REQUIREMENT

Ref: (A) Abu Dhabi 503
(B) Abu Dhabi 579
(C) Abu Dhabi 852
(D) Abu Dhabi 930
(E) Abu Dhabi 939

1. The UAE government transition to its new visa policy
will take place on October 1, 2009. Effective this
date, all persons traveling to the UAE on a U.S.
diplomatic or official passport must obtain a visa prior
to arrival. As with any new policy, we expect that
there will be a few bumps along the path to full
implementation.

2. Diplomatic and official travelers may apply for a
visa at any UAE embassy. If there is not a UAE embassy
in the country in which the traveler lives, the
application should be sent to a UAE embassy in a nearby
country. The visa application form and requirements
photos, etc.) will be accessible via the given embassy?s
internet website.

3. The UAEG has indicated that there should be no fee
for a diplomatic or official visa, and the visa will
usually be processed within 72 hours. U.S. diplomatic
and official travelers should generally be issued
multiple-entry visas with a validity of five years, in
keeping with reciprocity. Travelers may stay in the UAE
for up to 60 days each visit.

4. Although final policy remains unclear, UAEG has
indicated there will not be any exemption for persons
transiting the UAE on diplomatic or official passports.
We therefore strongly recommend that all transit
passengers secure a visa prior to their arrival in the
UAE.

5. There is no change in the visa policy for persons
traveling on regular (blue) passports. Persons traveling
on official business should not/not attempt to enter or
transit the UAE using tourist procedures.

6. While the UAE government has set a service standard
of 72 hours to respond to visa requests, we anticipate
delays in the first few months. We strongly encourage
travelers to apply for their visas at least two weeks in
advance of travel. Because adjudication takes place in
Abu Dhabi, UAE embassies abroad can expedite visas only
in very limited circumstances. Officials without
immediate need to travel may be well served by delaying
application until the new policy has been fully
implemented.

OLSON
CLINTON

© Scoop Media