DNRD and flydubai teaming up on first ever visa service

Friday, June 18, 2010

The Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD) is teaming up with the country's first low-cost airline, flydubai, to introduce a new quick and easy service that will allow travelers to get their visas by mobile phone or email. The two sides announced their partnership last month and will conduct a three month trial period to test the new visa process. DNRD hopes to streamline the visa process with their new system and flydubai plans to offer M-visa at no additional charge to passengers.

Travelers can apply for entry permits one of two ways through the program. After visiting either a DNRD office or using online applications at www.dnrd.ae, customers will receive a secure entry visa with DNRD e-logo and e-signature delivered via SMS text message and email. Passengers can then show immigration officials at Dubai airport their barcode on either a mobile device or a printed PDF form at which point officials can print out an original visa.

Both sides are anxious to test the program and hope it is successful in easing the usually long visa process for travelers. DNRD's Director General, His Excellency Major General Mohammed Ahmed Al Marri said "The launch of our electronic visa service with flydubai highlights our commitment to making the visa process as easy as possible for the public". Ghaith Al Ghaith, flydubai's CEO said: "We are delighted to work in partnership with the DNRD to offer this unprecedented service in Dubai. The visa process can be a lengthy one and a real hindrance to travel".

The partnership between DNRD and flydubai aims not only to make the system easier, quicker and more reliable but to eliminate waits and backlogs at DNRD offices. The overall goal of the program is to make the visa process "a little less complex, a little less stressful, and a little less expensive". Both sides will work to ensure that travel agency staffs abroad are aware of the latest developments in the visa procedure so that typical problems and complications from the past can be avoided.