Emirates: Indonesia goes off restricted list; no GDRFA, ICA approvals required

UAE passengers travelling from Indonesia, a previously restricted country, don't require a General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) or the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA) approval, according to a fresh travel update on the website of Dubai carrier Emirates.

Indonesia was among the 11 countries where passengers needed to apply for a GDRFA or ICA approval before flying into Dubai - especially for residents. However, the country's name has now been removed from the list on Emirates' guidelines page for residents.

Residents travelling from Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Ethiopia, Vietnam and Zambia have to take approval from the GDRFA and ICA before flying to the UAE, Emirates airline had said in an earlier update.

However, this does not apply to passengers who have other visas, such as newly-issued residence or employment visa, short stay or long stay visa, visit visa or visa on arrival.

Passengers arriving from the above-mentioned 10 countries must present a negative Covid-19 PCR test certificate with a QR code issued within 48 hours of the time the sample was collected at an approved health facility.

They also need to present a rapid PCR test report with a QR code for a test conducted at the departure airport within six hours of departure.

Meanwhile, passengers travelling from countries other than these 10 destinations must have a negative Covid-19 RT-PCR test certificate for a test taken no more than 72 hours before departure.

The Dubai-based carrier said passengers travelling to Dubai as their final destination from Bangladesh, Nigeria, Vietnam, Zambia and Indonesia will not be accepted for travel without completing the Covid-19 testing requirements. However, Indonesia's mention has been removed from this list as well.

News Source: Khaleej Times