Dubai: UAE has made it mandatory for passengers travelling from Pakistan to UAE to carry attested Covid-19 certificates. The COVID-19 vaccination certificates must be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Pakistan and then by the UAE Embassy in Islamabad or the Consulate General in Karachi. The new rule for Pakistani travellers will come into effect from August 1. Even diplomats, officials and golden visa holders are not exempted.
However, Pakistani expats who are residents of UAE are exempted from the new travel restrictions if they have taken their COVID-19 vaccine jab from the UAE. They must have Al Hosn App to prove their vaccination status.
The embassy in Abu Dhabi has issued a circular on July 14 to inform the Pakistan Foreign Office about the new travel requirements. Gulf News has obtained the copy of the circular.
Consulate explains
Speaking to Gulf News, Giyan Chand, Acting Consul General at the Pakistan Consulate General in Dubai, confirmed the new rule and said that they are also in the process of disseminating the news through their social media channels. He added that it would mandatory for Pakistan expats who are residents of UAE and are getting vaccine from Pakistan to follow the new travel rule. Those Pakistani expats who have got Covid-19 vaccination jabs from the UAE are exempted from the new rule if their vaccination record is available on Al Hosn App.
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Flight suspension
UAE had suspended regular passengers flights from Pakistan on May 13 amid surging Covid-19 cases in Pakistan. Currently, only diplomats, golden visa holders, UAE nationals and officials are allowed to travel to UAE from Pakistan. Also, passengers coming on chartered flights with prior special permission can enter the UAE.
UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority has earlier issued a notification that the flights will remain suspended until July 21. UAE and Pakistani airlines have already opened flight bookings from July 21. However, official announcement regarding resumption of flights is still awaited.
UAE Embassy letter
The UAE Embassy letter sent on July 14 to the Pakistan Foreign office reads: “ The Embassy of the UAE presents is compliments to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Islamic Republic of Pakistan and as per the recent instructions issued by the UAE Ministery of Foreign Affairs that from Aug. 1, 2021, it is mandatory to carry UAE Embassy attested vaccine certificate for Covid-19 issue by the National Databse and Registration Authority (NADRA), along with the Counsellor Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Islamabad attestation before travelling to UAE.
“Therefore, the Embassy will appreciate if your esteem office may inform all ministries of Pakistan including the diplomatic, official, and ordinary passport holders atth earliest possible convenience.”
How to do attestion
*Get your COVID-19 vaccination certifcate from NADRA
*Get it attested from the Ministery of Foreign Affairs Office in any city in Pakistan
*Then submit the vaccination certificate to any of three authorised agents including: Etimad Centres, Sasha International and Gerry’s for attestion from the UAE Embassy. These centres are available in all the major cities in Pakista
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