UAE-India flights: Covishield vaccine not yet valid for return to Emirates


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UAE residents who are trying to travel home from six countries must have been vaccinated against Covid-19 in the Emirates to return, airlines have reiterated.

People who were immunised in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Uganda or Nigeria are not eligible to return at this time, regardless of which vaccine they took.

This includes people who received Covishield, the name given to Oxford-AstraZeneca’s vaccine when it is made on licence by Serum Institute of India.

The rules also apply to people who received AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines in Pakistan or the Moderna shot in Sri Lanka.

On Saturday, people immunised abroad took to social media to say they were confused by the rules and seek clarity from airlines, which were first announced by the government last week.

“All passengers with a valid UAE residence visa, who have been fully vaccinated in the UAE and who hold an official vaccination certificate issued and approved by relevant authorities in the UAE, are permitted to return to the UAE,” Emirates Airline’s support account wrote in response to people who had taken Covishield.

Etihad said on its website that only a "a fully vaccinated national or resident of the UAE – you must have proof of having received both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine within the UAE no less than 14 days before travel", could return to UAE at this stage.

Thousands were stuck abroad when passenger flights from India to UAE were halted by the Emirates in response to the surge of the Delta variant. Residents who were in Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Uganda or Nigeria when arrivals from those countries were put on hold are in the same situation.

As of Thursday, residents from those six countries can return to the Emirates if they were vaccinated in the UAE.

Exemptions exist for unvaccinated children, students and people working in education, medicine or for the government.

UAE residents living in emirates other than Dubai can apply for permission to return from the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship.

Dubai residents need approval from the ICA and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs, immigration specialists said.

Where can I apply for permission to return?

ICA website: https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/guest/index.html#/registerArrivals

For Dubai: https://smart.gdrfad.gov.ae/Smart_OTCServicesPortal/ReturnPermitServiceForm.aspx

People with residency visas from emirates other than Dubai can apply on the ICA link given above.

To gain approval, they must provide proof of vaccination, residency and a PCR test result.

People should apply on the ICA link after they get a negative PCR test prior to flying to comply with the test validity requirements.

They will also need to confirm with the airline about the 72-hour or 48-hour validity of the test before boarding, depending on the country of departure.

Dubai residents, as of now, should apply on both the GDFRA and the ICA links.

The eligibility criteria at present is that people should have received both doses of the vaccine in the UAE.

Clarity about the status of unvaccinated residents is expected later.

Where can I check my visa validity?

To check visa status and validity for all emirates other than Dubai, visit this website: https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/default.html#/fileValidity

If you are a Dubai resident, check this link: https://smart.gdrfad.gov.ae/Public_Th/StatusInquiry_New.aspx

What are my options if my visa lapsed when I was abroad?

People who were outside the UAE for more than six months first need to check their residency validity.

A visa becomes inactive if a resident cannot enter the UAE for more than six months. In such cases, they can now file for a re-entry permit.

For Dubai: https://smart.gdrfad.gov.ae/Smart_OTCServicesPortal/ReturnPermitServiceForm.aspx

For other emirates: https://smartservices.ica.gov.ae/echannels/web/client/guest/index.html#/residents-entry-confirmation

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More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
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Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

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1947
Ferrari’s road-car company is formed and its first badged car, the 125 S, rolls off the assembly line

1962
250 GTO is unveiled

1969
Fiat becomes a Ferrari shareholder, acquiring 50 per cent of the company

1972
The Fiorano circuit, Ferrari’s racetrack for development and testing, opens

1976
First automatic Ferrari, the 400 Automatic, is made

1987
F40 launched

1988
Enzo Ferrari dies; Fiat expands its stake in the company to 90 per cent

2002
The Enzo model is announced

2010
Ferrari World opens in Abu Dhabi

2011
First four-wheel drive Ferrari, the FF, is unveiled

2013
LaFerrari, the first Ferrari hybrid, arrives

2014
Fiat Chrysler announces the split of Ferrari from the parent company

2015
Ferrari launches on Wall Street

2017
812 Superfast unveiled; Ferrari celebrates its 70th anniversary

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Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment

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Started: 2018

Founders: Rishabh Khanna, Ankit Khanna and Sahil Makker

Based: India, UAE and the UK

Industry: EdTech

Initial investment: More than $200,000 in seed funding

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Favourite music: Classical

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Updated: August 08, 2021, 7:31 AM`