Ok to Board Dubai – Everything You Need to Know

In order to consent for travel, some airlines necessitate passengers, especially traveling from countries in Asian Subcontinent, to have an ‘Ok to Board’ approval. This is mainly mandatory for travelers visiting Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, and whose visa being issued as well as sponsored in the UAE.

• What is Ok to Board?

Ok to Board – abbreviated as OTB – simply denotes a minor check conducted by your airline service provider to ensure that you carry all travel essentials for your visit to the UAE, such as visa, passport, and return ticket. Although it has nothing to do with immigration procedures or approval of your visa, failing to procure an OTB may sometimes encumber your travel to the UAE, as some airlines refuse to board passengers who do not have their PNR stamped with OTB message.

• Is Ok to Board Required?

Your airline mandates you to update the OTB message on PNR primarily to confirm the legitimacy of your visa as well as other relevant travel documents, thereby eliminating the chances of travelers making entry to the country with a forged visa and subsequently getting deported by the UAE immigration.

• What are the Pre-Requisites to obtain Ok to Board?

Once your UAE visa is approved, your sponsor should send a copy of your valid visa and airline ticket to the airline office. They will verify all relevant details and accordingly update the OTB message on your airline PNR. When you apply for your visa through Rayna Tours, our visa specialists can take care of this procedure for you. But we’ll require you to forward us a copy of your return flight ticket. Please refer to our visa terms and conditions for further details.

• Should I apply for Ok to Board within any prescribed time limit?

While this depends on the terms and conditions of the airline you choose to fly with, we advise you to forward all documents relevant for the updating of OTB at least three days before your prospective travel date. This will give sufficient time for your airline service provider to update OTB in your PNR.

• How is Ok to Board Processed?

On average, an airliner requires at least 2 working days to validate the visa documents, and further update the status. They need prior submission of your tickets and visa documents well in advance before your flight to Dubai. Once verified your airline will electronically insert the OK to Board in your flight details.

• How will I know if my OTB is updated or not?

At most, your airline would electronically update it in your PNR. You can also directly call your respective airline to know about your OTB status. Alternatively, if it is done through Rayna Tours, our visa consultants assure you to update you about this at least 48 hours before your intended travel.

• What if my OTB status is not updated?

In such circumstances, your airline has the complete right to disapprove of your boarding. To resolve this issue at the earliest, don’t delay to get in touch with our experts.

• OK to Board Airlines?

Almost all airlines required an OK to Board. But there are many airlines that give you OK to Board for free such as Jet Airways, Saudi Airlines, Fly Dubai, Emirates, and Etihad Airways. Many Indian airlines such as IndiGo, Air India, SpiceJet charge a nominal fee for issuing an OK to Board.

Conclusion

Ok to Board is an important tick mark you need to have on your boarding pass before you can fly to the UAE. The best way to do it is through a professional like Rayna tours who not only help you in a submission on time, properly but also assists you with a hassle-free OK to board process.