What is Ok to Board?

Also known as visa verification, Ok To Board (OTB) is a process of validating visa and updating the visa message in flight booking. It means that your paper-based visa (one that is not stamped in the passport) has been examined and confirmed, and your airline check-in staff can offer you a boarding pass, allowing you to board the flight. In short, OKTB indicates that your visa is verified and you can board the flight.

ECR Passport

Non-ECR Passport

Why we need Ok to Board?

Owing to the rising number of fake visas to UAE, several Indian travellers were deported back to India in the past. To diminish such fake visa issues, airlines flying to UAE and the sponsors started re-checking the passenger’s UAE visa and the return airline ticket before the flight departure. If you fail to update OTB message before the flight departure, then you won’t be allowed to board the flight. Even though you have a valid UAE Visa. In other words, OKTB is an airline prerequisite without which the passenger will not be permitted to board the flight to UAE.

What is the procedure to get an OK TO BOARD?

The procedure for getting an OTB is not exactly complicated. It is done after you have your visa issued and must be done latest 48 hours before your flight. The step by step process is given as follows:

1. Send your visa copy to the airlines you would like to book / booked
2. Airline representative will verify your visa along with the tickets
3. After approval, airline will approve for OTB in your PNR.

Countries Requiring OKTB

• UAE
• Kuwait
• Bahrain
• Oman(Sultanate of Oman)
• Qatar

Criteria for OKTB

• Passengers travelling on flights originating from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
• Passengers travelling to UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait and Oman (not sure about KSA or any other countries)
• Passengers travelling on specific airlines (e.g. Etihad, Emirates, Air India Express, Gulf Air, Spice jet). Some airlines don’t require OTB (e.g. Jet Airways), so it is always a good idea to check with the airline at the time of booking your ticket
• Passengers travelling on a paper based visa (tourist visa, visit visa, work entry permit, residence entry permit, etc.). OTB not required for people with a visa stamped in their passports

When was OK To Board is not required?

If the passenger’s passport has stamped from the embassy, they are not required to obtain Ok to board. For the paper visa such as  visit visa, tourist visa requires OKTB.

Documents Required for OK To Board

• Original Visa
• Ticket / Booking Confirmation
• Passport copy

How to get OK To Board?

Once you receive a valid UAE visa / other country who requires ok to board, after applying for a UAE visa / other country who requires OKTB, you have to send your visa copy to the airline you have booked your UAE flight ticket with. After rechecking your UAE visa, the airline approves your ticket and marks your flight PNR as OK to Board. You cannot board a flight if your PNR is not reflecting OKTB.

Time taken to get the OKTB confirmation

Generally airlines take 24 to 48 hrs to update OKTB Message

Charges / Fees to get Ok to Board (OTB)

UAE OTB Charge – Rs 650 for Indigo, Spice Jet, Air Arabia, Air India, Air India Express, Fly Dubai, Kuwait Airways, Gulf Air.

Qatar OKTB Charge – Rs 650 for Air India, Air India Express, RS -800 for Indigo Airline.

Oman OKTB Charge – Rs 650 for Indigo, Spice Jet,, Air India, Air India Express

Bahrain OKTB Charge – Rs 950

OKTB to Iraq

Passenger travelling to Baghdad, Najaf / Basra requires OTB approval to travel through flight. The minimum time required to receive the approval is 72 hours. Before check-in online, you have to get OKTB approval.

How to apply OKTB to Iraq in FlyDubai Airline?

Ok to Board to Baghdad (BGW) and Najaf (NJF)

An OKTB approval from Baghdad or Najaf immigration authorities is mandatory for citizens of Ethiopia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and Afghanistan.

Ok to Board to Basra (BSR)

An OKTB approval from Basra immigration authorities is mandatory for citizens of Ethiopia, Pakistan, India and Afghanistan.

Emailfzoktb@flydubai.com to get an ok to board approval

How to apply Ok to board from Pakistan in FlyDubai Airline?

Flydubai requires an OKTB approval for Pakistan citizens travelling from Faisalabad, Karachi, Multan, Quetta or Sialkot. Contact flydubai  to get the approval

Contact Centre in Pakistan: (+92) 21 111 225 539

Email: support@flydubaipk.com

Which airlines are asking for OK To Board?

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Air Arabia Ok to Board

• Passengers having original visa do not require OTB and
• If the passenger is having UAE visa copy / E-Visa and traveling from India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh to the UAE, their sponsor has to submit the visa to the nearest Air Arabia office in person.
• Submit before 24 hours prior to the departure

For more details, visit https://www.airarabia.com/en/oktoboard

Air Arabia OKTB charge / fee: AED 15

Air India Express Ok to Board

• Passengers, having Indian passport with ECR status and holding a tourist / visit visa must require OTB in Air India Express.

Oman Air OTB

• Oman air requires OKTB to travel with them.

Air India Ok to Board

• Passengers having Indian passport with ECR status and holding a tourist / visit visa must require OKTB in Air India.

Indigo Airways OKTB

• Passengers, having ECR (Immigration Check Required) passport and travelling with a print-out of Labour & Work e-visa requires OKTB to travel with Indigo
• Passengers traveling to Muscat also requires OKTB

Air Blue Ok to Board

For the travel related queries, please check here

Gulf Air Ok to Board

For the travel related queries, please check here

Emirates Ok to Board

Emirates passengers can get OKTB approval automatically by the airline if you have booked the tickets through Emirates Airline website

OKTB Flydubai

How to apply Ok to board from India in FlyDubai Airline?

Indian citizen requires an OKTB approval 

OKTB SpiceJet Airline

Passengers who are holding ECR Passport and Labor (Work) Visa will require OKTB to travel in Spice jet airline. For enquiries, email customersupport.dxb@spicejet.com

OK To Board Latam Airlines

For the travel related queries, please check here

OK To Board Ethiopian Airways

For the travel related queries, please check here

OKTB Turkish Airlines

For the travel related queries, please check here

Who needs Ok to board?: Complete guide for Travelers  to the UAE and GCC Countries

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