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, Ok To Board indicates that your visa is verified and you can board the flight.

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 ok to board message before the flight departure, then you will not be allowed to board the flight even though you have a valid UAE Visa. In other words, OK to Board 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. Once the approval is done, airline will approve for OTB in your PNR.

Countries Requiring OK To Board

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

Criteria for Ok to Board (OTB)

• 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 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 Ok to board.

Documents Required for OK To Board

• Original Visa
• Ticket / Booking Confirmation
• Passport copy

How to get OK To Board OKTB?

Once you receive a valid UAE visa / other country who requires ok to board, after applying for a UAE visa / other country who requires ok to board, 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 OK to Board.

Time taken to get the OK To Board confirmation

Generally airlines take 24 to 48 hrs to update Ok To Board Message

Charges / Fees to get Ok to Board (OTB)

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

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

Oman OK To Board Charge – Rs 650 for Indigo, Spice Jet,, Air India, Air India Express

Bahrain OK To Board Charge – Rs 950

OK to Board to Iraq

Passenger travelling to Baghdad, Najaf / Basra requires Ok to board approval to travel through flight. The minimum time required to receive the approval is 72 hours. Ok to board approval needs to be obtained before check-in online.

How to apply Ok to board to Iraq in FlyDubai Airline?

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

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

Email[email protected] to get an ok to board approval

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

Flydubai requires an Ok to board 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: [email protected]

Which airlines are asking for OK To Board (OKTB)?

Ok to Board Air Arabia

• Passengers having original visa do not require OKTB 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 OK to board charge / fee: AED 15

Ok to Board Air India Express

Passengers having Indian passport with ECR status and holding a tourist / visit visa must require Ok to board in Air India Express

Ok to Board Oman Air

• Oman air requires OKTB to travel with them

Ok to Board Air India

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

Ok to Board Indigo Airways

• Passengers who are 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

Ok to Board Air Blue

For the travel related queries, please check here

Ok to Board Gulf Air

For the travel related queries, please check here

Ok to Board Emirates

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

Ok to Board Flydubai

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

Indian citizen requires an Ok to board approval 

OK To Board SpiceJet Airline

Passengers who are holding ECR Passport and Labor (Work) Visa will require Ok to board to travel in Spice jet airline. For enquiries, email [email protected]

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

OK To Board Turkish Airlines

For the travel related queries, please check here