Apply Schengen Visa Dubai : The United Arab Emirates remains among the favourite destinations for world travellers, either for tourism or for business. In addition, its residents are also among the top travellers around the globe.
The UAE is listed among the top 15 countries, the residents of which filed most visa applications at one of the Schengen embassies, for a visa to Europe in 2017.
How and Where to Apply for a Schengen Visa Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Taking into account that since May 2015, UAE passport holders do not need a visa to enter any of the Schengen Countries, the number is much higher when it comes to the number of people that have visited the area.
What Documents Do UAE Citizens Need to Enter Europe Visa-Free Zone?
Even though UAE passport holders do not need to be in possession of a Schengen visa in order to be permitted to enter the Schengen Area, they will still need to present some documents at the port of entry. The border officer is the one who gives the final decision whether they shall be permitted to enter or not.
These documents are as follows:
- UAE passport or travel document. It must be valid for at least three more months beyond their intended stay in Europe
- Evidence on their purpose of visit
- Proof they possess the required financial means to support their stay in Schengen
- Other documents that may be required by specific states
UAE citizens can travel without a Schengen visa in the European countries part of the Schengen Area: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
Who Can Apply for a Schengen Visa Dubai in UAE?
On the other hand, all those living in any of the seven emirates of the UAE, who do not hold a UAE passport, and do not belong to any of the Schengen visa-exempt categories, will need to obtain a visa. To determine whether you need a visa, please check the list of nationals who are required to have a Schengen Visa.
Persons who can apply to get a Schengen Visa in UAE should belong to one of the categories below:
- UAE passport holders that have been refused visa-free entry to the Schengen area previously
- Foreigners living in UAE on a permanent or temporary residence permit, who:
- are nationals of a country that has an agreement on a visa-free regime with Schengen, but have been refused visa-free entry to Europe
- are nationals of any of the countries that do not have a visa-free regime with the Schengen countries
Schengen Visa Application Requirements for UAE Residents
The following documents are required when applying for a short-term Schengen visa in the United Arab Emirates:
- Application Form. It should be fully completed with correct and honest information. Print the form twice, and sign both copies at the end.
- Valid Passport. It should be no older than 10 years and with a validity of at least three more months beyond the date that the applicant is planning to leave the Schengen Zone
- Two photos – taken within the last three months according to the standards set by the Schengen states. Read more about photo requirements.
- Proof of residence permit in UAE. The residence permit must be valid for at least 3 months after the intended date of departure from the Schengen area
- Travel Flight Itinerary. A document that proves you have reserved a flight ticket from UAE to the Schengen Zone and back, on the exact dates you are planning to enter and leave this area
- Cover letter. Please, explain why you wish to visit Europe, specifying the countries you wish to visit, the time you will remain there, and other details.
- Proof of accommodation. A document that shows where you will be accommodated throughout your stay in Schengen. This could be a hotel booking, a rent agreement, or a letter of invitation by a host at whose house you will be staying.
- Proof of financial means. Evidence that you have enough money to support yourself financially throughout your stay in the Schengen. This can be one of the following:
- Bank account statement – that shows you have enough money in your account for the trip. The statement shall be no older than 3 months.
- Sponsorship Letter – by another person that confirms they will be financially supporting your trip to the Schengen. In order for this letter to be valid, it must be accompanied by a bank statement of the sponsor, no older than three months.
- A combination of your bank account statement and a letter of sponsorship
- Europe Travel Insurance – A document that proves you have travel health insurance for the whole Schengen territory, with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros in case of any medical emergency such as illnesses, accidents, and even repatriation in case of death. Travel insurance companies Europ Assistance and Mondial Care provide the mandatory insurance certificate required when applying for a Schengen visa in UAE.
Other specific requirements when applying for a different Schengen visa type in UAE:
- Business visa requirements
- Tourist visa requirements
- Visitor visa requirements
- Transit visa requirements
How to Apply for a Schengen Visa in UAE?
There are a few simple steps to follow when applying for a short-stay Schengen visa in the United Arab Emirates:
- Check at which Embassy/Consulate you need to apply. In order to file your application at the right place, you will need to know which country should issue you a visa (if you are planning to visit more than one Schengen state). Then you need to check, what body of that particular country handles visa applications or whether it has outsourced visa submission to another party.
- Schedule an appointment at the embassy/consulate/visa centre.
- Attend the visa interview. Take all of the required documents with you, listed in the given order.
- Wait for a response. In the meantime, the embassy will process your visa, which will go through EU security systems as Visa Information System and Schengen Information System.
The processing of your application may take up to 15 days. After that period, you will receive a response to your case. All applications are processed by the embassies only.
Where to Apply for a Schengen Visa in UAE
A Schengen visa allows its holder to visit 26 European countries. However, when it comes to where one should apply, the Schengen countries have very strict and clear rules. Many applicants fail to understand where they should apply, and, in the absence of information, they apply at the wrong embassy/consulate.
Before you decide at which EU embassy/consulate in Dubai or Abu Dhabi to submit your visa application for Europe, read the rules on “How to Choose the Right Embassy/Consulate/VAC to File a Schengen Visa Application“!
Please pay attention to these rules since it is very important to file your application at the right place. Lodging your application at the wrong authority, will result in the rejection of your Schengen Visa application.
In general, most of the Schengen states have their embassy located in Abu Dhabi and at least a consulate general in Dubai. In some cases, the embassy and the consulate(s) of the respective member state accept visa applications. In other cases, visa submission is outsourced to the embassy/consulate of another country or to companies that offer visa services.
Following, find a list of the Schengen member states and their competent bodies for accepting visa applications in UAE:
Austria Applying from Schengen Visa Dubai & Abu Dhabi
The Austrian Embassy in Abu Dhabi has outsourced visa submission for UAE residents to VFS Global. This means you will have to submit your Austrian visa application either at their Visa Application Center is Gatewayz Tourism.
Applying Schengen Visa Dubai & Abu Dhabi for Belgium
The Belgian Embassy in Abu Dhabi has outsourced visa submission for UAE residents to VFS Global. This means you will have to submit your Schengen visa application either at their Visa Application Center in Abu Dhabi or the one in Dubai.
Czech Republic Applying from Schengen Visa Dubai & Abu Dhabi
The Embassy of the Czech Republic in Abu Dhabi has outsourced visa submission for UAE residents to VFS Global. This means you will have to submit your Schengen visa application either at their Visa Application Center Gatewayz Tourism in Dubai.
Denmark Applying from Schengen Visa Dubai & Abu Dhabi
The Danish Embassy in Abu Dhabi has outsourced visa submission for UAE residents to VFS Global. This means you will have to submit your Danish visa application either at their Visa Application Center in Gatewayz Tourism. in Dubai.
Estonia Applying from Schengen Visa Dubai & Abu Dhabi
Estonia has appointed the Embassy of Finland in Abu Dhabi as its representative. The Finnish embassy in Abu Dhabi has outsourced visa submission for UAE residents to VFS Global. This means you will have to submit your Schengen visa application either at their Visa Application Center in Gatewayz Tourism. in Dubai.
Finland Applying from Schengen Visa Dubai & Abu Dhabi
The Finnish Embassy in Abu Dhabi has outsourced visa submission for UAE residents to VFS Global. This means you will have to submit your Finnish visa application either at their Visa Application Center Gatewayz Tourism in Dubai.
France Applying from Schengen Visa Dubai & Abu Dhabi
The French Embassy in Abu Dhabi has outsourced visa submission for UAE residents to VFS Global. This means you will have to submit your French visa application either at their Visa Application Center Gatewayz Tourism. in Dubai.
Deutschland Applying from Schengen Visa Dubai & Abu Dhabi
The German Embassy in Abu Dhabi has outsourced visa submission for UAE residents to VFS Global. This means you will have to submit your German visa application either at their Visa Application Center Gatewayz Tourism.e in Dubai.
Greece Apply from Schengen Visa Dubai & Abu Dhabi
The Embassy of the Hellenic Republic in Abu Dhabi has outsourced visa submission for UAE residents to VFS Global. This means you will have to submit your Greek visa application either at their Visa Application Center Gatewayz Tourism. in Dubai.
Hungary Apply from Schengen Visa Dubai & Abu Dhabi
The Embassy of the Republic of Hungary in Abu Dhabi has outsourced visa submission for UAE residents to VFS Global. This means you will be able to submit your Schengen visa application either at their Visa Application Center Gatewayz Tourism. in Dubai.
Iceland Applying from Schengen Visa Dubai & Abu Dhabi
The Danish Embassy represents Iceland in the UAE. The Danish Embassy in Abu Dhabi has outsourced visa submission for UAE residents to VFS Global. This means you will have to submit your Schengen visa application either at their Visa Application Center Gatewayz Tourism in Dubai.
Italy Applying from Schengen Visa Dubai & Abu Dhabi
The Italian Embassy in UAE has outsourced visa submission for Abu Dhabi residents to VFS Global and to Cox & Kings Global Services for the rest of the UAE residents.
Latvia Applying from Schengen Visa Dubai & Abu Dhabi
The Latvian Embassy in Abu Dhabi has outsourced visa submission for UAE residents to VFS Global. This means you will have to submit your Schengen visa application either at their Visa Application Center Gatewayz Tourism. in Dubai.
Lithuania Applying from Schengen Visa Dubai & Abu Dhabi
Lithuania has outsourced visa application submission to the Spanish Embassy in Abu Dhabi. The BLS International handles visa applications on behalf of the Spanish Embassy in the UAE. You will have to submit your Schengen visa application either at their visa centre Gatewayz Tourism in Dubai.
Luxembourg Applying for a visa to Luxembourg in Abu Dhabi & Dubai
The Danish Embassy represents Luxembourg in the UAE. The Danish Embassy in Abu Dhabi has outsourced visa submission for UAE residents to VFS Global. This means you will have to submit your Schengen visa application either at their Visa Application Center Gatewayz Tourism. in Dubai.
Malta Applying for a visa to Malta in Abu Dhabi & Dubai
The Maltese Embassy in Abu Dhabi has outsourced visa submission for UAE residents to VFS Global. This means you will have to submit your Maltese visa application either at their Visa Application Center Gatewayz Tourism. in Dubai.
Netherlands Applying for a visa to the Netherlands in Abu Dhabi & Dubai
The Embassy of the Netherlands in Abu Dhabi has outsourced visa submission for UAE residents to VFS Global. This means you will have to submit your Dutch visa application either at their Visa Application Center Gatewayz Tourism. in Dubai.
Norway Applying for a visa to Norway in Abu Dhabi & Dubai
The Norwegian Embassy in Abu Dhabi has outsourced visa submission for UAE residents to VFS Global. This means you will have to submit your Schengen visa application either at their Visa Application Center Gatewayz Tourism in Dubai.
Poland Applying for a visa to Poland in Abu Dhabi & Dubai
Polish Embassy in UAE in Abu Dhabi handles Schengen visa applications directly. Therefore, you will have to submit your application there. Initially, you need to fulfil the application form through the electronic customer service system “e-konsulat“.
Portugal Applying for a visa to Portugal in Abu Dhabi & Dubai
The Portuguese Embassy in Abu Dhabi has outsourced visa submission for UAE residents to VFS Global. This means you will have to submit your Portuguese visa application either at their Visa Application Center Gatewayz Tourism in Dubai.
Slovakia Applying for a visa to Slovakia in Abu Dhabi & Dubai
The Slovakian Embassy in Abu Dhabi processes Schengen visa applications directly. All visa applicants can file their visa application at the embassy with a prior appointment.