Applying For Schengen Visa With UAE Passport? Here’s Everything To Know

by Ishita Agarwal
Applying For Schengen Visa With UAE Passport? Here’s Everything To Know

Any upcoming travel plans to Schengen nations? Some excellent news is here. Many member states’ entrance restrictions into the EU and the Schengen area connected to the pandemic have been eliminated. Below is what UAE citizens should know about applying for a Schengen visa. 

What is Schengen Visa? 

The Schengen Implementation Convention, a byproduct of the accord, produced it. The historic agreement eliminated many of the internal boundaries of the EU, enabling unrestricted travel between member nations. The convention has significantly altered how people travel around Europe. 

What’s the difference between Schengen and the EU?

The European Union (EU) and the Schengen area do not have common borders. Four of the 26 Schengen nations—Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Switzerland—are not EU members. Of the 26 Schengen nations, 22 are.

Contrarily, the EU is a 28-state economic and political union (Croatia is the latest member to join the EU). Internal visas have been eliminated by EU members, who have also freely delegated some of their authority to the European Parliament and the Council (CEU). 

Also Read: Expats Can Get These 7 Visas To Live In UAE Without A Job

For UAE ex-pat residents, what’s the latest on Schengen visa application?

Historically, appointments for Schengen visas required travellers from the UAE to wait three to four months. Appointments for Schengen visas should go considerably more quickly by September.

Who grants the Schengen visa approval?

The VFS Global centres’ client government is the only one with authority to approve or deny visa requests. Additionally, the embassies or consulates of the Schengen member states regulate and choose appointment times. Furthermore, diplomatic offices have exclusive discretion over the length of processing and whether to issue visas. 

How long is the visa processing time?

According to VFS Global, it usually takes a few days, but in certain circumstances might take up to 15 to 30 working days (excluding any holidays). However, sometimes visa requests accept in as little as 20 days.

As school returns in September, it assumes that the number of visa applications for leisure travel, particularly from families, will decline dramatically. Corporate travel, however, will continue to be strong. 

Also Read: UAE-US Travel Becomes Easy As Etihad Adds More Flights

How To Apply for a Schengen visa in the UAE? 

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Latvia, and the Netherlands are among the nations which represent. VFS Global centres accept applications for Schengen visas in the UAE (Dubai and Abu Dhabi). 

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