When visiting Europe, it is now easier with the Schengen visa which can be used for traveling to multiple countries at a go. For people who reside in the UAE, getting a Schengen visa is not very complicated especially due to various Schengen visa agencies in Dubai. Whether you’re planning a business trip, vacation, or visiting family or friends, this blog will guide you through the steps to apply for a Schengen visa from UAE.
What is a Schengen Visa?
Schengen Visa is a tourism and business visa that enables its holder to travel to any Schengen country of the 27 member states. This tends to mean that although once you have a Schengen visa, you do not have to get another visa for each country within the member country list. The Schengen area consists of preferred European locations like France, Germany, Italy, and Spain among others.
The main advantage of the Schengen visa in UAE is its simplicity of obtaining. A Schengen Visa allows you to visit several European countries without the necessity to apply for the visa for each country separately. This has made it convenient for the people living in UAE to travel to Europe for leisure or any purpose. This visa is especially important for those, who often travel because it’s cheaper and faster than getting the number of visas for each country.
One should also appreciate that a Schengen visa usually is issued for a short stay, up to ninety days within 180-day period. That makes it useful to anyone who would wish to travel across different countries within Europe in one journey. Nonetheless, if you envision your stay to be more than ninety days or in the event that you desire to work or study you will be required to obtain a different visa based on your circumstances.
Steps for Applying for a Schengen Visa from UAE
The process of applying for a Schengen visa from UAE can be simple if you follow the right steps. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to do:
- Determine the Type of Schengen Visa You Need
The first step in applying for a Schengen visa from UAE involves understanding what type of visa you should apply for. You will need different types of Schengen visas based on the purpose of your travel, such as:
- Tourism Visa- This is for vacationing or sightseeing. When your primary purpose for travel is simply leisure, you will apply for a tourist visa.
- Business Visa – This is for business reasons. If you are traveling to attend meetings, conferences, or events, this is the visa that you would have to apply for.
- Family and Friends Visit Visa-For going to see family or friends. If you visit someone bothering to be inside the Schengen Area, you would have need of this visa.
- Transit Visa- It would be for getting around the Schengen Area on the way to a non-Schengen destination. If traveling through a Schengen country on your way to another destination, you must be in need of a transit visa.
Now you need to identify the visa type. And once you know the type of visa you need, you can move along the steps. Fundamentally, the type of visa that you will be applying for will determine what kind of documents you will have to submit; therefore, always choose appropriately according to your case.
- Check the Schengen Visa Requirements
Schengen visa requirements might vary from one Schengen country to another; however, most follow the same standard requirements. Documents must include:
- A Valid Passport – Must be valid for a period of time superior to three months at least after your intended stay in the Schengen Area, thus giving you two blank pages for visa stamps.
- Recent Passport-size Photocopies – It has to conform to various specifications stated by the embassy for which you apply, including a white background and size 35x45mm.
- Travel Insurance Proof – It must include travel insurance for medical expenses taking place in any circumstances worth up to €30,000 and valid all over Schengen Area countries.
- A Statement of Accommodation – You will have to give the proof of where you’ll be staying for the stay like a hotel booking or an invitation from a host living in a Schengen territory.
- Ticket to Fly – You should be able to prove that you have a return flight ticket proving your intent of returning back to the UAE after you visit.
- Financial proof – Proof of financially supporting yourself while you stay there, which can be in the form of recent bank statements, pay slips, or any proof of your income.
- Visa application form – This will have to be filled with complete and signed data online or in person, and it has to be submitted that you are asking for.
All these papers would be necessary for submitting an application. Please note that you should determine the proper Schengen visa requirements of the specific country to which you are applying since some countries may have voluntary requirements regarding the document. Therefore, it is helpful to the maximum to double-check your conformation of needs according to which all documents are completed and are up to date before your application delivery.
- Find a Schengen Visa Agency or Agents in Dubai
Currently, there are many Schengen visa agencies in Dubai and they will assist the applicants in the process. These agencies will not only help you complete those forms but also advise on compliance with the Schengen visa requirements. They can also schedule and setup appointments for interviews at the embassy, offer to submit your application for you, and in some cases can even check on the status of the issuance of your visa.
If you want to do it yourself, you can still consult with Schengen visa agents in Dubai or seek their help when encountering some problems. They will ensure that you follow any given application process and avoid all the slip-ups whose consequences may include a delay in processing your application or you being rejected. On the same note, many agencies offer services in document verification, visa trackin,g and collection among other services which are time-saving and stress-sparing.
- Submit Your Application
If you have all the required papers then go ahead and submit your Schengen visa application. Every country has an online appointment booking system to apply for their embassy or consulate in the UAE. As part of your biometric information – fingerprints and photos- you will be expected to present other pertinent documents during the appointment. Some of the embassies may call candidates for an interview, mainly for the first-time applicants or when the embassy needs some extra information.
In terms of the documents you provide when applying, be careful with the rules of the Schengen visa agency Dubai or embassy. In general, some embassies have strict requirements how to submit the papers: it is required to organize the papers in a certain sequence, or to enclose them in the specific envelope. To that extent, double-check that you are following every detail of the instructions.
- Pay the Visa Fee
The next stage into the process of how to apply for a Schengen visa from UAE is to pay the requisite fee. The standard fee is approximately €80 for adults and €40 for children, aged between 6 and 12 years. The fee is non-reimbursable in most cases, so check that your documents are accurate before sending your application.
Acceptance of payments is flexible depending on the specific embassy or the Schengen visa agency in Dubai you are using, and can by bank transfer, credit card or in cash. It is advised to check the website of the embassy, or, if you have a visa agent, you always can consult them on payment issue.
- Wait for Your Visa to Be Processed
After passing your visa application, it may take between 7 to 15 days for Schengen visa to be approved. However, this may take a shorter time or longer depending on the country you are in, and your circumstances. You are also able to check the status of your application through the visa agency or the embassy where you made the application from.
Sometimes if you want to obtain the visa in the shortest possible time, there will be an option to pay for the urgent service. Still, it is advised to apply as early as possible to not to stress at the end moments.
- Collect Your Visa
If your Schengen visa has been granted you will receive a collecting note from the embassy or the visa agency through which you made application. It is wise also to ensure that the visa is not a subject to mistakes especially on the date of validity.
If there is any mismatch or any error, you should inform the embassy or the visa issuing agency to change it before you travel. Make sure the visa specification is accurate in accordance to your dates and intended countries of visit to avoid problems at immigration check point.
Tips for a Successful Application
Here are some tips to ensure your Schengen visa application from the UAE goes smoothly:
- Start Early – Start sufficiently well ahead in the application procedure- at least 2 or 3 weeks before you plan to go- to allow time for unexpected delays. This is necessary as the process could be longer during peak traveling periods for embassies.
- Double Check Documents – Make sure that all your documents are complete and accurate, as even a single wrong or incomplete document could lead to refusal or delay. For any query about any paper, ask the Schengen visa agency Dubai to explain.
- Honesty is Key – Speak the truth in your visa application form and during the interview, if at all, required if it wants to avoid rejection due to discrepancies.
- Use a Schengen Visa Agency in Dubai – In case you were not able to understand the process and need to be sure everything is fine; it would prove valuable to work with Schengen visa agency Dubai. In a way they ensure that all papers of yours are completed and followed strictly in accordance with guidelines of the embassy.
Common Reasons for Rejection
While most Schengen visa applications are approved, there are a few common reasons for rejection. Some of the most frequent reasons include:
- Incomplete or Incorrect Documentation – Missing or invalid documents can result in your visa being denied. Make sure all required documents are submitted.
- Insufficient Financial Proof – If the embassy feels that you won’t be able to support yourself financially during your stay, your visa application may be rejected.
- Failure to Provide Valid Travel Insurance – A lack of valid travel insurance covering medical emergencies and
Conclusion
In conclusion how to apply for a Schengen visa from UAE is a process of preparation and careful process to be observed. First of all, it is important to know all the rules concerning Schengen visa requirements and provide all needed documents to get the application approved. It will be very helpful to do the preparation I have outlined and to follow embassy procedures to the letter.
If you don’t wish to go through the process yourself, Blue Links is able to help you in applying for your Schengen visa in UAE. Our professional staff can assist you with the process to guarantee that all your procedures will go smoothly. Get in touch with us today and begin to map out your trip in Europe in a very convenient way!