Residents of UAE Who Need a Schengen Visa to Face Delays Due to High Demand
Residents of the United Arab Emirates who need a Schengen visa in order to be able to travel to the EU may have to wait another month, until March, for an appointment due to the increasing demand.
Data has shown that there are barely any available appointments left for February even though the processing time in different embassies and consulates has decreased. This has caused problems for UAE residents who need a visa as they have been unable to finalise their holidays for the Eid breaks, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
Khaleej Times explains that residents of UAE who have already applied for a Schengen visa as well as those planning to do so have shown interest in mainly visiting France, Italy, Germany, Greece, Switzerland, and Sweden.
Taking into account the popularity that these countries have, it means that they have been registering the highest number of Schengen visa applications.
Different travel services in UAE have said that they are receiving around 20 requests per week and at the same time have noted that it currently takes around a month for Schengen visa applications to be processed.
Commenting on the current situation, Galadari International Travel Services manager, Mir Wasim Raja, said that the appointment time has been delayed in many consulates due to the high number of applications.
Since some consulates have no available appointment slots until next month, some travel services have already suggested that UAE residents who need a Schengen visa to enter the bloc choose other countries, such as the Netherlands and the Czech Republic, as those have shorter waiting times.
All residents of the UAE who do not hold a UAE passport as well as those who are not part of the Schengen visa-exempt categories are required to obtain a Schengen visa.
A Schengen visa is a short-stay visa which permits its holders to travel to the member states of the Schengen Area for stays of up to 90 days for tourism purposes.
UAE residents applying for a Schengen visa must submit a fully completed application form, their valid passport, two photos, and proof of residence permits in UAE, which must be valid for at least another three months after the intended date of departure for the area.
In addition to the above-mentioned, UAE residents applying for a Schengen visa must also submit proof that they have reserved a flight ticket, proof that they have secured a place to stay in Schengen, proof of sufficient financial means, and proof of having purchased EU travel insurance.
