UAE Foreign Residents Planning to Reach EU in April & Onward Advised to Book Their Schengen Visa Appointments in Advance
Foreign United Arab Emirates residents who have plans to enter the European Union in April and during the summer months have been advised to start planning their trips and book their Schengen visa appointments in advance.
While UAE passport holders are exempt from the Schengen visa requirements, the case is not the same for foreigners in the country as they need to apply for a visa in order to be permitted entry into the Schengen Area.
It is expected that the interest in visiting the Schengen Member countries in spring, during the Eid holidays, and throughout the summer will be very high. For this reason, in order to avoid any last-minute inconvenience, everyone is recommended to have a clear plan and book an appointment for the visa, SchngenVisaInfo.com reports.
According to Khaleej Times, the regional head for VFS Global, Monaz Billimoria, said that they expect to receive a high number of Schengen visa applications in UAE this year.
Billimoria revealed that Europe continues to remain one of the most preferred destinations for UAE residents and encouraged everyone to apply for their visa in time.
She clarified that Schengen visa applications could be made up to 180 days in advance and, at the same time, stressed the importance of not applying for the document through intermediaries that ask for a large amount of money to help with the application.
As Khaleej Times explains, Billimoria further revealed that the demand for Schengen visas in UAE saw an increase of 25 per cent in 2023 compared to 2022. The number of people applying for Schengen visas in UAE in 2023 also exceeded the 2019 levels by 18 per cent.
While Billimoria did not disclose which European countries are the most popular among UAE Schengen visa applicants, it is believed that those known best for their architecture are more popular during spring, whereas those known for their sea are more popular during summer.
Previously, SchengenVisaInfo.com reported that Schengen countries embassies in the UAE have opened up booking slots. Moreover, it was stressed that the processing time for a Schengen visa is currently less than two weeks.
Additionally to the streamlined visa process, the flight prices to some countries have also dropped, with some under €276. Among all Schengen countries, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, France, and Germany are the most popular destinations among UAE residents for April.
