What is Schengen Visa and What are the Procedures?

The Schengen cooperation agreement took its name from the town of Schengen in Luxembourg, where it was signed for the purpose of ensuring the free movement of persons and goods between the member states.

All European Union (EU) member states except five countries UK, Ireland, Romania, Bulgaria and Cyprus and four non-EU countries namely Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and Lithuania are part of the Schengen area.

The remaining member states are Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden. The Schengen system allows travel between its 25 member countries (21 European Union states and four non-EU members)

Over 400 million Europeans currently enjoy passport-free travel across the Schengen area.

Schengen visa applicants have to undergo biometric scans to record 10 fingerprints and a facial image as part of the visa application process.

Sharp rise in visa costs, especially for children

 Those applying for a Schengen visa to visit Switzerland will have to spend more starting next year.

 The government of Switzerland announced that the cost of obtaining a Schengen visa to visit the country will increase from 60 euros (approx Dh245.84) to 80 euros (approx Dh327.73) for adults, a rise of approximately Dh82, starting February 2, 2020.

 The fee for minors aged between six and 12 will rise even more sharply: from 5 euros to 40 euros.

 The changes also promise to make it more efficient and faster to obtain a visa. It will be possible to submit applications six months before taking a trip instead of the current three months. There will also be an option to fill in applications electronically, swissinfo.ch.

 Multiple-entry visas with a longer validity period will be issued for a period of up to five years rather than the current one-year limitation. 

POINTS TO REMEMBER
1. Find out which country / countries you will be travelling. If you are travelling to more than one country during your trip you will need to obtain a Schengen Visa from the consulate of the country you intend to visit first. For example if you are travelling to Portugal but will be visiting Greece and Italy too, you need to obtain your Schengen Visa through the Portuguese consulate as your initial point of entry will be through Portugal. However, in cases of short trips, the number of nights spent in a Schengen country will determine which country you need to apply for the Visa . It may be a country that might not be the first point of entry.

2. Make sure you know how long you intend to stay. A Schengen Visa is usually granted as a single entry or multi-entry visa and is valid for 3, 6 or 12 months. However each consulate grant Schengen Visa's using different scoring criteria. It's important to be very clear and honest about your travel intentions.

3. Ensure you have proof of funds. When applying for a Schengen Visa you will need to provide current bank statements amongst other documents.

4. Book accommodation and flight. It's important to check with the consulate first with regards to what documents you need in order to obtain a Schengen Visa. While Spain requires that a flight has been booked and paid for and accommodation reserved, Italy, France and Portugal only require flight and accommodation information. Check and double check with the consulate in question.

5. Get Travel Insurance. You will need travel insurance when you apply for a Schengen Visa.

6. Ensure you plan early to apply for the Schengen Visa. Some take a week, others take 15 working days. It's important to take this into account when planning your holiday. It is also important to remember that you may only get an appointment to apply for the visa in 3 weeks time so this should be taken into consideration before booking your holiday.

7. Ensure your passport is not about to expire. Most countries require your passport to be valid for travel for the next 6 to 12 months before it's due to expire. You will also need a blank page (sometimes 2 opposite) in the passport to accommodate the visa stamp.

Expatriates: UAE Residence visa should be valid for minimum six months.

A Schengen visa is needed when you are visiting one or several of the countries of the Schengen Area (i.e. 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).

+ The duration of your total stay in Schengen countries shall not exceed 90 days in a period of 6 months, starting from the date of first entry.
+ In case you intend to visit several Schengen countries, you have to apply for a Schengen visa at the Greek Visa Application Centres when:
- your main destination (the Schengen country where you will spend the longest time) is Greece, or
- you are spending the same amount of days in several Schengen countries, but Greece is your first port of entry into the Schengen Area.

+ Only UAE nationals and nationals of third countries that are legal residents in UAE can apply for a visa at the VFS Greece Visa Application Centre in Abu Dhabi and Dubai

+ Visa applications cannot be submitted earlier than three months before the expected arrival in the Schengen Area.
+ Applicants must hold a valid passport issued within the previous 10 years, containing at least 2 consecutive blank pages. The validity of the passport should extend for at least 3 months after the intended date of departure from the territory of Greece If you do not meet the above mentioned criteria, a new passport must be obtained before submitting your application.

+ All applicants must submit their visa application in person at the Visa Application Centre.

+ At the time of application applicants will be required to submit their biometrics (fingerprints, digital photo). For more information, click here.

+ The applicant may be requested to appear in the Embassy for interview. In this case, the applicant will be accordingly informed by VFS.

+ Due to security reasons only the applicant will be allowed inside the application centers. Any accompanying family, friends etc. must remain outside the area.

Processing time:
Processing time at the Embassy may vary between 2 - 15 days depending on the nationality of the applicant

VFS Global is the authorized Centre to submit Schengen & UK Visa Applications in UAE. Premium and doorstep services also available. Doorstep visa service available for UK, Switzerland, Czech Republic and South Africa.

Schengen Visa waiver for UAE Nationals
UAE Nationals will no longer require a visa for short stays (up to 90 days) in the Schengen area, whether for business, tourist or family visit purposes.

Travel guidelines about wearing Veil (Neqab)European states who enforced a ban on burqas include France, Belgium, Denmark, and the Netherlands, as well as some European cities such as Barcelona in Spain, who banned any form of face covering since 2010. The Hesse State in Germany and a number of Italian cities have also banned the veil.

The Danish courts, a German state, Hesse, and a number of Italian cities have also issued similar bans.

On the first of July 2016, the Swiss canton of Ticino imposed a ban on burqa. Offenders can be fined up from 100 to 1,000 Swiss francs [Dh377 to Dh3,774], as well as deportation. The fine can increase if the offender insists on wearing it.

The Italian-speaking Canton of Ticino is located in the southeast of Switzerland, and receives a regular influx of tourists who travel to see the lakeside city of Locarno. According to the law, which was voted in by a 2013 referendum, burqas are forbidden in shops, restaurants, or public buildings.

The UAE embassy in the US can be contacted on 202-243 2400.
In countries where UAE diplomatic missions are not available, Emiratis can contact the emergency number +971 600-5999 91.

Dubai Application Center Address: 
VFS Global
WAFI Mall, Level 2, Falcon
Phase 2, Umm Hurair 2
Dubai, UAE

Abu Dhabi Application Center Address:
VFS Global
Level 25, Shining Tower
King Khalid Bin Abdel Aziz, 26th Street
Adjacent to Khalidyah Mall
Abu Dhabi, UAE
VFS Call Centre: +971-4-2055770 Between 0900 hrs - 1700 hrs (Sunday- Thursday)Greece Embassy
31 Str, Al Muroor Area
P.O.Box 5483
Abu Dhabi,
United Arab Emirates
Phone: +971-2-4492550
Website: www.mfa.gr/abu

No need pre-entry visas for Emiratis (UAE Nationals) to travel to Argentina
Emiratis holding ordinary passports are now exempt from pre-entry visas to travel to Argentina and can stay in the country for up to 90 days.

No need pre-entry visas for UAE Nationals to travel to: Paraguay, South Africa, Peru, Mongolia, Pakistan, Mexico, Russian Federation, Brazil, Chad, Saint Lucia, Vanuatu, El Salvador, Montenegro and Ireland. 
UAE citizens travelling to South Africa can stay for a period up to 90 days, effective as of August 15, 2019.

 Citizens of UAE and Mexico can remain in either country for no longer than 180 consecutive days. 

 Emiratis can travel to Uzbekistan without prior visas and stay there for up to 30 days.
Emiratis can enter Kazakhstan on a 15-day visit without the need for pre-entry visas.

Republic of Sao: UAE citizens no longer need to apply for pre-entry visa requirements when travelling to the Republic of Sao Tome and Principe  effective July 6, 2017. UAE nationals can stay in Sao Tome and Principe for up to 15 days. The Republic of Sao Tome and Principe is an African country that consists of two islands in the Gulf of Guinea, about 240 kms from the West African coast.

UAE citizens allowed to use SmartGate services in Australian airports
Australia has extended the SmartGate service in its airports to arriving and departing Emiratis who hold ordinary passports. The citizens of UAE can choose to clear their arrival and departure by using the SmartGate services, provided they get a pre-arrival electronic entry visa to Australia. This facility is granted to holders of ordinary UAE passports who are at least 16 years of age.

Ukrainians can travel visa-free to EU. Only those with biometric passports - containing a microchip - can take advantage of the visa-free travel for the time being. This facility started on 11/06/2017.

Pakistanis can get complimentary 7-day transit visa to Turkey
1. The issuance of the free of charge single transit visa with 7 days stay in Turkey to Pakistani nationals who are travelling with Turkish Airlines to the Schengen countries, USA, United Kingdom and Ireland through Turkey on condition that they have a valid visa of these countries and are not banned/objectionable for entering Turkey is continuing. This type of visa can now be obtained either via https://www.evisa.gov.tr/en/ or from the Turkish Consulates in Pakistan and the Consular Section of the Embassy in Islamabad through GERRY's Visa Drop Box Center.

2. The free of charge single transit visa with 7 days stay in Turkey will be issued to Pakistani nationals who are travelling with Turkish Airlines to the Saudi Arabia with the aim of Umrah on condition that they have a valid Umrah visa and are not banned/objectionable for entering Turkey.

The applicants should submit the required documents for single transit visa as stated before.

The application of the free of charge single transit visa (Umrah) with 7 days stay in Turkey, has launched from (8 May 2017) and can only be obtained from the Turkish Consulates in Pakistan and the Consular Section of the Embassy in Islamabad through GERRY's Visa Drop Box Center.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Related Pages
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FAMILY VISA
PARENTS VISA
+ How to Sponsor Parents on Residence Visa in Dubai?
HOUSEMAID VISA
+ Housemaid Recruitment from India (Visa & Indian Consulate Procedures)
+ Affidavit (non-relation certificate) from Indian Consulate
+ How to bring a nanny to UAE?
+ Maid Visa Stamping (After Entry)-Dubai
+ Housemaid Visa Renewal-Dubai
+ Abscond Reporting - Housemaid
+ Housemaid Recruitment from SRI LANKA to UAE
+ Maid Visa Stamping (UAE National Sponsor)-Dubai
+ Maid Visa Cancellation-Dubai
+ Medical Test from Home Country for Sri Lankan, Indonesian & Ethiopian Housemaids
+ Rights and responsibilities of domestic workers in the UAE
+ How to ensure that your babysitter is reliable?
+ Hiring Domestic Workers through TADBEER Centers in UAE
EMIRATES ID
+ Emirates ID; New & Renewal
+ Renew your Emirates ID and UAE residency visa online
BUSINESS SET-UP IN UAE
+ Different Types of UAE Visas 
---------------------------------------------------------------
Are you planning to Set-up your business in Dubai? Call us for Setting up new business, LLC Formation, Amendment in existing license, PRO Service and Translation. +971 55-273 2295, 055-345 7829, 04-239 1302 or mail your queries to visaprocess.ae@gmail.com
by at
Tags , ,