Schengen Visa Application through VFS Global in Dubai, UAE

Prior COVID-19, I don’t really have the courage to apply Schengen Visa in Dubai at all. I was so intimidated with the whole application process. Gathering documents (oh I hate this!) plus the fact that my application can be rejected, sounds scary to me! You know me and my ‘mishaps’ when it comes to visa like my OMAN VISA or my KYRGYZSTAN E-VISA! However, out of my intense desire to do the Camino de Santiago as soon as 2022 started, I finally had the courage and started my Schengen Visa Application here in Dubai. And as unfortunate as the result was (read below), let me guide you on how to apply yours to the best of my ability.

Disclaimer: This is not an expert’s advice and I am not related from VFS Global or any travel agency. All information written in this post are based on my personal experience (February 2022) with Portugal via VFS Global. Certain information may change according to the rules and regulations by VFS or by Schengen Territories.

Anyhow, let’s get down to it! To go to a particular section, use the below table of contents or you can scroll through the whole post to read further.

Post Last Update: November 23, 2022

Schengen Visa & Coverage

First of all, what is Schengen Visa? Schengen Visa allows you to enter the Schengen area for Tourism or Business purposes. The Schengen Area consists of the following European countries as members:

Austria	Hungary	Norway
Belgium	Iceland	Poland
Czech Republic	Italy	Portugal
Denmark	Latvia	Slovakia
Estonia	Liechtenstein	Slovenia
Finland	Lithuania	Spain
France	Luxembourg	Sweden
Germany	Malta	Switzerland
Greece	Netherlands

Not only that, you may also enter non-European countries as long as you have a VALID double/multiple entry Schengen Visa. If you need more information on this, you may refer to schengenvisainfo.com which explains everything such as visa types, validity, Schengen agreements, etc.

Schengen Visa Application Process in Dubai, UAE

Application Center in UAE (Dubai) – VFS Global

Compared to other countries, Schengen Visa has a dedicated Application Centers who facilitate and assist applicants with their visa application. They act as specialists to help you submit a complete and correct set of documents and avoid getting your visa rejected. VFS Global represents most of the Schengen members including Canada and UK except Spain who is represented by BLS International.

Do take note that Schengen members HAVE DIFFERENT VFS Global websites and they may require different details, requirements and costs. So check accordingly with the respective website of YOUR destination. This post is based on my experience when I apply for a Schengen Visa from Portugal VFS Global (Dubai Application Center).

VFS Global Application Center Details

• Address – Wafi Mall, 2nd Floor, Falcon, Phase 2 Umm Hurair 2, Dubai UAE
• Opening Hours – Monday to Friday from 9 AM – 5 PM (Submission cut off at 3 PM)
• Contact Number – varies depending on the country they represent

Visa Process Steps

Breaking down the process into a simple and easier explanation, the whole process is only a total of 4 steps as:

1st Step: Book your Appointment

Based on my experience, booking an appointment from VFS Global can be a pain in the ass because there are limited slots or no slots at all. This is my first step and I will suggest the same for you. While you gather your documents, make sure to check the slots as frequent as you can. Different countries may have different processing time as well so book yours as early as you can before your travel date.

I found a slot after patiently checking everyday for two weeks on January, until I found the earliest slot which is on the month of February. If your travel date is near, make sure to book your appointment first before anything else as you never know the availability of slots. Once you find a slot, book it right away and wait for your confirmation e-mail from VFS with an attached Appointment Letter. The e-mail should look like this:

2nd Step: Gather documents and requirements

Appointment date is set, so now focus on preparing your documents and requirements. Since I applied from Portugal, I followed their requirements checklist as required by VFS Global. The general requirements needed are:

• Application form (handwritten forms are NOT accepted)
• Recent passport size photo
• Original passport and one passport photocopy
• Copy of the latest 3 Schengen Visas issued during the last 3 years (if applicable)
• UAE Residence visa and one photocopy
• Valid travel insurance (original and stamped)
• Original letter from local sponsor – NOC
• Flight reservation including return ticket
• Proof of accommodation
• Personal UAE Bank Account Statement (Originally signed and stamped for the last 3 months)

There will be additional requirements IF YOU are minor, not employed but business owners or self-employed, or if you have a sponsor (if business) or spouse or family in the Schengen Area (if tourism). Check the necessary documents applicable to you with VFS Global directly.

Apart from the documents required, I brought a print out of the Appointment Letter (attached at the Appointment Confirmation e-mail by VFS) and a cover letter. Cover Letters are technically not required but suggested by other blogs. From my experience, it was not accepted and suggested. The VFS Employee told me that based on her experience, it doesn’t really help the application at all. However, I will not discourage you to prepare one.

3rd Step : Visit Schengen Visa Application Center (VFS Global) in Dubai

Finally, visit the VFS Global Application Center (on the date of your appointment). Please take note that you can only enter 15 minutes before your booked time (not earlier than that and avoid being late). Show your Appointment Letter sent to you (the one with the barcode) and you will be given a token number to be used inside the Center.

Once inside the Application Center, you will do the following:

• Have your documents checked by the VFS Employee (they will check for missing/wrong documents)
• Do your biometrics (fingerprints scanning)

This is the most important and crucial step which absolutely depends on your documents. Based on my experience, I overlooked a rule* (fewer nights in Portugal & longer in Spain – honest mistake btw) so they don’t want to accept my application at first. They are insisting to apply from Spain. Fortunately, I was allowed by the Employee to modify my accommodation bookings so that I will be staying longer in Portugal than Spain.

Anyhow, make sure that all the information and documents with you on are 100% correct and aligned with the visa application rules to avoid unnecessary mishaps like mine.

*As a rule, wherever Schengen Territory you are staying the longest, that’s where you should apply your Schengen Visa. And if you are staying at different Schengen Territories with equal number of nights, you should apply where you will enter first.

Going back to the process, after the documents were all verified, pay for your visa fees and extra charges (if there’s any). All your documents will be kept into a plastic envelope and will be handed to you. Proceed to do your biometrics (once your token number is called), leave the plastic envelope (with your documents) and take your photo followed by the fingerprints scanning (same room).

4th Visa Process Step: Wait Patiently

And once you successfully submitted your documents and the biometrics, there is nothing left but to WAIT. Different embassies/countries have different processing times so note this when planning your visa application especially when your travel date is near. With Portugal, it takes 15 calendar days as mentioned in the VFS Website and as reminded by the VFS Employee. And here am I, waiting patiently after a week has passed. I rarely track my application online to be honest and patiently waiting for the good news instead. But you can definitely track your application online using the Reference Number given to you after paying the Visa Fees.

Costs

Based on my application for a single-entry Schengen Visa entering Portugal, I spent the following costs as of February 14, 2022:

• VFS Global Service Charge* – AED 143.97 (paid during BOOKING the appointment date)
• Visa Fee* – AED 348.99 (paid at the application center after submission of documents)
• Courier Fee – AED 50 (paid at the application center for them to send back my passport once the application process is done)

*VFS Global Service Charge and Visa Fee differs from country to country so please check accordingly.

Result

As promised by VFS that the application process will take around 15 calendar days or a little longer, I was still waiting until it passed 30 calendar days before I actively followed up. First with VFS, but then to no avail so I sent an e-mail to the embassy directly (twice). As unfortunate as it is and no matter how I practice the law of attraction, my lack of luck strike again – I got an email from the embassy last Saturday (April 2, 2022).

It’s unfortunate but I was not broken hearted as I thought I would be. But it makes me wonder where did it go wrong. I have correct documents and I have a sufficient amount of money (as far as I know). Anyhow, it means I have to try and re-apply next time but I’ll miss the opening season of Camino and I might miss Camino’s summer season too. Worse comes to worst, I’ll have to wait for another year for the Camino. But that’s life, full or surprises, so let’s just go with it 😉

And that’s it! That’s the step-by-step process on how to apply a Schengen Visa in Dubai! I hope it sounds easy to you and it can be of help and if by any chance you have questions that I may have an answer, please feel free to comment below and I will reply to you at the soonest!