Where do I book a Schengen visa appointment in Dubai?

It depends on the country. Germany uses a VFS Global waitlist, with Dubai and Northern Emirates residents applying at VFS Global in Dubai. Italy uses BLS International in Abu Dhabi for Abu Dhabi issued residence visas and VFS Global Dubai for Dubai and Northern Emirates residents. Switzerland, the Netherlands, Greece and Austria use VFS Global centres in Abu Dhabi or Dubai, and Spain uses BLS International in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

How much are Schengen visa fees in Dubai?

The Schengen visa fee is EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 12, paid in dirhams at the consulate's current exchange rate. Children under six pay nothing under the Italian rules. Visa application centres charge their own service fee on top, and the visa fee is not refunded on refusal.

Can I apply for a Germany visa from Dubai?

Yes. All German visa applications in the UAE are processed and decided by the German Consulate General in Dubai, which works only with VFS Global. Residents of Dubai and the Northern Emirates apply at VFS Global in Dubai, and residents of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain apply at VFS Global in Abu Dhabi, by appointment through the waitlist.

How do I apply for an Italy visa from Dubai?

Residents of Dubai and the Northern Emirates are referred to the Consulate General in Dubai, which works through VFS Global Dubai, and tourist visas need a BLS appointment where BLS handles the file. The Dubai consulate's May 2026 checklist says only holders of a UAE residence visa issued by a Northern Emirates authority may apply in Dubai.

What does a Switzerland visa from Dubai require?

Schengen applications from UAE residents are taken by VFS Global in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and you can submit only after registering and booking an appointment on the VFS website; the booking is free. You show a UAE residence visa and Emirates ID valid at least one month beyond your planned return, or proof of a renewal application, and Switzerland must be your main destination.

How long does a Schengen visa take from the UAE?

A decision is normally made within 15 days, extended to up to 45 days when the application needs a closer look or more documents. Switzerland states 15 calendar days, Germany up to 15 days, and Spain says most applicants hear within 15 working days with some cases taking up to 45 days. Apply at least 15 days before departure.

What documents do I need for a Schengen visa in Dubai?

A passport valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area, a completed application form, an ICAO standard photo, travel medical insurance with at least EUR 30,000 cover, and documents on your purpose of trip, money, accommodation and plan to return. Germany also asks for a UAE residence permit valid three months beyond the trip and an employer or sponsor letter.

Does the 90/180 rule count days in the UK?

No. Days spent in the UK do not count towards the 90 days, and time under a residence permit or long-stay visa from a Schengen country is not counted either. On each day of a stay you count back 180 days, and the day of entry and the day of exit both count as days of stay.

Do I need ETIAS if I have a Schengen visa?

No. ETIAS is a separate travel authorisation for visa-free visitors only, and people who need a Schengen visa do not apply for ETIAS. ETIAS is not yet operating and is expected to start in the last quarter of 2026, with a fee of EUR 20. The EES border registration is free and needs no application.

Will my UAE SIM work across Europe, or should I use an eSIM?

A UAE line roaming across the Schengen area can get costly, so many travellers keep it for calls and bank codes with data roaming off and use a data eSIM for maps and messaging. Slashtel's Europe+ eSIM works in all 29 Schengen countries plus the UK and Turkey, and validity starts when it first connects at the destination.

Schengen Visa from Dubai: 2026 Rules, Fees and Centres

You apply for a Schengen visa from Dubai through the visa application centre that the destination country's consulate works with, usually VFS Global or BLS International, and you must hold a UAE residence visa that stays valid after your trip. Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, the Netherlands, Greece and Austria each set their own centre, fee in dirhams and document list, so check the country you will spend the longest time in before you book an appointment.

Who needs a Schengen visa in the UAE

Most UAE residents need a Schengen visa, but Emirati passport holders do not need one for a short Schengen stay to the Netherlands, according to the Dutch government's page for applicants in the UAE. Everyone else applies according to their nationality and their UAE residence, not their employer or their flight route.

The Schengen area has 29 member countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Bulgaria and Romania became full members on 1 January 2025. Cyprus and Ireland are EU countries that are not in the Schengen area, so a Schengen visa does not cover them.

A Schengen short-stay visa allows a visit of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. A single-entry visa allows one entry, a multiple-entry visa allows several visits while it is valid, and an airport transit visa only covers the international transit area of an airport. If you are travelling on an Indian passport, the same rules apply and the country of main destination decides where you lodge the file; see the guide to the Schengen visa for Indians for that route.

UAE residence rules for applying

As a general rule you apply in the country where you legally live, and the consulate with territorial responsibility for your UAE residence decides your file. Several missions in the UAE go further and check which emirate issued your residence visa, so the same applicant can be routed to Abu Dhabi or to Dubai.

Italy is the clearest example. The Embassy of Italy in Abu Dhabi takes applications only from holders of a UAE visa issued by the Government of Abu Dhabi, through BLS International at Nation Towers. Residents of Dubai and the Northern Emirates are referred to the Consulate General in Dubai, which works through VFS Global Dubai. The Dubai consulate's May 2026 checklist says only holders of a UAE residence visa issued by a Northern Emirates authority may apply in Dubai.

Other missions check validity dates rather than the issuing emirate:

Germany asks for a UAE residence permit valid at least three months after the requested visa expires or the trip ends.
Switzerland asks for a UAE residence visa and Emirates ID valid at least one month beyond the planned return from the Schengen area; if they are not, you need proof that you have applied to renew your residency.
Greece asks for a residence permit valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area.
Austria accepts only a valid UAE residence permit that runs at least 3 months after the requested visa expires.
Italy asks for a passport valid at least three months beyond the return date from the Schengen area that holds a valid UAE visa.

If your residence visa is close to expiry, renew it before you book.

Which visa centre handles each country in the UAE

Each Schengen mission in the UAE works with an outsourced visa centre, so the country you pick decides where you go and which website you book on. Germany works only with VFS Global, Italy with BLS International in Abu Dhabi and VFS Global in Dubai, and Switzerland, the Netherlands, Greece and Austria through VFS Global.

Germany: all German visa applications in the UAE are processed and decided by the German Consulate General in Dubai, which works only with VFS Global. Residents of Dubai and the Northern Emirates apply at VFS Global in Dubai; residents of Abu Dhabi and Al Ain apply at VFS Global in Abu Dhabi.
Italy: BLS International at Nation Towers, Abu Dhabi, for Abu Dhabi issued residence visas; VFS Global Dubai for Dubai and Northern Emirates residents.
Switzerland: VFS Global at centres in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Spain: BLS International runs the Spain visa application centres in Abu Dhabi (Tamouh Tower, Al Reem Island) and Dubai (I Rise Tower, Barsha Heights). The Embassy of Spain issues the visas.
Netherlands: the VFS Global application centre in Abu Dhabi or Dubai. The Dutch government says to book the appointment yourself, not through an intermediary.
Greece: VFS Global handles Greek Schengen applications in the UAE for the Embassy of Greece in Abu Dhabi.
Austria: the Austrian Embassy in Abu Dhabi accepts applications at the VFS centres in Abu Dhabi or Dubai.

Before any of this, confirm which country is your main destination. The European Commission says you lodge the application with the country of your main destination, and Switzerland does not accept applications where Switzerland is not the main destination.

Germany, Italy and Switzerland from the UAE

Germany, Italy and Switzerland each have a different booking system in the UAE. Germany runs a VFS waitlist, Italy uses BLS International in Abu Dhabi and VFS Global in Dubai depending on which emirate issued your residence visa, and Switzerland lets you book free on the VFS website.

Germany: applications are by appointment only through a VFS waitlist. The mission asks applicants to register on the waitlist as soon as possible because of high demand, slots go out in chronological order, and a booking slot notification is only valid for 24 hours. The tourism checklist asks for a UAE residence permit valid at least three months after the requested visa expires or the trip ends, travel medical insurance with at least EUR 30,000 cover (credit card insurance is not accepted), and a letter from your employer or sponsor. Processing can take up to 15 days and you can apply up to 6 months before travel.

Italy: tourist visas need a BLS appointment. From 11 June 2024 the Schengen visa fee is EUR 90 and EUR 45 for ages 6 to 12, paid in dirhams at the consular exchange rate; children under six pay nothing. The Dubai consulate strongly suggests applying at least 15 days before departure.

Switzerland: you can submit only after registering and booking an appointment on the VFS website, and the booking itself is free. The visa fee is EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 12, with the equivalent paid in dirhams, plus the VFS service fee. Processing takes 15 calendar days.

Each has its own step-by-step guide: the Germany visa from Dubai, the Italy visa from Dubai and the Switzerland visa from Dubai. For the wider picture of how the visa works, including the main destination rule, read the Schengen visa guide.

Fees and service charges

The Schengen visa fee is EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 12, and it can be waived for some categories of applicant. In the UAE it is paid in dirhams at the consulate's current exchange rate, and the visa application centre charges its own service fee on top.

What to expect per country:

Germany: visa fees are paid in UAE dirhams at the consulate's current exchange rate. The VFS service fee is kept by VFS Global.
Italy: EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for ages 6 to 12 from 11 June 2024, paid in dirhams at the consular exchange rate. Children under six pay nothing.
Switzerland: EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 12, with the equivalent paid in dirhams, plus the VFS service fee. The appointment booking itself is free.
Austria: EUR 90, or EUR 45 for ages 6 to 12, paid in dirhams and not refunded on refusal.
Netherlands: VFS service costs always apply.

Budget for the visa fee, the centre's service fee and your travel insurance as three separate payments. The visa fee is not refunded if the visa is refused, and Austria states this explicitly.

Documents required

Every file needs a passport valid for at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area, a completed application form, an ICAO standard photo, travel medical insurance and supporting documents on the purpose of the trip, your money, your accommodation and your plan to return home. Fingerprints are taken when you apply, with some exemptions.

The insurance rule is strict: it must cover emergency medical care, hospital treatment and repatriation, including in case of death, be valid in all Schengen countries for the whole stay, and have minimum cover of EUR 30,000. Germany's tourism checklist says credit card insurance is not accepted, so buy a standalone policy.

Country specific additions from the UAE:

Germany: a UAE residence permit valid at least three months after the requested visa expires or the trip ends, and a letter from your employer or sponsor.
Switzerland: UAE residence visa and Emirates ID valid at least one month beyond the planned return, or proof of a renewal application.
Greece: a residence permit valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area and travel insurance with at least EUR 30,000 cover.
Italy: a passport valid at least three months beyond the return date that holds a valid UAE visa.

A consulate may ask for more documents, so keep payslips, bank statements and your tenancy contract ready in case they are requested.

Appointments and processing time

Submit no earlier than 6 months before the trip and at least 15 days before it, and expect a decision normally within 15 days, extended to up to 45 days when the file needs a closer look or more documents. In the UAE the appointment is the part that needs planning.

Germany: register on the VFS waitlist as soon as possible; slots go out in chronological order and a booking slot notification is only valid for 24 hours. Processing can take up to 15 days and you can apply up to 6 months before travel.
Italy: book a BLS appointment for tourist visas and apply at least 15 days before departure.
Switzerland: register and book on the VFS website first; processing takes 15 calendar days.
Spain: apply up to 180 days before travel and at least 15 days before. Most applicants hear within 15 working days, and some cases take up to 45 days.

If a slot notification arrives, act within the stated window or you lose the place. Keep your travel dates flexible until the visa is in your passport.

The 90/180 rule and the Entry/Exit System

The 90/180-day rule is a moving window: on each day of a stay, count back 180 days, and the days spent in the Schengen area in that window must not exceed 90. The day of entry and the day of exit both count, and all Schengen countries share one allowance.

Days spent in the UK do not count towards the 90 days, and time spent under a residence permit or long-stay visa from a Schengen country is not counted either. After 90 days in a row outside the Schengen area, a new stay of up to 90 days is possible. Run your dates through the Schengen calculator before booking flights, especially on a multiple-entry visa.

The EU Entry/Exit System (EES) records non-EU nationals on a short stay at the external Schengen border: passport details, fingerprints, a facial image and the date and place of each entry and exit. It started on 12 October 2025, has been fully operational since 10 April 2026, and replaces passport stamping. It detects people who stay longer than allowed. Registration is free and there is nothing to apply for in advance; children under 12 do not give fingerprints, and holders of a long-stay visa or residence permit from an EES country are not registered. Read more on the EES page.

ETIAS is a separate travel authorisation for visa-free visitors only. People who need a Schengen visa do not apply for ETIAS. It is not yet operating and is expected to start in the last quarter of 2026, with a fee of EUR 20.

Data in Europe and topping up home from the UAE

Once the visa is sorted, the practical question is data: a UAE line roaming across 29 countries gets expensive, and a data eSIM keeps maps, bookings and WhatsApp working from the first border. Slashtel's Europe+ eSIM works in all 29 Schengen countries, plus the UK and Turkey, so data keeps working when you cross a border.

Slashtel eSIMs are data only: no local phone number and no calls or SMS, though WhatsApp and other internet calls work over the data. Keep the home SIM in the phone for calls and bank codes, and turn off data roaming on it to avoid roaming charges. The eSIM is bought online with an email address and a card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and the QR code arrives by email within minutes. Someone else can buy it and enter the traveller's email, so the QR code goes straight to the person who will use it. Validity starts when the eSIM first connects at the destination, so it can be bought and installed at home before the flight. The network is chosen automatically and cannot be picked by hand, more data can be added to the same eSIM later with no new QR code, and the phone must be unlocked and eSIM compatible. See the Europe eSIM page and estimate your usage with the data calculator.

If you would rather keep your UAE prepaid line active for bank codes while you travel, Slashtel also sells mobile top-ups to more than 100 countries, delivered in minutes, which keep a prepaid home line active. Top up from the UAE on the recharge page. For the split between data and calls, read calls, texts, OTPs and data on an eSIM. Support is on WhatsApp and email, 7 days a week.

See Europe eSIM plans.

Sources

Checked 25 October 2026. Rules and dates can change, so check the official pages before you rely on them.

Schengen Visa from Dubai: Country by Country Guide