Foreign nationals in the United Arab Emirates are facing difficulties booking an appointment for a Schengen visa, as the demand for EU destinations is high.
Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis, the most common nationalities in UAE, must obtain a Schengen visa to travel to Schengen Area, unlike UAE nationals who can visit the zone visa-free, Schengen.News reports.
According to an online survey, which counted 419 respondents, 65 per cent of them (273) failed to secure a Schengen visa appointment this summer, compared to 16.9 per cent (73) still waiting for one.
For comparison, 75 people or 17.8 per cent managed to get an appointment to apply for a Schengen visa.
Ashwini Michelle, a UAE resident shared her experience with Lovin Dubai, revealing her struggles when trying to apply for a Schengen visa.
Her husband and son had to cancel their visas while Ashwini received hers within a week of her appointment.
Flo Ri, another resident of the Emirates also encountered issues in booking a visa appointment, mainly due to agencies.
He revealed that this issue has been going in for years, pointing out that there were no Olympic Games last year.
In March 2024, VFS Global in UAE revealed that foreign residents are more keen on applying for Schengen visas.
This could be related to major sports events that are being hosted in the UE, including the UEFA Championship and the Olympics 2024.
Travel agents later revealed that appointments for Schengen visas are fully booked until the end of August, indicating that there are very few appointments left for new applicants.
Those who manage to secure appointments in early September must keep in mind that the visa processing takes approximately two weeks, so they must plan accordingly.
Source : https://schengen.news/uae-residents-in-need-of-schengen-visas-struggling-to-secure-appointments-amid-summer-season/
