How To Get Schengen Visa In Abu Dhabi
If you’re flying in and out of Abu Dhabi International Airport, you will notice that various flights are to and from Schengen countries.
Guidelines on How to Apply for a Schengen Visa
Every person wishing to enter the Schengen Area, under whatever purpose, might be subject to a visa regime, depending on his or her nationality.
If you have never been to Europe before, the first thing you have to do is ask yourself “Do I need a visa to Schengen Area?” Currently, more than 60 countries around the world can enter Europe visa-free zone without the need to obtain a visa first, and remain there for 90 days within a six-month period.
The application process to obtain a European visa is mandatory for your freedom of movement in this area. Therefore, you should be very careful when lodging your Schengen visa application.
If you need to apply for a visa to Europe, proceed reading this article which is the ultimate guideline of a Schengen visa application process.
1. Figure out which Schengen visa type you need
Depending on the purpose under which you need to enter the Schengen Area, you can apply for one of the following Schengen visa types:
- Transit visa
- Tourism visa
- Visa for Visiting Family or Friends
- Business visa
- Visa for Culture and Sport activities
- Visa for Official Visits
- Study visa
- Visa for Medical Reasons
2. Find out where you need to apply
Depending on how your destination country in Schengen has regulated visa submission in your country of residence, you will have to file your Schengen visa application at one of the following:
- Their embassy
- One of their consulates
- A visa centre to which the embassy of your destination country has outsourced visa submission
- The embassy/consulate of another Schengen state to which the embassy of your destination country has outsourced visa submission
By your “destination country”, we mean the country where you need to lodge your application, according to the Schengen rules.
These rules are as follows:
- If you are going to visit only one Schengen country, file your application at the embassy/consulate/visa centre of that country
- If you are going to visit more than two Schengen countries, file your application:
- At the embassy/consulate/visa centre of the country where you will spend most days if you will be spending an unequal amount of days in each
- At the embassy/consulate/visa centre of the country where you will step first, if you will be spending an equal amount of days in each
3. Find the most suitable time to apply
Due to the time that the Schengen embassies/consulates worldwide need to process a Schengen visa, you have an appointed period within which you can file your visa application.
The allowed period to apply for a Schengen visa is as follows:
- The earliest you can file a visa application: six months before you start your planned trip.
- The latest you can file a visa application: at most 15 working days before you intend to travel.
- The recommended time to file a visa application: at least three weeks before your trip.
4. Book an appointment
Book a Schengen visa appointment in order to proceed with your application.
Most countries give you the chance to book an appointment online. On the other hand, in others, you will need to book the appointment in person, at the embassy or consulate of your destination country.
5. Fill out the visa application form
Download the application form and fill it correctly and honestly.
The Schengen visa application form has the same format no matter which country’s visa it is that the applicant is applying for.
You will have to give the following information on your Schengen visa application form:
- Your personal information,
- Information on your background,
- Your purpose of wishing to enter the Schengen Area,
- Other details regarding your trip.
In order to complete and submit the form correctly, pay attention to the following tips:
- Download the latest form of the application since that is the only form accepted.
- Make sure you fill out every required gap. Here you can find some clear instructions on how to fill in the visa application form.
- Do not leave any columns blank. If you feel that, there are columns that do not correspond to your case, fill them with NA (No Answer).
- Remember to print the form twice. Sign both of the copies at the end.
- If you are a minor, your parents have to submit a written consent and sign it in the corresponding column of the application form.
6. Gather the required documents
The required documents are a crucial part of your visa application. Usually, these documents are categorized into two groups.
The first group is of the standard required documents, which include:
- The visa application form.
- Valid passport.
- Two identical photos.
- Travel insurance policy. You can easily purchase it online from AXA Schengen or Europ Assistance.
- Round trip reservation or flight itinerary with dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from the Schengen area.
- Proof of accommodation.
- Proof of financial means, etc.
The other group is of the visa specific requirements. These documents and their specifications differ from one visa type to the other. In addition, some of the Schengen member states have their own extra requirements for visa applicants.
Naturally, these Schengen Visas must be obtained before getting on the plane for European destinations. As you are well aware, some countries have closed their borders in terms of tourist and business visa policies. However, the beauty of Abu Dhabi is that a lot of the neighboring Arab countries allow nationals of UAE to visit without even a visa. Apart from those Arab countries, almost all other countries are accessible visa-free for UAE nationals (and GCC) for up to 30 days. There’s one more thing you need to know about Schengen Visa — it can be obtained from any Schengen country, however visa-free entry to most of these countries can be done from certain countries only – e.g., EU nationals can enter freely from Switzerland, Denmark etc., while others could go with Hungary or Bulgaria.
Would you like to travel abroad for a month and visit other EU countries without any visa formalities? If Yes, then you need Schengen Visa. But getting this kind of a visa is not so simple. There are certain strict rules and regulations you need to follow in order to apply for Schengen visa.
Visa is an official permission granted by a country for specific territories or for all the countries of Schengen Zone, to a foreigner and that permits to transit through those countries or in some cases allow to enter in them. If you want to know the procedure of obtaining visa in Schengen Zone, and where to apply for your visa; how much does cost visa for each nationality and which are most important documents required for Schengen Visa.
