Schengen Area is a union of 26 European countries that unified the internal borders for free movement of tourists and visitors across these countries and defined a common set of rules for controlling the external borders. This move has helped establish peace harmony and reduce criminality by strengthening local police cooperation and having a common judicial system. But, of course, it would help if you had a valid Schengen visa to navigate freely among the 26 Schengen countries within a single visa without having any border control and passport checks. So, if you intend to apply for a short-term Schengen visa for your vacation, this article would be the perfect recipe for you. A short-term Schengen visa is valid for up to 90 days, one time within six months from the visa issue date.
Countries That Come Under The Schengen Agreement
The Schengen agreement brings the union of 26 countries into the European Union. The Schengen countries are Denmark, France, Austria, Hungary, Belgium, Finland, Czech Republic, Greece, Latvia, Germany, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Italy, Lithuania, Norway, Malta, Iceland, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Poland, Slovakia, Portugal, Sweden, Portugal, and Liechtenstein.
One can apply for a Schengen visa only if their purpose of travel is for business or leisure. You can enter multiple times with a short-term Schengen visa in any Schengen country and transit between other Schengen countries without needing an additional visa.
Types of Schengen Visa
There are two Schengen visa types that you should note while you are applying for a short-stay Schengen visa. Both short-term Schengen visa is valid for single/multiple entries for up to 90 days within six months from the date of visa stamp. A soft copy of the Schengen visa is emailed to the email address mentioned on your application form.
Nationalities of the USA & UK do not need a visa to travel to the Schengen countries.
| Type of visa | Purpose of travel | Entry | Processing time |
| Tourist Visa | Leisure | Single/Multiple | 5-15 working days |
| Business Visa | Business | Single/Multiple | 5-15 working days |
For all UAE passport holders who have previously refused a Schengen visa and have traveled to any Schengen visa country. All short-term Schengen visas for non-UAE & non-Schengen nationals need to be applied through the relevant consulate, visa application center, or embassy in Abu Dhabi or Dubai.
The processing time for a Schengen visa can go up to 60 days from the date of the application in certain circumstances. Therefore, we recommend you keep those many days while planning & applying for your short-term Schengen visa.
Mandatory Documents For A Short-Term Schengen Visa
A set of mandatory and supporting documents forms the core of a Schengen short-stay visa requirements.
- Duly filled and completed short-term Schengen visa application form
- A valid passport that is valid for up to six months from the date of visa issue
- Two recent passport size photographs taken with a white background
- Copy of the Emirates ID
- No objection (NOC) letter from the Emirates company/sponsor of the applicant
- Six-month bank statement to validate the financial capability of the applicant to cover their expenses
- Copy of your confirmed hotel reservation at your destination country
- Confirmed air travel ticket to the Schengen countries you would be visiting, including the transit countries.
- Valid travel insurance for the period of stay with the Schengen area
Short-Term Schengen Visa Charges
For adults above 18 years of age, the visa fee is 340 AED. There are no charges for children under six years of age. A visa fee of AED 170 is applicable for children between 6-11 years. There are no charges for diplomatic and service passport holders.
Important points
It does not guarantee approval even though you are applying for a short-stay Schengen visa. Therefore, it would be best if you took note of the following points to avoid rejection or delay of your short-term Schengen visa.
- Your application for a short-term Schengen visa should be filled a minimum of 90 days in advance before your scheduled arrival date in any of the Schengen countries.
- Be punctual for your appointment at the visa consulate, embassy, or visa application center in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.
- Avoid any typo or incomplete set of documents or their corresponding supporting documents while submitting your short-term Schengen visa application form.
- Always clarify any concerns about the short-term Schengen visa application form rather than making any assumptions that could lead to a delay or rejection of your visa. Then, you can visit or call the respective visa consulate Embassy or Visa application center to process your visa application.
- Your travel itinerary (Flight, Accommodation, Insurance) should be complete and confirmed before applying for a short-stay Schengen visa.
- You can track your application status online through the Schengen visa consulate of the respective country website.
Avoiding Overstaying In Your Schengen Visa
You should avoid overstaying in your short-term Schengen visa as it may lead to the tourist or visitor being deported from the Schengen countries with immediate effect. If the tourist or visitor is caught involved in any form of paid activity while they are overstaying their short-stay in the Schengen countries or involved in any form of illegal activities. They would be taken into immediate custody, where you will have to wait for a trial to be conducted. Hence, know about the Schengen visa validity rules before you visit the Schengen area.
If you are still unsure about your Schengen short-stay visa requirements, connect with the right partner who can guide and mentor you all through the visa journey. Connect with our team to sail smoothly through your visa journey.