Planning a trip to Europe this summer? Apply for your Schengen visa now
UAE residents frequently travel to Europe during summer holidays to find relief from the heat and to experience European countries' pleasant weather and vibrant cultures and extended daylight hours.
The peak travel season results in high Schengen visa demand which makes it hard for people to arrange their vacations due to limited appointment availability.
Travel agents urge UAE residents to avoid any delays in visa application because booking an appointment early prevents travel disruptions and enables them to enjoy their summer European vacation.
Subair Thekepurathvalappil who serves as senior manager at Wisefox Tourism states that countries currently face limited availability for Schengen visa appointment slots. Several countries including the Czech Republic, Austria and Sweden have open appointments for April. According to his statement there are no available appointment slots currently in France and Spain.
Appointments will become available in stages and we expect them to open for these countries by May or June which will enable travellers to schedule their trips for July and August.
A Schengen visa takes one to three weeks to process which means travellers should schedule their appointments early. After obtaining confirmed appointments travellers should submit their documents at visa service organizations such as VFS.
Travelers visiting Poland must present their required documents at the embassy which includes company NoC and bank statements along with insurance information.
Subair confirmed that passport processing at the embassy will include biometric collection. Mir Wasim Raja from Galadari International Travel Services recommends travelers to submit applications early and monitor available slots closely. The demand for Schengen visas rises sharply during April and May with limited slot availability for countries such as France, Spain, and the Netherlands according to Raja.
Raja mentioned that people typically travel for one to two weeks in summer, so booking early helps them secure their visas on time.
Travel agents recommend residents to check their travel documents for validity along with early application submission. Subair stated that travelers should have their UAE visa valid for three months and their passport valid for six months when coming back to the UAE from a Schengen country.
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