Foreign nationals of the United Arab Emirates who require a visa in order to enter the Schengen Area have been alerted against scammers. Recently, visa outsourcing provider VSG Global issued a warning to all UAE applicants, warning them to exercise caution as there are numerous con artists who offer to assist with the Schengen visa application process in exchange for a substantial sum of money. The company said that the scammers promise to secure appointment slots, but in fact, they only accept the money, and then you receive no help whatsoever.

As Khaleej Times explains, VSG Global also reminded all UAE foreign residents who wish to apply for a Schengen visa that charging to secure visa appointments is not permitted. Taking into account the high number of people who have already fallen victim to such scams in UAE, the VFS Global UAE Regional Head, Monaz Billimoria, advised everyone to make their appointments on their own.

VFS Global further emphasised that making an appointment for a Schengen visa is free of charge, and the company does not charge for it. Schengen visa applicants only have to pay the processing fee. This fee is paid before applicants appear for the visa interview at the respective embassy or consulate.

VFS Global in UAE Expects High Number of Visa Applications in Upcoming Months

According to VFS Global in the United Arab Emirates, the company received 15% more applications for Schengen visas in 2023 than it did in 2022. Last year, France was one of the most sought-after travel destinations; VFS Global received a large volume of applications for French visas. According to Billimoria, they anticipate receiving a lot of visa applications this year as well, particularly around Eid and the summer break. To make sure that everything goes smoothly, UAE foreign residents have already been advised to book their Schengen visa appointments in advance if they plan to enter the EU in April or onward.

While those who hold the passport of UAE can enter the bloc visa-free, the case is not the same for some foreigners who reside in the country. For this reason, foreigners in UAE have been called to take care of their Schengen visa appointment well in advance. Billimoria said that EU countries remain preferred destinations for UAE foreign residents. The same highlighted that the applications can be made up to six months before the planned date of travel, encouraging everyone to apply for the document as soon as they have a clear travel plan.