Schengen Visa for London Citizens in the UAE

Most countries of the Schengen region are renowned destinations for opportunities and sites for work, education, leisure, travel, and other purposes. However, a visa will be required to travel to the Schengen region for any of these reasons. 

Owing to the arrangements between the United Kingdom and Schengen countries, a Schengen Visa London is not required for Londoners travelling from UAE to the Schengen regime, although some individuals will still need it as per their trip duration and a few other factors.

The article provides insights into Schengen visas for Londoners residing in UAE, documentation required, types of visas you are eligible for, travel insurance for Schengen visa London, and other aspects.

Do You Need Schengen Visa If You Are a London Citizen Living in the UAE?

Londoners with valid UK passports don't require a visa to visit any of the Schengen countries for 90 days or less. Thus, Londoners are exempted from obtaining any short-stay (under type C) to enter the Schengen regime for up to 90 days. However, for a stay longer than 90 days in the Schengen region, they would be required to apply for a Schengen visa.

To obtain Long-term visas (under type D), UK passport holders must mention the intention of the visit to stay in the Schengen region for more than 90 days. A long-term visa can be obtained for work, research, study, temporary residence, and so on. However, to apply for the visa, the UK passport of Londoners must be valid for at least three months beyond the departure date from the Schengen region.

It is to be noted that United Kingdom citizens will be required to undergo European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) to enter the Schengen region for up to 90 days from November 2023.

Requirements to Apply for the Schengen Visa

Mentioned below is the documentation that you would need to submit to get your London Schengen visa when residing in the UAE – 

• A valid UK passport - The passport shall not be any older than 10 years with a validity of at least three months beyond your travel dates. It shall contain two blank pages for visa stamp.
• UAE residence permit or other forms of ID 
• Duly filled and signed Schengen visa application form
• One passport-size photo - The photo shall be not more than six months old and glued to the application form – applications with stapled photographs shall be rejected 
• A cover letter with a proper and detailed explanation of your Schengen trip
• A detailed travel itinerary for your trip with accommodation proof, round-trip tickets, and transportation proof in the Schengen region
• A valid Schengen region travel insurance plan per the visa type with minimum medical coverage of EUR 30,000
• Proof of funds to support your stay in the Schengen regime. One of the following documents can be submitted – 
  • Personal bank statement of the traveller for at least 3 months
  • The sponsorship letter mentioning that the third party staying in the Schengen region will sponsor your trip
  • Proof of employment
  • Credit card or cash

Please note that you would need to submit the additional documentation as per the type of visa you are applying for. 

How to Apply for Schengen Visa for London Citizens in the UAE?

Here are the steps you can follow to apply for a London Schengen Visa in the UAE – 

• Find out the embassy or visa centre where you are required to apply for the Schengen visa application
• Fixed an appointment with the embassy or visa centre
• Fill out and sign a Schengen visa application form visa application form 
• Collect all the required documents
• Attend the interview on your appointment day and submit the form along with the documents
• Once the visa centre has reviewed your application, a notification will be sent
• You can collect the visa sticker after your visa application has been approved

It is to be noted that while the embassy or consulate of the Schengen country that you plan to visit will handle the visa application process, you may also visit an authorised centre for the same. As far as visa centres are concerned, residents from Dubai, Ajman, Sharjah, Umm Al- Quwain, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah are required to apply for a London Schengen visa in the Dubai visa centre, while the visa centre in Abu Dhabi accepts the applications of residents living in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

Do I Need Travel Insurance for Schengen Visa?

London citizens in the UAE visiting the Schengen region for 90 days or less are not required to purchase travel insurance for their journey per the Schengen visa guidelines. If you are planning to obtain a long-term visa, however, travel insurance is mandatory. 

Whether you are obtaining a student visa, work visa, tourist visa, or any other type of visa to visit the Schengen region for stays of more than 90 days, you would be required to purchase Schengen travel insurance plans. Per the Schengen visa guidelines, these travel insurance plans must provide medical coverage of at least EUR 30,000 and have validity across the entire Schengen region. 

Benefits of Schengen Travel Insurance

Discussed below are some of the primary vital benefits that come with a Schengen travel insurance plan

• Emergency Medical Treatment: One of the defining features of Schengen travel insurance is that it comes with a handy emergency medical cover which can provide coverage for any treatment received during a medical emergency arising from injuries or illness during the trip. This includes procedures for diseases and emergency dental treatments.
• Flight-Related Covers:  With a Schengen travel insurance plan, compensation is provided for delayed, cancelled, and missed flights. It is to be noted that the reason for the cancellation must be mentioned in your travel insurance policy document.
• COVID-19 Cover: Most Schengen travel insurance plans offer COVID-19 in the form of primary coverage or an add-on to the plan. The coverage comes into effect if the policyholder is diagnosed with COVID-19 infection during the trip. It provides compensation for the RT-PCR tests, medicine expenses, and quarantine costs as specified by the medical practitioner.
• Personal Liability Cover: The personal liability cover of these plans helps policyholders manage the accidental third-party liabilities incurred by them on the trip – this includes third-party compensation, legal fees, and more 
• Loss of Baggage Cover: Under this type of coverage, you would be financially protected if there is any loss or damage of the baggage during the transit
• Personal Belongings Coverage: Travel insurance plans can reimburse you in case you face any inconvenience on the trip such as the loss of personal belongings. The insurance provider, here, helps the insured individual secure duplicate copies of the required documents.

Types of Travel Schengen Plans

As per the duration, purpose, types of travellers, and frequency of the trip, the Schengen travel insurance plans can be categorised into the following – 

As Per the Duration and Frequency of Trips

• Single-Trip Travel Insurance: These types of plans offer coverage for a single trip to the Schengen region. The coverage begins when you embark on your journey and concludes once you return to UAE or if the plan's validity expires.
• Multi-Trip Travel Insurance: Designed for individuals who plan to travel more than twice a year to the Schengen region, all the trips of the policyholder taken in a year would be covered under a single Schengen travel insurance plan.

As Per Number and Types of Travellers

• Family Travel Insurance: This plan would be suitable for you if you travel to the Schengen region with your family. It provides coverage to the entire plan under one travel insurance plan. It is to be noted that in addition to the policyholder, the plan offers coverage for children younger than 18 years old and elders older than 30 years.
• Senior Citizen Travel Insurance: Senior travel insurance plans cover the trips taken by senior citizens older than 65 years. These plans are explicitly designed to address the needs of senior citizens.
• Individual Travel Insurance: Individual plans cover a single traveller and are apt for solo travellers. Like any other plan, it provides extensive coverage and can be purchased as a single-trip or multi-trip plan.

As Per the Purpose of the Visit

• Student Travel Insurance: Students who plan to travel to the Schengen region for higher studies, internships, and training will require these insurance plans. These plans are designed keeping in mind students' needs and have inclusions like study interruption cover, sponsor protection coverage, and so on.
• Business Travel Insurance: Business travel insurance can be taken by those who plan to visit the Schengen region for work-related purposes. One of the remarkable features of these plans is that they provide coverage for your electronic gadgets like tablets, laptops, and others. Additionally, business travel insurance plans can be purchased by employers to cover the employees under a single coverage.

Processing Time for the Schengen Visa

After you submit your London Schengen visa application form, the corresponding embassy, consulate, or visa authority centre will process the application, generally within 15 calendar days. Once the processing is done, the authorities will contact you so that you can visit and get your visa stamped on your passport, as required. 

Although rare and depending on the case, it may take up to 30 days for Schengen visas to get processed. It is advisable to apply for your visa a couple of months in advance to avoid any hassles. Moreover, you should ensure that your visa application form is error-free with full accurate details and that all required documents have been submitted.  

When Should You Apply for Schengen Visa?

It is recommended to apply for a London Schengen visa immediately after the finalisation of all the trip details. You can apply for a Schengen visa at least 15 days before the trip begins but not earlier than 6 months before the visit. The best time to apply for a London Schengen visa, here, would be around a month or two before the commencement of the trip.

Schengen Visa Application Fee for Londoners in the UAE

Given below is the Schengen visa fee structure for Londoners residing in the UAE –

Schengen Visa Category  For Londoners Living in the UAE	Visa Fee (AED)	Visa Fee (EUR)
Adult	340	80
Minors between the age of 6 to 12 years	170	40
Minors younger than the age of 6 years	Free	Free

Schengen Visa Validity

Let's take a look at the validity of the various types of Schengen visas available for Londoners living in the UAE with valid UK passports –

Type C Schengen Visa

Type C Schengen visas are categorised into three types: single-entry, double-entry and multiple-entry. These visas are short-stay visas that allow a stay of 90 days in a period of 180 days in the Schengen region. 

The validity information of these visas is given below – 

• Single-Entry Schengen Visa:  It allows visa holders to stay in the Schengen region for up to 90 days. After completing a single trip within 90 days or less, your visa will expire. Single-entry Schengen visa holders are allowed to enter the Schengen region only once.
• Double-Entry Schengen Visa: As indicated by the name, visa holders are allowed to enter and exit the Schengen region twice, after which the Schengen visa will become invalid
• Multiple-Entry Schengen Visa: With this visa type, individuals can arrive and depart from the Schengen region multiple times within the validity period

Note:  Short-stay visas or Type C visas are valid for tourists and visitors and allow a stay of up to 90 days within a 6-month or 180-day period

Type D Schengen Visa

Londoners planning to visit the Schengen region for more than 90 days are required to apply for the type D Schengen visa or long-term visas. These types of visas are ideal for business persons or students. Type D Schengen visas are valid for up to one year.

Limited Territorial Visa

These types of visas are designed for special cases and the visa holder can travel to only the Schengen country that is mentioned on the visa. This type of visa is issued by the Schengen country that one plans to visit and is valid only for that specific country. 

Key Takeaways

With a visa-free entry arrangement, Londoners living in UAE with a UK passport can travel to the Schengen region and stay for up to 90 days without a Schengen visa. However, those who want to stay longer in the Schengen region can apply for a Schengen visa in the UAE.

The process of applying for a Schengen visa is rather quick and convenient. Applicants simply need to must keep the entire documents stack ready along with the visa application process to fast-track the visa application process. 

It is necessary to purchase travel insurance for your Schengen visa. You can visit the official website of Policybazaar UAE to compare all the travel insurance plans available and pick the one that best suits your needs and budget. The benefit of applying for Schengen visa travel insurance from policybazaar.ae is that you will find only the best plans from the leading providers here, which ensures that your plan fulfils the legal requirements and provide comprehensive coverage. 

If you are confused between the plans, you can easily get in touch with our in-house insurance experts who will guide you through the process and help you pick out a suitable travel insurance plan for your trip.

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