If Germany is your main Schengen destination and your passport is not visa-exempt, you apply for a German Schengen visa through VFS Global in the UAE. Dubai and Northern Emirates residents file in Dubai, and Abu Dhabi and Al Ain residents file in Abu Dhabi. The German Consulate General in Dubai decides every application, and it says processing can take up to 15 days. The visa fee is €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 12, paid in dirhams.
This guide covers who needs a visa, the appointment waitlist, which VFS center to use, the documents the consulate asks for, fees, processing time, and what changed for refusals in July 2025.
Key Takeaways
- You apply through the German mission only if Germany is your main destination, meaning where you spend the most time on the trip.
- Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian and most other Asian and African passports need a visa. So do Saudi, Kuwaiti, Qatari, Bahraini and Omani passports. Emirati, UK, US and Canadian passports do not.
- Applications go only through VFS Global. Dubai and Northern Emirates residents use the Dubai center, and Abu Dhabi and Al Ain residents use the Abu Dhabi center.
- Appointments are released through a waitlist. When you get a booking notification, it is valid for only 24 hours.
- Your UAE residence permit must be valid for at least 3 months after the visa you request ends.
- The fee is €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 12, paid in dirhams, plus VFS’s own service charge.
- Germany abolished the remonstration (appeal to the mission) procedure on 1 July 2025. After a refusal you can reapply or go to court.
Do You Need a Visa for Germany?
Your passport decides whether you need a visa, not your UAE residence. Germany’s Federal Foreign Office publishes the full list of visa requirements by nationality. For the passports most common in the UAE, it shows:
| Passport | Visa for a short visit? |
|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | No |
| United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Australia | No |
| Ukraine, Brazil, Colombia | No |
| India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal | Yes |
| Philippines, Indonesia, China | Yes |
| Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Morocco, Tunisia, Iran, Turkey | Yes |
| Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman | Yes |
| Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, South Africa | Yes |
Visa-free travelers can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period and may not work during that time.
Is Germany your main destination?
The consulate says you should apply through the German mission if Germany is where you are having your longest stay in the Schengen area. If you will spend more nights in Italy or France, apply to that country instead. If your stays are equal, the European Commission says to apply to the first country you will visit. Our guide to the Italy visa from Dubai covers the Italian route.
Where to Apply: VFS Dubai or Abu Dhabi
The consulate works exclusively with VFS Global, and you can submit only by appointment. All applications from the UAE are decided by the Visa Section of the German Consulate General in Dubai, but which center you use depends on where you live.
| Where you live | Where you submit | Who decides |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah | VFS Global Germany Visa Application Centre, Dubai | German Consulate General, Dubai |
| Abu Dhabi and Al Ain | VFS Global Germany Visa Application Centre, Abu Dhabi | German Consulate General, Dubai |
The jurisdiction split comes from the consulate’s Schengen visa page. VFS forwards your application, passport and visa fee to the consulate within one working day, and the service fee stays with VFS. If you are not sure which emirate your residence was issued in, our guide to Abu Dhabi versus Dubai residence visas explains the difference.
How the appointment waitlist works
- Register on the waitlist through the VFS Global booking page as early as possible.
- Choose the right category. “Short Stay” covers tourism and family visits. “Business” covers work-related travel such as meetings or trade fairs. You may only book under the correct category.
- Watch your email, including spam. When the visa section releases slots, you are notified automatically, in order of registration.
- Book within 24 hours. The consulate says the booking notification is valid for only 24 hours.
Spouses of German or EU citizens, and parents of minor German or EU citizens, who live in the UAE can walk in to a VFS center without an appointment.
Documents for a Tourist Visa
The consulate’s tourism checklist for UAE applicants asks for the following:
- Application form, completed online in VIDEX in English or German, then signed and dated. Both parents sign for a child under 18.
- Passport valid for at least 3 months after the visa you request ends, issued in the last 10 years, signed, and with at least two blank visa pages. Bring previous passports if you have them.
- UAE residence permit valid for at least 3 months after the visa you request ends.
- Two biometric photos, 3.5 x 4.5 cm, white background, taken within the last 6 months.
- Copies of your passport data page, signature page, UAE residence permit and any previous Schengen visas. GCC nationals add a copy of their Emirates ID.
- Travel medical insurance valid for the whole visa and all Schengen states, with at least €30,000 cover including repatriation. Credit card insurance is not accepted.
- Hotel booking and flight reservation with full address and booking reference.
- Employer or sponsor letter (NOC) stating your position, start date, salary, leave dates and the purpose of the trip. Investors add a trade license copy. Dependents attach the sponsor’s passport and residence copies.
- Bank statements for at least the last 3 months, or other proof of financial means.
- For minors: a birth certificate or custody document translated into English or German, and a signed letter of consent with both parents’ passport and residence copies.
The consulate warns that missing documents can lead to refusal, and that false documents, including fake bookings, will be refused. For the insurance requirement in detail, see our guide to travel insurance for Schengen visas.
Fees
| Applicant | Schengen visa fee |
|---|---|
| Adult (12 and over) | €90 |
| Child aged 6 to 12 | €45 |
| Child under 6 | No fee |
The European Commission sets the €90 and €45 fees, and the EU Visa Code exempts children under 6. The consulate says fees are paid in UAE dirhams at the consulate’s current exchange rate, and its checklist says payment is in cash at submission. VFS adds its own service charge, which you can see when you book.
Processing Time and When to Apply
- Earliest: 6 months before your travel date.
- Latest: the European Commission says at least 15 days before your trip. Given the waitlist, register far earlier than that.
- Decision: the consulate says up to 15 days. The EU rules allow up to 45 days if a closer look is needed.
Your passport stays with the consulate for the whole processing period. If you need it back, you must ask in writing, which cancels the application. The consulate asks applicants not to send status inquiries.
Multiple-entry visas
The consulate decides the visa’s validity and number of entries from your documents. Its Schengen FAQ says annual or multi-year visas usually go to people who have already traveled to the Schengen area several times. Whatever the validity, you can stay at most 90 days in any 180.
If Your Visa Is Refused
Germany abolished the remonstration procedure worldwide on 1 July 2025. Before then, you could ask the mission to reconsider a refusal in writing. The Federal Foreign Office says it ended this voluntary remedy to free staff to process more applications.
After a refusal, you now have two options:
- Reapply at any time with stronger documents, addressing the reasons given in the refusal notice.
- Take legal action. Court review is not affected by the change. The refusal notice explains your right to appeal.
At the Border
The EU’s Entry/Exit System has been fully operational since 10 April 2026. The German mission says it registers entries and exits digitally at the Schengen external borders instead of passport stamps. Your first crossing will take longer because your fingerprints and a facial image are recorded.
Before You Travel
- Make sure nothing in the UAE stops you leaving by checking your UAE travel ban status online.
- If you are also visiting the UK, see our guide to the UK visa from Dubai, which is a separate application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I apply for a Germany visa in Dubai?
At the VFS Global Germany Visa Application Centre in Dubai, by appointment. Dubai and Northern Emirates residents use Dubai, and Abu Dhabi and Al Ain residents use the Abu Dhabi center.
How much is a Germany visa from the UAE?
The Schengen visa fee is €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 12, paid in dirhams at the consulate’s exchange rate. Children under 6 pay no visa fee. VFS adds its own service charge.
How long does a German Schengen visa take from Dubai?
The German Consulate General in Dubai says processing can take up to 15 days after VFS forwards your application. Getting an appointment through the waitlist can take longer, so register early.
Do Indians in the UAE need a visa for Germany?
Yes. India is on Germany’s visa-required list, so Indian passport holders living in the UAE need a Schengen visa for a short visit.
Do Emiratis need a visa for Germany?
No. UAE passport holders can visit Germany without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180-day period, but they may not work.
How long must my UAE residence visa be valid?
The consulate’s checklist requires your UAE residence permit to be valid for at least 3 months after the end of the visa you are requesting.
Can I appeal a German visa refusal?
Not to the mission. Germany abolished the remonstration procedure on 1 July 2025. You can reapply at any time or challenge the refusal in court.
Can I apply if Germany is not my main destination?
No. You apply to the Schengen country where you will spend the longest time. If the stays are equal, apply to the country you enter first.
Official Sources
- German Missions in the UAE: Schengen Visa
- German Missions in the UAE: Schengen Visa, Tourism checklist
- German Missions in the UAE: Abolition of the remonstration procedure
- German Missions in the UAE: Entry/Exit System (EES)
- Federal Foreign Office: Visa requirements and exemptions by country
- European Commission: Applying for a Schengen visa
- EU Visa Code, Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 (consolidated)
Jurisdiction, documents, processing times and refusal rules checked on the German Missions in the UAE, Federal Foreign Office and European Commission websites in October 2026. VFS Global’s service charge is set by VFS and was not checked.
This guide is for informational purposes only. German and Schengen visa rules and fees are set by the German authorities and the European Union and are subject to change. Always verify current requirements with the relevant official authority before proceeding with any application or transaction.
