Category: Visa Documents

Parents who live in the UAE on a residence visa sponsored by their son or daughter can apply for a Schengen visa in the UAE, like any other resident. Because the parent usually has no UAE salary, the file is built on the sponsoring child:

• The child’s sponsor letter
• The child’s job proof and bank statements
• Proof of the family relationship

The parent adds any pension or savings of their own.

This page is for parents with UAE residence. Parents visiting on a visit visa usually cannot apply here; see applying on a UAE visit visa.

Checked on 5 November 2026 against the UAE checklists of Hungary (dependants may use their sponsor’s documents), Greece (July 2025 list), Switzerland (09/25) and Lithuania, plus Sifqa’s Schengen checklist. The parent’s UAE residence decides that they apply here. Their passport decides whether they need a visa and whether nationality rules apply (for example the airport transit visa for some passports).

The file, in two parts

From the parent

• Application form, passport and photo. The passport must be valid 3 months after leaving Schengen and issued within 10 years; older passports often fail the 10-year rule.
• UAE residence visa and Emirates ID, valid 3 months after leaving Schengen
• Own income or assets, if any: pension statements, savings, property at home
• Travel insurance in the parent’s name (see below)
• Medical letter, if the parent takes regular medicines they will carry

From the sponsoring son or daughter

• Sponsor letter: you sponsor your parent’s UAE residence, you will pay for the trip, and the trip dates (and whether you travel together)
• Your passport and UAE residence copies
• Your employer letter or salary certificate, or trade licence if you own a business
• Your bank statements, stamped. Hungary allows dependants to use their sponsor’s full documents and asks for 6 months; most others ask for 3.
• Proof of relationship: usually your birth certificate showing the parent’s name, attested and translated if it is not in English. Some consulates also want the parent’s marriage certificate if both parents apply.

Showing the parent will return to the UAE

Without a job, ties are the weak point. Strengthen them with:

• A return flight matching the family’s
• The family’s tenancy contract (Ejari) or title deed showing the home they live in
• A residence visa with plenty of validity left
• Earlier visas used correctly (Schengen, UK, US), in old passports if needed
• If travelling with the family, the family’s own applications handed in at the same time

Insurance for older travellers

• At least €30,000, including repatriation, valid in all Schengen states for the whole stay
• Many policies set age limits or charge more after 65 or 70, and may exclude existing conditions. Read the policy wording before buying.
• Some consulates do not accept credit-card insurance. Buy a separate policy in the parent’s name.

See Schengen travel insurance from the UAE.

How to apply: step by step

1. Check the parent’s passport: issued within 10 years and valid 3 months after the trip.
2. Check the parent’s residence: valid 3 months after the trip. Renew first if not.
3. Prepare the sponsor letter, relationship proof and your documents.
4. Book appointments for the whole family at the same centre.
5. Attend together. Parents give fingerprints in person (applicants under 12 are exempt, but there is no upper age exemption).

Questions people ask

My parents are on my residence visa. Can they get a Schengen visa?

Yes. They apply in the UAE as residents, using your sponsor letter, your income documents and proof that they are your parents.

Do my parents need their own bank statements?

Not always. Consulates accept the sponsor’s documents for dependants, but a parent’s own pension or savings statements help.

My parents are visiting on a visit visa. Is it the same?

No. Visit-visa holders usually have to apply in their home country. See applying on a UAE visit visa.

Is there an age limit for a Schengen visa?

No. Age is not a reason for refusal. The insurance, the funds and the return plan matter.

Related guides

• Schengen visa for a dependent spouse
• Schengen checklist by applicant type
• Sponsoring a UAE visit visa for parents

Sources

• Hungary (via VFS Global UAE): Tourism checklist
• Greek missions in the UAE: Supporting documents for short-stay visas (July 2025)
• Embassy of Switzerland (via VFS Global): Tourist checklist (09/25)
• UAE government portal: Residence visa for family members

Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.

Last checked 5 November 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] and it will be fixed and logged.

A Schengen visa photo for an application in the UAE is normally 35 × 45 mm, in colour, on a plain white background, taken within the last 6 months, with your full face clearly visible. It must meet the ICAO passport-photo standard.

Most consulates ask for one photo. A few in the UAE add their own rules: Estonia wants two, Luxembourg wants it pasted, not stapled, and Lithuania and Slovakia list a 35 × 40 mm size.

Checked on 5 November 2026 against the UAE checklists of Estonia, Luxembourg, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Belgium. Photo rules come from the consulate you apply to; neither your passport nor your residence changes them.

The standard photo

Extra rules by consulate in the UAE

If your checklist gives a size, use that size. If it only says “passport photo”, use 35 × 45 mm. Most countries take a digital photo when you give fingerprints, but you still bring the printed photo if the checklist asks for one.

Common reasons a photo is rejected

• An old photo, or the same one as in your passport
• An off-white, grey or patterned background
• Shadows on the face or behind the head
• A filtered or edited phone photo
• Hair, a scarf or glasses covering the eyebrows, eyes or the edges of the face
• The wrong size for the consulate, or a photo stapled where the checklist says paste

Getting it right: step by step

1. Open your destination’s UAE checklist and note the size and number of photos.
2. Go to a photo studio and ask for a “Schengen visa photo” in that size, on white.
3. Check it against the table above before you leave the studio.
4. Write your name on the back in pencil, in case it comes loose.
5. Attach it as the checklist says: pasted or clipped, on the form or loose.

Questions people ask

What size is a Schengen visa photo?

Usually 35 × 45 mm. Lithuania and Slovakia list 35 × 40 mm in their UAE checklists, so follow your consulate’s checklist.

Can I wear a hijab in my Schengen visa photo?

Yes, for religious reasons, as long as your whole face is visible from the chin to the forehead, including both edges of the face.

Can I use the photo from my Emirates ID?

Only if it was taken in the last 6 months and you have a print in the right size. It is safer to take a new one.

Do children need photos too?

Yes. Every applicant, including babies, needs their own photo and form.

Related guides

• Schengen visa checklist for UAE residents
• The correct order for your Schengen documents
• How to book a Schengen appointment in the UAE

Sources

• VFS Global: Estonia visa information, UAE
• VFS Global: Luxembourg tourist checklist (Abu Dhabi)
• VFS Global: Lithuania short-stay checklist and Slovakia checklist
• Embassy of Slovenia, Abu Dhabi: Visa information

Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.

Last checked 5 November 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] and it will be fixed and logged.

In most cases, no. You cannot get a Schengen visa from the UAE while you are in the country on a visit or tourist visa. EU law says you apply where you legally live. Almost every Schengen checklist in the UAE asks for a UAE residence visa valid 3 months after you leave Schengen, which a visit visa cannot meet.

There is a narrow exception for people who are legally in the UAE and can justify applying here. Some consulates allow it, but you must ask first. For most visitors, the practical answer is to apply in your home country before or after the UAE trip.

Checked on 5 November 2026 against the EU Visa Code (Article 6), the Embassy of Luxembourg in Abu Dhabi, Netherlands Worldwide, and the UAE checklists of Lithuania, Luxembourg and Switzerland. This rule is about where you live, not your passport.

The rule: apply where you live

Article 6 of the EU Visa Code says you apply at the consulate that covers the place where you legally reside. A second paragraph allows a consulate to accept an application from someone legally present but not resident, if that person gives a reason for applying there.

What consulates in the UAE say

• Luxembourg (Abu Dhabi): accepts non-residents only if they are legally present in the UAE and can justify applying there rather than at home.
• Netherlands: the UAE route is for people who live in the UAE. Anyone else must first check whether applying outside their country of residence is possible.
• Lithuania, Luxembourg, Switzerland and others: their UAE checklists ask for a UAE residence permit valid 3 months after you leave Schengen.

What counts as a good reason is up to each consulate. A sudden family emergency in Europe may be accepted; “it is more convenient” usually is not. If the consulate does accept your file, it still checks that you will return to your home country, so your ties there (job, family, property) matter, not your UAE trip.

Your realistic options

1. Apply at home before you travel to the UAE. A Schengen visa can be valid for a later trip. Parents visiting family in Dubai can plan Europe as part of the same journey.
2. Go home, apply, then travel. The cleanest route if the idea came up during your visit.
3. Ask one consulate in writing whether it will accept your application, explaining why. Don’t book flights until it says yes.
4. Visit a non-Schengen country instead. Georgia, Armenia, Türkiye and others are open to many passports with fewer conditions. See visa-free countries for UAE residents; for visitors, check the rules for your own passport.

Parents visiting UAE residents

A common plan is for parents to visit Dubai and then travel to Europe with the family. The parents normally apply in their home country, before coming to the UAE. Their file can include:

• A letter from you (the UAE resident child) explaining the joint trip and who pays
• Your UAE residence visa, passport copy, salary certificate and bank statements, if you are paying
• The family’s flight and hotel bookings for the European part
• Their own proof of ties at home: pension, property, other family

To bring them to the UAE first, see sponsoring a UAE visit visa for parents.

Questions people ask

Can I apply for a Schengen visa in Dubai on a tourist visa?

Usually not. Schengen consulates in the UAE expect a UAE residence visa. A few will consider a visitor who is legally present and has a strong reason, but you must ask first.

My parents are in Dubai on a visit visa. Can they apply for Europe here?

In most cases they need to apply in their home country. Plan the European part before they come, or after they return home.

I just got my UAE residence visa. Can I apply now?

Yes, once your residence visa is issued and will be valid at least 3 months after you leave Schengen. Some consulates look more closely at very new residents, so include your employment contract and first salary statements.

My residence is being renewed. Can I apply with the old one?

Only if it still meets the 3-month rule. Otherwise finish the renewal first and apply with the new residence.

Related guides

• UAE residence validity for a European visa
• Schengen visa from Dubai and the UAE
• UAE visit visa fees

Sources

• EU Visa Code, Regulation (EC) No 810/2009: Article 6 (consular territorial competence)
• Embassy of Luxembourg in Abu Dhabi: Short-term Schengen visa
• Netherlands Worldwide: Applying for a Schengen visa in the UAE
• VFS Global: Lithuania UAE checklist and Switzerland UAE checklist

Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.

Last checked 5 November 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] and it will be fixed and logged.

A domestic worker or nanny sponsored by a UAE family applies for their own Schengen visa, usually at the same consulate as the family and for the same dates. The file rests on the sponsor’s letter: it names the trip and the family members travelling, confirms the leave dates, and commits the sponsor to pay costs and bring the worker back.

Some consulates add strict extra rules. Spain accepts only workers sponsored directly by the family for at least one year, and the worker must report back in person after the trip.

Checked on 5 November 2026 against the UAE checklists of the Embassy of Spain (BLS, domestic employees), Belgium (VFS, nannies) and Switzerland (tourist and private household employees, version 09/25). The worker’s passport decides that a visa is needed. The worker’s UAE residence under a household sponsor decides how the file is built.

The core file

• The worker’s own application form, passport (valid 3 months after leaving Schengen, issued within 10 years) and photo
• UAE residence visa under the household sponsor, valid 3 months after leaving Schengen
• Sponsor letter (see below)
• Employment contract showing salary and start date. Belgium asks for a contract sealed by the UAE authority, covering at least one year before the application.
• The worker’s bank statements for the last 3 months showing salary arriving each month. Spain wants them stamped by the bank; digital stamps are not accepted.
• The sponsor’s documents: passport and UAE residence copies, and often the sponsor’s own bank statements and salary certificate
• Travel insurance in the worker’s name: at least €30,000, valid in all Schengen states for the whole stay. Spain does not accept credit-card insurance.
• Flight reservations for the worker and the family, and accommodation for every night

What the sponsor letter must say

• The worker’s full name (as in the passport), position, and joining date with the household
• The monthly salary
• The approved leave or travel dates
• The family members travelling, with their dates (Switzerland requires this when the worker accompanies the family)
• That the sponsor pays all trip expenses and guarantees the worker’s return to the UAE (Spain and Belgium)
• Signed by the sponsor, with the sponsor’s Emirates ID number and contact details

Write it in English (Spain also accepts Spanish; Belgium accepts English, French, Dutch or German). See NOC letter templates for a layout you can adapt.

Country rules compared

Other consulates follow their general checklist plus a sponsor letter. Check the checklist of your destination’s visa centre before you book. Our visa centres guide shows where each country takes applications.

How to apply: step by step

1. Check eligibility: who sponsors the worker’s UAE residence, and for how long. For Spain, it must be the family itself, for at least a year.
2. Make sure the salary goes into a bank account in the worker’s name every month, starting 3 months or more before applying.
3. Book appointments for the family and the worker at the same centre, close together.
4. Prepare the sponsor letter, contract, statements, insurance and the family’s bookings.
5. Attend: the worker gives fingerprints in person. After the trip, follow any report-back rule (Spain).

Know the worker’s rights

The worker’s passport belongs to the worker. During the trip they should carry their own passport, visa and insurance. In Europe, the worker has the protection of local law. Consulates can ask for extra documents or an interview, so the worker should know the trip plan and dates.

Questions people ask

Can our housemaid get a Schengen visa to travel with us?

Yes. She applies for her own visa with your sponsor letter, her contract, her bank statements and insurance, usually at the same consulate as your family.

Can a nanny hired through an agency get a Spain visa?

Not under Spain’s domestic-employee category. Spain only accepts workers whose UAE residence is sponsored directly by the family.

Does the domestic worker need their own insurance?

Yes, a policy in their name with at least €30,000 cover for the whole stay, valid in every Schengen state.

What happens after the trip to Spain?

The worker must report in person to the Embassy of Spain or the BLS office in Dubai. If they don’t, the worker and the sponsor can be banned from future domestic-employee visas.

Related guides

• Schengen visa for children from the UAE
• Spain Schengen visa from the UAE
• Switzerland Schengen visa from the UAE

Sources

• Embassy of Spain to the UAE, via BLS: Domestic employees checklist
• Belgium, via VFS Global UAE: Nannies checklist
• Embassy of Switzerland, via VFS Global UAE: Tourist and private household employees checklist (09/25)

Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.

Last checked 5 November 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] and it will be fixed and logged.

You track a Schengen visa application through the visa centre that took your file, not through the embassy. What you need depends on the centre:

• VFS Global: your reference number and your surname as it appears in your passport
• BLS International (Spain): your reference number and date of birth
• TLScontact: the account you booked with

The tracker never shows the decision. “Processed” only means the consulate has finished and your passport is on its way back. Decisions normally take 15 calendar days and can be extended to 45.

Checked on 5 November 2026 against Article 23 of the EU Visa Code and visa centre guidance for the UAE. Your reference number is on your submission receipt and in the email you receive after your appointment.

What you need to track your application

Not sure which centre handles your country? See visa application centres in the UAE by country.

What each status means

How to track your application: step by step

1. Find your reference number on the receipt or in the confirmation email.
2. Open the tracker for the centre and destination country you applied to.
3. Enter your details exactly as they appear in your passport or on the receipt.
4. Check every 2 to 3 working days. Trackers are not live.
5. When it says “Processed”, wait for collection or courier. Then open the passport and look for the visa sticker. A refusal comes as a separate letter.

How long is normal?

• Standard: the consulate decides within 15 calendar days of a complete application.
• Extended: up to 45 calendar days in individual cases, for example when more checks or documents are needed.
• Decisions made outside the UAE: some countries decide UAE files in another country. Sweden, for example, decides them in Amman. This can add courier time.

See Schengen processing times and the best months to apply.

When and how to follow up

• Before 15 days: don’t chase. Status emails are automatic.
• After 15 days with no change: contact the visa centre with your reference number.
• After 45 days: contact the embassy’s visa section by email with your reference number and passport number.
• If you are asked for documents: send them through the channel named in the request, and quickly.

Questions people ask

Does “Processed” mean my Schengen visa is approved?

No. It only means a decision is made and your passport is returning. You find out the result when you open the passport.

How do I track my VFS application in Dubai?

Use the “Track your application” page for your destination country on the VFS Global website, with your reference number and surname.

How do I track a Spanish visa with BLS in the UAE?

Use the tracker on uae.blsspainvisa.com with your reference number and date of birth.

My application has said “Under process” for 3 weeks. Is that bad?

Not necessarily. Decisions can be extended to 45 days. Contact the visa centre after 15 days, and the embassy after 45.

Related guides

• Schengen visa from Dubai and the UAE
• Schengen refusal letter explained
• Visa application centres in the UAE by country

Sources

• Regulation (EC) 810/2009 (Visa Code): Article 23, decision deadlines (as amended by Regulation (EU) 2019/1155: 15 days, extendable to 45)
• Wego: How to track your Schengen visa application status (2026)
• BLS International UAE: Spain visa tracker

Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications or sell visa services. Read the editorial policy.

Last checked 5 November 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] and it will be fixed and logged.

For a Schengen visa from the UAE you need a return flight reservation and accommodation for every night of your trip. The UAE checklists ask for a “flight ticket or reservation” (Sweden) or a “flight reservation including return ticket” (Portugal), so a confirmed booking is usually enough and you don’t have to buy the ticket first. The key rule is that flights, hotels, insurance and itinerary must all show the same dates. Use real, refundable bookings. Fake “dummy tickets” that can’t be verified are a risk.

Checked on 4 November 2026 against the Portugal, Sweden and Germany checklists for the UAE (VFS Global). This applies whatever passport you hold, if your passport needs a Schengen visa.

What the UAE checklists ask for

Your options for flights and hotels

Why “dummy tickets” are risky

Some websites sell reservations that are cancelled soon after they are issued, or that never existed. A consulate that checks the booking reference and finds nothing may treat it as false information, which is a ground for refusal under the Visa Code and can affect future applications. A real, cancellable reservation costs a little more and removes the risk.

How to book for a Schengen visa: step by step

1. Fix your dates and route, including the country where you spend the most nights (your main destination).
2. Book a refundable flight, or a real reservation, with a return to the UAE.
3. Book accommodation for every night, with free cancellation and full addresses.
4. Buy travel insurance covering exactly those dates, at least €30,000.
5. Write a short day-by-day itinerary that matches the bookings.
6. Check that everything matches: the form, the employer letter’s leave dates, flights, hotels and insurance.

Bookings decide your main destination

You apply to the country where you spend the most nights, or where you enter first if the nights are equal. Your hotel bookings are the evidence. If you apply to France but your bookings show most nights in Italy, your file will not make sense. See which Schengen country to apply to from the UAE.

Questions people ask

Do I need to buy a flight ticket before applying for a Schengen visa?

Usually not. The UAE checklists accept a return flight reservation. A refundable ticket is the safest option if you prefer a paid booking.

Are dummy tickets accepted for a Schengen visa?

Not safely. If the booking can’t be verified, the consulate may treat it as false information. Use a real, cancellable reservation.

Do I need hotel bookings for every night?

Yes, covering the whole stay, with full addresses, or proof of where you will stay with a host.

Can I cancel my hotel after getting the visa?

You can change plans, but your trip should still broadly match what you applied for, especially your main destination. Border guards can ask where you are staying.

Related guides

• Schengen visa document checklist for UAE residents
• Schengen travel insurance from the UAE
• Employer letter for a Schengen visa

Sources

• VFS Global Portugal UAE: Tourist checklist
• VFS Global Sweden UAE: Tourism checklist
• VFS Global Germany UAE: Visit visa checklist

Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications or sell visa services. Read the editorial policy.

Last checked 4 November 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] and it will be fixed and logged.

A Schengen employer letter from a UAE company must be an original on company letterhead. It should be signed and stamped by an authorised signatory whose name and position are shown, and be no older than 1 month. It must state:

• your position
• your salary
• your date of joining
• your contract type
• your approved leave dates, and the date you return to work
• the purpose of the trip

Many UAE HR teams issue a “salary certificate” or “NOC letter” with only the salary. Ask them to add the leave dates and purpose, because the checklists require them.

Checked on 4 November 2026 against the UAE checklists for Germany, Sweden and Portugal (VFS Global). This document proves your UAE job and return, so it matters whatever passport you hold.

What the employer letter must include

Employer letter template (NOC and salary certificate in one)

[COMPANY LETTERHEAD — address, phone, email, trade licence no.]

[Date — within 1 month of your appointment]

To: The Embassy/Consulate of [Country], Visa Section, [Abu Dhabi/Dubai]

Subject: Employment confirmation and no objection — [Employee full name], passport no. [number]

This is to confirm that [employee name], [nationality], holder of UAE residence visa no. [number], has been employed by [company name] since [date of joining] as [job title] on a [permanent/limited] contract.

[His/Her] monthly salary is AED [total], of which basic salary is AED [amount].

We have approved [his/her] annual leave from [date] to [date] to travel to [country/Schengen area] for [tourism / visiting family / business]. [He/She] will resume duties on [date].

We have no objection to this travel. [The company will / will not] bear the travel expenses.

[Authorised signatory name]
[Position]
[Signature and company stamp]

How to get the right letter from HR: step by step

1. Get your leave approved first, so the letter can state the exact dates.
2. Send HR the template above, and name the embassy that should be the addressee.
3. Time it. Request the letter 1 to 2 weeks before your appointment, so it is under 1 month old on the day.
4. Check it matches your form, flight dates and bank salary credits.
5. Bring the original, plus a copy if the checklist asks for one.

Mistakes that cause problems

• A salary in the letter that doesn’t match the bank statements. If your bank shows a lower salary because of advances or deductions, ask HR to explain this in the letter.
• A letter with no leave dates, or with dates different from your flights.
• A letter older than 1 month on the appointment day.
• A generic “to whom it may concern” letter where the checklist wants it addressed to the embassy (Portugal).
• A letter signed by someone with no title, or with no company stamp.

Questions people ask

What should a salary certificate for a Schengen visa include?

Your position, salary, joining date, approved leave dates, the purpose of the trip and the employer’s contact details, on letterhead, signed and stamped.

How old can the employer letter be?

No older than 1 month on the day of your appointment, as Sweden’s and Portugal’s UAE checklists require.

Is a salary certificate the same as an NOC?

Not exactly. A salary certificate confirms your pay, and an NOC confirms your leave and that the employer has no objection. One letter covering both is best.

I’m self-employed. What do I submit instead?

Your trade licence and a self-declaration letter. See Schengen visas for self-employed UAE residents.

Related guides

• Schengen visa document checklist for UAE residents
• UAE bank statements for visas
• Applying for a Schengen visa between jobs

Sources

• VFS Global Germany UAE: Visit visa checklist
• VFS Global Sweden UAE: Tourism checklist
• VFS Global Portugal UAE: Tourist checklist

Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications or sell visa services. Read the editorial policy.

Last checked 4 November 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] and it will be fixed and logged.

Every child needs their own Schengen visa application, signed by both parents or legal guardians.

• Travelling with only one parent, or without parents: you also need an original consent letter from the absent parent, signed in front of a visa officer or legalised. Add copies of that parent’s passport and UAE residence visa.
• Visa fee: €45 for ages 6–11, and nothing under age 6.
• Fingerprints: children under 12 don’t give them.
• The child’s UAE residence must be valid for 3 months after you leave the Schengen area, just like an adult’s.

Checked on 4 November 2026 against the UAE checklists for Portugal and Sweden (VFS Global), the EU Visa Code and the European Commission fee rules. A child’s need for a visa depends on the child’s passport. Where you apply depends on the child’s UAE residence.

Documents for a child’s Schengen visa

A school leave letter is not on the Portuguese or Swedish checklists. It can still help if the trip falls during term time.

When you need a consent letter, and how to sign it

Parental consent letter template

[Date]

To: The Embassy of [Country], Visa Section, [Abu Dhabi/Dubai]

Subject: Travel consent for my child [Child full name], passport no. [number]

I, [Parent full name], passport no. [number], UAE residence visa no. [number], am the [father/mother] of [child name], born on [date].

I give my consent for [child name] to travel to [country/Schengen area] from [date] to [date] with [name of travelling parent/adult, relationship, passport no.].

Contact during the trip: [phone] | [email]

Enclosed: copy of my passport and UAE residence visa.

Signature: ____________
[Parent name]
(Signed before the visa officer / legalised as required)

How to apply for your child: step by step

1. Check the child’s passport and UAE visa dates. Both must be valid 3 months after leaving Schengen.
2. Translate the birth certificate if it is in Arabic, using a certified translator.
3. Prepare the consent letter if a parent is not travelling, and plan how it will be signed or legalised.
4. Book one appointment per family member on the same day, so the files are linked.
5. Attend with the child. Children under 12 give a photo but no fingerprints.

Questions people ask

How much is a Schengen visa for a child from Dubai?

€45 (about AED 190–200) for children aged 6 to 11, and no visa fee under 6. Visa centres may still charge their service fee.

Can my child travel to Europe with only me?

Yes. Include the other parent’s signed consent letter, signed before a visa officer or legalised, plus copies of their passport and UAE visa.

Does my child need fingerprints for a Schengen visa?

Not under 12. Children aged 12 and over give fingerprints like adults.

Do both parents need to come to the appointment?

Not always, but both must sign the form. If only one parent attends, some consulates, such as Portugal’s, want the other parent’s consent legalised.

Related guides

• Schengen visa fee from Dubai
• Schengen visa for a dependent spouse in the UAE
• Schengen visa document checklist for UAE residents

Sources

• VFS Global Portugal UAE: Tourist checklist (minors)
• VFS Global Sweden UAE: Tourism checklist (minors)
• Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Fingerprint exemptions (Visa Code Art. 13(7))
• European Commission: Schengen visa fees

Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications or sell visa services. Read the editorial policy.

Last checked 4 November 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] and it will be fixed and logged.

You can apply for a Schengen visa from the UAE only while you legally live here with a valid residence visa. The EU Visa Code says you apply at the consulate covering the place where you “legally reside”. UAE checklists also want the residence valid for 3 months after you leave the Schengen area. What this means in practice:

• During your notice period, you can apply with your current employer’s letter.
• Once your visa is cancelled, you normally can’t apply in the UAE. You either wait for your new visa, or apply in your home country.
• On a UAE job exploration (job-seeker) visa, you are a visitor, not a resident.

Checked on 4 November 2026 against Article 6 of the EU Visa Code (Regulation 810/2009) and the UAE checklists for Sweden and Portugal. This is about your UAE residence status. Your passport only decides whether you need a visa at all.

Can you apply? It depends on your situation

What the rule actually says

Article 6(1) of the Visa Code says the application goes to the consulate “in whose jurisdiction the applicant legally resides.” Article 6(2) lets a consulate accept someone who is legally present but not resident, but only if the applicant gives a justification, and acceptance is at the consulate’s discretion. A person in a grace period after cancellation is in that grey zone. Don’t plan around it.

Applying during your notice period

1. Check your dates. Your visa must stay valid 3 months after you leave Schengen, and employers often cancel visas soon after your last day. Ask HR when they will cancel.
2. Get the employer letter: on letterhead, signed and stamped, no older than 1 month, stating your position, salary, joining date, approved leave dates and the purpose of the trip.
3. Show you can afford the trip with 3 months of bank statements.
4. Travel and return before cancellation. Don’t let your residence be cancelled while you are in Europe on a visa issued on the basis of that residence.

Applying from your home country instead

If your UAE visa is already cancelled and you need to travel soon, apply at the consulate or visa centre in your country of nationality, where you can show your ties there. Expect that consulate’s own document rules and waiting times. Your earlier UAE residence and travel history still help.

Already holding a Schengen visa?

A valid Schengen visa doesn’t automatically become invalid when your UAE job ends. But border guards can ask about your situation and your ability to support yourself. Carry proof of funds and your return plans. If your circumstances changed a lot, for example you no longer live in the UAE, think carefully before using a visa issued on the basis of your old situation.

Questions people ask

Can I apply for a Schengen visa after my UAE visa is cancelled?

Usually not in the UAE, because you are no longer a legal resident. Apply once you have a new UAE visa, or apply in your home country.

Can I apply during my notice period?

Yes, with your current employer’s letter, if your residence stays valid for 3 months after your trip.

I’m on a UAE job-seeker visa. Can I apply for a Schengen visa in Dubai?

Generally no. A job exploration visa is a visit visa, not residence. Apply where you legally live.

I’m unemployed but on my husband’s visa. Can I apply?

Yes, as a dependent, with his no-objection letter, his passport and visa copies, and his bank statements.

Related guides

• How long your UAE residence must be valid
• Salary certificate and employer letter for a Schengen visa
• Schengen visa document checklist for UAE residents

Sources

• Regulation (EC) 810/2009 (Visa Code): Article 6, consular territorial competence
• VFS Global Sweden UAE: Tourism checklist
• VFS Global Portugal UAE: Tourist checklist
• Khaleej Times: UAE job exploration visa explained

Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications or sell visa services. Read the editorial policy.

Last checked 4 November 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] and it will be fixed and logged.

If you are on your husband’s or wife’s family sponsorship in the UAE and have no income of your own, you apply for a Schengen visa with your sponsor’s documents. These are a no-objection letter (NOC) from the sponsor, a copy of the sponsor’s passport and UAE residence visa, and the sponsor’s bank statements, along with your own passport, residence visa and Emirates ID. Portugal’s UAE checklist, for example, wants the NOC as an original, addressed to the embassy and dated within one month, stating that the sponsor will pay for the trip. You can travel without your spouse.

Checked on 4 November 2026 against the VFS Global checklists for Portugal and Sweden in the UAE and the Norwegian Embassy checklist. Your passport decides whether you need a visa. Your UAE family residence is why your sponsor’s documents count.

Documents for a dependent spouse

Sweden’s UAE checklist lists the same three items for “dependent applicants”: the sponsor’s passport, the sponsor’s UAE residence visa and a letter from the sponsor. If your spouse has a credit card that will cover the trip, a copy can support the application.

NOC letter template from your sponsor

[Date — within 1 month of your appointment]

To: The Embassy of [Country], [Abu Dhabi / Visa Section]

Subject: No objection — [Spouse full name], passport no. [number]

I, [Sponsor full name], passport no. [number], UAE residence visa no. [number], working as [job title] at [employer] in [Dubai/Abu Dhabi], confirm that [spouse name] is my [wife/husband] and is sponsored by me in the UAE.

I have no objection to [her/his] travel to [country/Schengen area] from [date] to [date] for [tourism / visiting family].

I will cover all expenses of this trip, including travel, accommodation and insurance. [She/He] will return to the UAE before [date].

Enclosed: copy of my passport, UAE residence visa, bank statements, [salary certificate].

Signature: ____________
[Sponsor name] | [Phone] | [Email]

How to apply as a dependent spouse: step by step

1. Check validity: your residence visa, Emirates ID and passport must all be valid for 3 months after your return. See UAE residence validity rules.
2. Get the NOC signed by your sponsor, dated within a month of your appointment.
3. Collect the sponsor’s documents: passport and visa copies, bank statements, and a salary certificate or employer letter.
4. Book flights, a hotel and insurance, or get an invitation if you are visiting family.
5. Apply at the visa centre (VFS Global, BLS or TLScontact) for your main destination. You can apply as a family on the same day.

Travelling with children, or without your spouse

• Travelling alone is allowed. The NOC shows your sponsor agrees and is paying.
• Travelling with children without the other parent: bring the birth certificate and a signed consent letter from the other parent, with a copy of their passport. Each child needs their own form and documents.
• Family applications on the same day keep the files linked. Visa fees for children aged 6 to 11 are half price, and children under 6 pay no visa fee.

If your spouse is an EU citizen

If you are married to an EU citizen and travel with or to join them, you may qualify for a free visa through a faster procedure under the EU free-movement rules. Portugal’s UAE checklist, for example, asks EU spouses for a marriage certificate certified by an EU authority and stamped by UAE MOFA, dated within 6 months, and waives the visa fee. See spouses of EU citizens.

Why dependent spouse applications get refused

• The NOC is older than one month, unsigned or not addressed to the right embassy
• The sponsor’s bank statements don’t show enough money for the trip
• The residence visa expires within 3 months of the return date
• The dates on the NOC, form and bookings don’t match

Questions people ask

Can a housewife on a husband’s visa get a Schengen visa from Dubai?

Yes. Apply with the husband’s NOC, his passport and visa copies and his bank statements, plus your own passport, residence visa and Emirates ID.

Can I travel to Europe without my husband?

Yes. The sponsor’s NOC confirms that he agrees and will pay. His presence at the appointment is not normally required.

How old can the NOC be?

Portugal’s UAE checklist says no more than one month old. Use a fresh letter for every application.

Do I need my own bank statement?

Not if your sponsor pays. Provide the sponsor’s statements and a short letter stating that you have no personal account.

Related guides

• Schengen visa document checklist for UAE residents
• Invitation letter for a Schengen visa
• Schengen visa fee from Dubai

Sources

• VFS Global Portugal UAE: Tourist checklist (NOC, sponsor documents, EU spouses)
• VFS Global Sweden UAE: Tourism checklist (dependent applicants)
• Royal Norwegian Embassy: Tourist checklist, UAE

Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications or sell visa services. Read the editorial policy.

Last checked 4 November 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] and it will be fixed and logged.