Germany Visa from Dubai: VIDEX, the VFS Waitlist, Fees and Documents

The short answer: Emiratis don't need a visa for Germany: they can stay up to 90 days in any 180. Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan nationals living in the UAE need a Schengen visa. You fill in the online VIDEX form, then hand in your documents at VFS Global in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Germany's Consulate General in Dubai decides every application from the UAE. The visa fee is EUR 90 for adults, paid in dirhams, plus the VFS service charge. The consulate says a decision takes up to 15 days. The hard part is the appointment: VFS offers slots through a waiting list, so join it as early as you can.

Munich and the Bavarian Alps, Berlin, the Rhine valley and the Christmas markets put Germany on many Europe itineraries from the UAE. Germany issues Schengen visas, so one German visa also covers the other 28 Schengen countries, provided Germany is your main destination.

Germany visa for UAE residents at a glance

Question	Answer (October 2026)
Emirati passport	No visa, up to 90 days in any 180
India, Pakistan, Philippines, Egypt, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka	Schengen visa before travel
Who decides	German Consulate General in Dubai
Where to apply	VFS Global Dubai (Dubai and the northern emirates) or Abu Dhabi (Abu Dhabi and Al Ain)
Visa fee	EUR 90 adults, EUR 45 children aged 6 to 11, free under 6, plus the VFS service charge
Processing	Up to 15 days after your appointment
Apply	Up to 6 months before you travel
UAE residence visa	Valid at least 3 months beyond the end of your trip

Who needs a visa for Germany

Whether you need a visa depends on your passport, not on your UAE residence. UAE citizens have been able to visit the Schengen area without a visa since May 2015. The EU's planned travel authorisation for visa-free visitors, ETIAS, has not started yet; the EU says it will announce the start date several months in advance, and the fee is set at EUR 20.

Indian, Pakistani, Filipino, Egyptian, Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan nationals need a Schengen visa. Your UAE residence decides where you apply: under EU rules you apply in the country where you legally live, so UAE residents apply in the UAE rather than in their home country.

Is Germany the right country to apply to?

Apply to Germany if it is your main destination, meaning you spend the most nights there. If your nights are split evenly between countries, apply to the one you enter first. A Munich and Salzburg trip with four nights in Germany and two in Austria is a German application; a week in Paris with a weekend in Berlin is a French one. See our Schengen visa guide for how the rule works.

How to apply from Dubai or Abu Dhabi

1. Fill in the VIDEX form, Germany's free online Schengen application form, in English or German. Print it, then sign and date it yourself. A child's form is signed by both parents.
2. Join the VFS waiting list on VFS Global's Germany site for the UAE. Choose the right category: "Short Stay" for tourism and family visits, "Business" for work trips. VFS emails appointment offers in waiting-list order, and each offer is valid for 24 hours, so watch your inbox and spam folder.
3. Attend your appointment at VFS Dubai if you live in Dubai or the northern emirates, or VFS Abu Dhabi if you live in Abu Dhabi or Al Ain. You hand in your documents, give fingerprints and pay the visa fee.
4. Wait for the decision, which the consulate says takes up to 15 days, then collect your passport from VFS.

The German Embassy in Abu Dhabi no longer deals with visa questions: the Consulate General in Dubai handles every consular service in the UAE. Walk-ins at VFS are not accepted, except for spouses of German or EU citizens and parents of children who are German or EU citizens.

Documents

The consulate's checklist for a tourist visa asks for:

• Passport valid at least three months beyond the visa you are applying for, issued within the last ten years, with at least two blank visa pages, plus your old passports
• UAE residence visa valid at least three months beyond the end of your trip
• Two biometric photos, 3.5 × 4.5 cm on a white background, taken within the last six months
• The signed VIDEX form and copies of your passport, residence visa and any previous Schengen visas
• Travel medical insurance with at least EUR 30,000 of cover, including repatriation, for your whole trip and every Schengen country. The checklist says insurance that comes with a credit card is not accepted.
• Flight reservation and hotel booking, with the hotel's full address and booking reference
• A letter from your employer or sponsor stating your position, start date, salary, leave dates and the purpose of your trip. The checklist calls it an "NOL"; most people in the UAE call it an NOC.
• Trade licence, if you are a partner or investor in a company
• Personal bank statements for at least the last three months

Germany doesn't publish a minimum bank balance. Your statements should show a steady salary and enough money for the trip you are planning.

Visiting family or friends

Instead of a hotel booking, bring either a formal obligation letter (Verpflichtungserklärung) from your host in Germany, issued within the last six months, or a personal invitation letter with the host's full address. Add proof of your relationship if you are visiting relatives, and the friends and family questionnaire that VFS provides.

Children

Children need a birth certificate in English or German, a consent letter from both parents, and copies of both parents' passports and UAE residence visas.

Fees and processing time

• Visa fee: EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 11. Children under 6 pay nothing. The fee has been the same across the Schengen area since June 2024.
• How to pay: the consulate takes the fee in cash in dirhams, at its exchange rate on the day, so the dirham amount moves a little from week to week.
• VFS service charge: paid on top. Premium lounge and doorstep options cost extra; VFS shows the current prices when you book.
• Processing: up to 15 days from your appointment, and the consulate can ask for more documents or an interview.

Neither fee is refunded if you are refused. Since 1 July 2025, Germany no longer accepts a "remonstration", the informal objection that used to be the first step after a refusal. The refusal letter explains your options; usually the practical one is a new application that answers the reasons given.

Appointments and scams

Germany's slots in the UAE are booked through VFS's waiting list, and only there. Joining the list is free. Demand peaks before the summer, Eid and December, so join the list as soon as your dates are firm: you can apply up to six months before you travel.

Be wary of anyone selling a "guaranteed" appointment. In September 2026, VFS said it had taken down more than 900 fraudulent websites worldwide, and Schengen missions in the UAE have warned about fake hotel and flight bookings prepared by agents. You remain responsible for every document in your file, even one someone else prepared for you.

At the border

Since April 2026, every Schengen country checks non-EU visitors through the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES). On your first trip after it started, you give your fingerprints and a photo at passport control, and your passport is no longer stamped. Carry your return ticket, hotel booking and insurance in case the officer asks.

Flights from the UAE

• Emirates flies non-stop from Dubai to Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf and Hamburg, in about six and a half to seven hours.
• Etihad flies non-stop from Abu Dhabi to Frankfurt and Munich.
• Lufthansa and Eurowings paused their Dubai flights in 2026 and plan to restart them in the winter 2026/27 schedule.

Flights between the UAE and Europe were disrupted for much of 2026, so check your flight's status with the airline before you book. Your flight reservation should match the dates on your application.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I apply for a Germany visa in the UAE?

At VFS Global: the Dubai centre if you live in Dubai or the northern emirates, or the Abu Dhabi centre if you live in Abu Dhabi or Al Ain. The German Consulate General in Dubai decides every application.

How long does a Germany visa take from Dubai?

The consulate says up to 15 days from your appointment. Getting the appointment usually takes longer, so join the VFS waiting list as soon as your dates are firm; you can apply up to six months ahead.

How much is the Germany visa fee in Dubai?

EUR 90 for adults and EUR 45 for children aged 6 to 11, paid in cash in dirhams at the consulate's exchange rate. Children under 6 pay nothing. The VFS service charge is extra.

How much bank balance do I need for a Germany visa?

Germany doesn't set a minimum. You submit at least three months of personal bank statements, which should show a regular income and enough money to pay for your trip.

Do Emiratis need a visa for Germany?

No. UAE citizens can visit Germany and the rest of the Schengen area without a visa for up to 90 days in any 180. They will need an ETIAS travel authorisation once the EU starts it.

Can I get a Schengen visa from Germany and visit other countries?

Yes. A German Schengen visa is valid in all 29 Schengen countries, but you should apply to Germany only if it is your main destination, where you spend the most nights.

Planning a trip to Germany

A week covers Munich, Neuschwanstein and a day in Salzburg; ten days adds Berlin or the Rhine. Late November and December bring the Christmas markets, and appointment demand with them, so apply early. See our Schengen visa services for help preparing your Germany application, browse holiday packages, or talk to us about flights and hotels.

Related guides

• Schengen visa for UAE residents
• Netherlands visa from Dubai
• France visa from Dubai
• UK visa from Dubai

Last checked 9 October 2026 against the German Consulate General in Dubai's Schengen visa pages and checklists, the Federal Foreign Office, the EU Visa Code and fee regulation, the European Commission's ETIAS page, eu-LISA on the Entry/Exit System, reporting on VFS Global's 2026 fraud warnings and airline schedules. This guide is general information, not immigration advice. Confirm the current requirements with VFS Global or the German Consulate General in Dubai before you apply.