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UAE residents seeking Schengen visa appointments may have to wait until September due to a surge in demand, travel agencies said, adding they were receiving as many as 700 inquiries a day.
Mir Wasim Raja, MICE and holidays manager at Galadari Brothers International Travel Services, said that while visa processing times had shortened, places were full as some UAE residents were now finalizing their overseas holidays for the Eid break.
Another agency confirmed huge demand and long waits for appointments.
“We receive nearly 700 inquiries a day, including more than 200 phone calls and 500 inquiries via email, chat and website,” said Subair Thekepurathvalappil, senior manager of immigration at Regal Tours Worldwide.
Even the premium visa service – which residents can opt for by paying an extra Dh400 – is no longer available. “People are willing to pay double for an appointment, but sadly, it’s not in our hands,” Subair said.
Residents of all nationalities want to travel to the Schengen countries – but most of them have salaries of AED 5,000 and above.
Many people who plan ahead are able to obtain visas. Most apply at the beginning of the year, around January to February. Once the visa is issued, the traveler will have six months to enter the country for which he/she applied for the visa.
Europe’s Schengen area has long been a popular destination for tourists from the UAE as it allows them to visit multiple countries without having to apply for separate visas.
Demand has skyrocketed these days since “summer is approaching, coupled with the Eid al-Adha holiday, residents are eager to travel,” Subair said.
“The pent-up desire to travel, the phasing out of travel restrictions, reductions in visa quotas or places, and holidays have also created a sense of urgency among GCC residents,” he added.
Agents are urging residents who are granted visas to plan their travel well in advance. “It’s important to stay in touch with us for the latest news and guidance on their travels,” Subair said.
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