How do you apply for a visa for Germany if you live in the United Arab Emirates?
You apply through VFS Global in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The government fee is EUR 90. Official processing time: Up to 15 days.
Key facts
| Fact | What it is |
|---|---|
| Government fee | EUR 90Checked 14 November 2026 against Federal Foreign Office |
| Where you apply | VFS Global: Dubai, Abu DhabiChecked 14 November 2026 against German Consulate General Dubai |
| Official processing time | Up to 15 days.Checked 14 November 2026 against German Consulate General Dubai |
| Refusal rate | 22.0% (2025)Checked 14 November 2026 against European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs |
| Recent rule change | The Entry/Exit System (EES) became fully operational: at entry, biometric data (fingerprints and facial image) are collected and passports are no longer stamped manually. (from 10 April 2026)Checked 14 November 2026 against German Consulate General Dubai |
| How to book an appointment | Register on the VFS Global waitlist for appointments, under the correct category (short stay or business). When the visa section releases slots you get an email, and the notification to book is valid for 24 hours. Spouses of German or EU citizens and parents of minor German or EU citizens living in the UAE may walk in without an appointment.Checked 14 November 2026 against German Consulate General Dubai |
Documents for this route
The official checklist, in the order the source gives it.
- Application form, fully completed in English or German, signed and dated by the applicant (by both parents for minors under 18)
- Passport valid at least three months from the expiry of the requested visa, signed, issued in the last 10 years, with at least two free visa pages; previous passport if applicable
- Valid UAE residence permit, valid at least three months from the expiry of the requested visa or the intended end of the journey
- Two recent biometric photographs (3.5 x 4.5 cm), not older than 6 months, white background
- Photocopies: passport data page, signed signature page, UAE residence permit, previous Schengen visas if applicable, and for GCC nationals a valid Emirates ID card
- Overseas medical insurance valid for the whole visa and all Schengen countries, minimum coverage 30,000 € and repatriation (credit card insurance not accepted)
- Travel itinerary: existing hotel or accommodation booking with full address, and a flight reservation
- Letter from the local employer or sponsor (NOL); trade licence copy for an investor or partner; for dependents, copies of the sponsor's passport and UAE residence permit
- For minors under 18: proof of parenthood (birth certificate, adoption, custody decree or death certificate as applicable) translated into German or English, and a letter of consent with both parents' passport and UAE residence visa copies
- Proof of financial means in the UAE, for example personal bank statements for at least the last 3 months
Related pages
Sources
- https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/document/download/56816949-e59f-442b-9091-5d03360bf860_enEuropean Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, read 14 November 2026
- https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/visa-service/215870-215870Federal Foreign Office, read 14 November 2026
- https://uae.diplo.de/ae-en/service/05-visaeinreise/1358934-1358934German Consulate General Dubai, read 14 November 2026
- https://uae.diplo.de/ae-en/service/05-visaeinreise/2633492-2633492German Consulate General Dubai, read 14 November 2026
Changes to this page
No changes since this page was published on 14 November 2026.
Who checked this page
Facts checked by Imran AK. Reviewed by Manu KP. Last reviewed 14 November 2026.
Every fact comes from an official page and is checked by two people.