A Germany Visa is one of the most sought-after visas in the world. As one of the most developed countries in the world, Germany has a lot to offer to tourists, businesspersons, workers, students and not only.
The German Immigration Authorities have created a visa system for those wishing to enter Germany, for whatever purposes. If you are planning to travel to Germany, then you should follow the rules set by these authorities.
Who Needs to Apply for a Germany Visa in Dubai?
If you are planning to travel to Germany, you must first check whether you need to apply for a visa to enter the country or not. Your nationality and the purpose of traveling to Germany are the factors that determine if you need a visa.
United Arab Emirates passport holders are exempt from the Germany short-stay visa requirement. Still, if you reside in UAE, you will need to apply for a short-stay visa to Germany if:
- You are an UAE national, but you have previously been rejected from entering Germany visa-free.
- You are the national of another Germany visa exempt country, but you have previously been rejected from entering Germany visa-free.
- You are the national of a country that falls under the Germany visa regime.
On the other hand, you will be exempt from the requirement to apply for a Germany long stay visa, if you are residing in Dubai but you are a passport holder of one of the following countries:
- EU / EEA / EFTA countries
- Australia
- Israel
- Japan
- Canada
- New Zealand
- Republic of South Korea
- United States of America
How to Apply for a Germany Visa in Dubai?
If by now you have concluded that you need to apply for a Germany visa in Dubai, then you should follow the steps listed below to complete the application process:
- Check which visa type you need. Find the visa types listed below and select the one that corresponds to your situation.
- Fill-in the application form. There are two types of Germany visa application forms: short-stay form and long-stay form. Fill-in the one that corresponds to the length of stay in Germany
- Collect the required documents for a Germany Visa.
- Schedule a visa appointment.
- Attend the visa interview. Show there up on time, and make sure you have all of the required documents with you.
- Wait for a response on your application.
Germany Visa Types for UAE Citizens and Residents
After figuring out that you need to apply for a Germany visa in Dubai, you should check which visa type applies best to your situation. The German visa types are as follows:
- Airport Transit Visa. Apply for this visa if you only intend to transit through an airport in Germany to your non-Schengen destination country.
- Tourist/Visitor Visa. Apply for this visa if the purpose of your trip is tourism, sightseeing, vacations or visiting family members or friends residing in Germany.
- Business Visa. You should apply for this visa if you need to travel to Germany in order to participate in business related activities.
- Trade Fair & Exhibitions Visa. This is the visa you need to apply for if you are traveling to Germany to participate at a trade fair or exhibition.
- Student Visa (Visum Zu Studienzwecken). If you are a student and you have already been admitted at a university in Germany, this is the visa you need to apply for.
- Student Applicant Visa (Visum Zur Studienbewerbung). Apply for this visa if you intend to travel to Germany to apply at a university, to sit for an acceptance exam or interview.
- Language Course Visa (Visa for Language Learning). Apply for this visa if you intend to travel to Germany to attend a German language course.
- Training/Internship Visa. If you are planning to attend a training or internship in Germany, you should apply for a Training / Internship visa.
- Job Seeker Visa. Apply for this visa if you wish to travel to Germany in order to seek a job.
- German Freelance “Freiberufler” Visa. Apply for this visa if you want to travel to Germany to work there as a freelancer.
- Working Visa. You can apply for a working visa if you have already found a job in Germany and you wish to move there.
- Germany Visa for Cultural, Film Crew, Sports, and Religious Event Purpose. You will need to apply for this visa if you are traveling to Germany under the purpose of participating at a Cultural, Sports, or Religious event or as part of a Film Crew.
- Guest Scientist Visa. If you are a scientist and you have been invited by an institution or company in Germany to develop a research there, apply for a Guest Scientist Visa.
- Medical Treatment Visa. Apply for this visa if you intend to travel to Germany and seek medical treatment at one of the German hospitals or clinics.
- Germany Visa for the Recognition of Professional Qualifications. If you wish to find a job in Germany but your qualifications are not recognized here, you will need to apply for a visa for the Recognition of Professional Qualifications, with which you can attend a qualifications program.
Germany Visa Requirements for UAE Citizens and Residents
When applying for a Germany visa in Dubai, you will be required to submit several documents in order to prove you are eligible for a Germany visa, according to your purpose of entry.
The basic required documents to apply for a Germany visa in Dubai are as follows:
- Application Form. Make sure you have the right form. Fill in all the required information, print it and then sign it at the end.
- Valid Passport. You need to submit your passport alongside with the rest of the required documents. Make sure it complies with the passport requirements for a Germany Visa.
- Two recent photos. Make sure the photo is taken according to the Germany visa photo requirements.
- Proof of accommodation. The German embassy wants you to prove where you will be staying while in Germany. You can do so by submitting one of the following:
- Hotel booking.
- Rent agreement.
- Invitation letter by a host in Germany to stay at their home.
- Proof of roundtrip ticket reservation. You can use the visa consultation services like this one or find one online.
- Health Insurance. You will need to present proof that you have purchased travel health insurance that covers illnesses and accidents, and even repatriation in case of death, in the whole Schengen Area with a minimum coverage of € 30.000.
- Proof of financial means. When applying for a German Visa in Dubai, you must be able to attest possessing 45€ per each day that you plan on spending in Germany.
- Proof of occupational status. According to your employment status in Dubai, you will need to submit the following documents:
- If employed: Leave contract & Leave approval letter from employer.
- If self-employed: A copy of your business license.
- If you are a student: Proof of enrollment & No-objection certificate from school or university.
- If retired: Pension statement of the latest 6 months.
In addition, you will be required to submit several extra documents according to your purpose of traveling to Germany. For more in this regard, check the Germany Visa Application Requirements!
Germany Visa Fees for UAE Citizens and Residents
When applying for a Germany visa in Dubai you will need to pay a visa fee for the processing of your application. The Germany visa fees are as follows:
- Short-stay visa – €60
- Long-stay visa – €75
However, there are some categories of applicants that either need to pay a lower fee, or no fee at all when applying for a Visa to Germany in Dubai. Check the Germany visa fees to see if you belong to one of these categories!
Germany Visa Application Processing Time in Dubai
The processing time for a Germany visa application in Dubai depends on the type of visa you have applied for. A Germany short stay visa application takes approximately 15 days to be processed.
On the other side, a Germany short stay visa application takes about 10 to 12 weeks to be processed.
German Missions in UAE
There are to German missions in the United Arab Emirates:
- the German Embassy in Abu Dhabi and
- the Consulate General in Dubai.
The Consulate General in Dubai is the only German mission in the UAE offering consular services of all kinds.
German Embassy Abu Dhabi
- Address: The Towers at the Trade Center, West Tower, 14th Floor, Abu Dhabi Mall
- Tel: +971 2 596 77 00
- Fax: +971 2 644 69 42
Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany – Dubai
- Address: 14 A, Jumeirah I, Dubai
- Tel: +971 4 349 88 88
- Fax: +971 4 349 50 5
- Opening hours: Sunday to Wednesday 8 am to 3 pm, Thursday 8 am to 1 pm
VFS Global Germany Visa Application Center in Dubai
All applicants residing in Dubai and the Northern Emirates need to submit their applications at VFS Global in Dubai.
- Address: Joint Visa Application Centre, Wafi Mall, Level 2, Falcon, Phase 2, Umm Hurair 2
- Phone: 04-2055666
- Email: info.germanyuae@vfshelpline.com
