When planning your trip from the UAE to Europe, you have probably asked yourself which Schengen country is easiest to obtain a visa from. You might hear from your colleagues or friends that some country “approves almost everyone,” whereas others are “strict with UAE residents.” Everybody seems to know what to do if they need the easiest Schengen visa from UAE consulates.
However, this information is often inaccurate and is based on unverified numbers. Moreover, there is one rule that settles this issue before the preferences of an applicant even come into play. According to the Schengen Visa Code, it is not up to an individual to choose the consulate he/she thinks would be more lenient in its attitude towards visa applicants. One’s itinerary makes the decision.
In this guide, we will help you understand why online rankings cannot be trusted, how the rule works, and what helps turn an application from a refusal to an approval. Our complete guide to getting a Schengen visa from UAE will help you go through all the steps of the process. At the end of this article, you will know that it is not a right question to ask, and which question to ask instead.
Why “easiest country” rankings you find online can’t be trusted
While searching the web for information on visa approval rates, you might find pages stating that one country approves 97% of its applicants from the UAE, while another 95%. While these numbers seem like facts since they are repeated so many times, they are not.
None of the Schengen consulates provides information on the refusal rates per the nationality or residency status of an applicant. The Commission of the European Union publishes annual statistics per each consulate’s location. But the total number of applications from “the UAE” contains citizens of the country, permanent residents of other nationalities, and people travelling for the first time and those travelling often. Therefore, these numbers say nothing about how an application from you will be processed.
Even in case the numbers are true, they only show the number of applicants. The fact that a particular consulate receives many well-prepared applications from experienced travellers only results in a low refusal rate. However, it does not mean that the same consulate will approve a weak application. When reading the information on how to get the easiest Schengen visa from UAE consulates according to some percentage, treat this information as marketing, not the data.
The rule that actually decides which country you apply through
This is the part which is usually omitted in “easiest country” guides. Article 5 of the Schengen Visa Code (Regulation (EC) No 810/2009) defines the member state which should examine your application. It is called the main destination rule, and the main destination rule Schengen visa officers apply is not optional.
Main destination rule, in short
- Visiting only one Schengen country? Apply to that country.
- Visiting several countries? Apply to the country where you will spend the most nights. That is your main destination.
- Equal number of nights in two or more countries? Apply to the country whose external border you will cross first when entering the Schengen area.
Note: the main purpose of your trip, such as a conference or business meeting in a certain country, may define your main destination.
It is important because consulates check this information. In case your itinerary suggests five nights in Italy and two in Greece, but you decided to apply to Greece based on the information you found in a website calling it “easier,” your application will be declined or refused. Moreover, if an issued visa does not match your travel schedule, it can cause problems during the border control. Any research on how to choose Schengen consulate UAE options should start from here: the decision is made based on your travel plan.
Example: how the rule works in practice
| Your itinerary | Where you apply |
| 3 nights in France + 5 nights in Italy | Italy (most nights) |
| 4 nights in Germany + 4 nights in Austria, flying Dubai to Munich | Germany (equal nights, so the country of first entry decides) |
| 6 nights in Spain, with a connecting flight through Paris | Spain (a connecting flight does not change your main destination) |
As you see, none of these decisions was made depending on the reputation of the consulates. In case of the first example, Italy is the main destination, and therefore the application should be submitted to the Italian consulate. Our guide to the Italy Tourist Visa from UAE covers the whole procedure. As soon as your travel plan is set, your consulate is chosen as well. In order to apply through a certain consulate, you can do so only if your trip includes this country as the main destination.
What actually affects your approval chances (regardless of country)
All the Schengen consulates ask the same two questions: can you afford the trip, and are you going to return to the UAE afterward? These are the factors that help Schengen consulates answer these questions.
- Strong financial documents: recent bank statements, usually of three-six months’ period, proving that the applicant has a stable income and enough money to finance his/her stay, with no unexplained huge payments done immediately before you submit the application.
- Travel history: previous visits to the Schengen Area, UK, US, or any other visa used correctly prove that you follow the visa requirements. First-time applicants are not refused solely for this reason, but their other documents have to be stronger.
- Evidence of the return to the UAE: valid Emirates ID and residence visa, with sufficient validity; employment contract or trade licence, confirmed leave; tenancy agreement or property documents; and the evidence of your ties with the UAE.
Medical and repatriation travel insurance of at least EUR 30,000, valid in all Schengen countries and throughout the whole length of your stay. - Consistent itinerary: the flight reservation, hotel bookings and the visa application form should all show the same story, pointing to the right consulate.
A properly prepared application file will be treated better by the supposedly “strict” consulate than a poorly prepared by a supposedly “easy” one. This is the honest answer to the question “which is the easiest Schengen country to obtain a visa from.” The easiest Schengen application is the properly prepared one for the right consulate. It is also worth preparing your budget in advance, and before you book an appointment, check the cost of Schengen visa from the UAE, including service fees and insurance.
Not sure which consulate you should apply to, or whether your documents are good enough? Our Alhadaf Almasi visa specialists will be able to check both your travel plan and the application file prior to your appointment.
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