This information leaflet has been generated by the German Consulate in Dubai. The Consulate is responsible for visa applications of those applicants who reside in the United Arab Emirates.

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

   
   

• If you plan to stay in Germany for more than 90 days, you are requested to apply for a National, long-term Visa (category D). The Consulate processes long-term visa applications in cooperation with the Aliens’ Authority (“Ausländerbehörde”) of the city of your destination, as well as – in some cases- with the labours’ office (“Arbeitsamt”). In order to grant the visa, the approval of the German authorities is mandatory.
• Hence, the processing time of your visa application can vary between 6 to 12 weeks, in some cases it might take more or less time.
• Applicants are requested to apply well ahead of time before their intended departure date.
• A National long-term Visa will be granted for the specific purpose of residence (e.g. Study, Family Reunion). After arriving in Germany you have to apply for a residence permit at the Aliens’ Authority (“Ausländerbehörde”) of the city of your destination in order to request the issuance of your final residence permit.
• A National long-term Visa allows you to stay in Germany and to travel freely within all member states of the Schengen Treaty (including airport transit), while living in Germany.

• 2.WHERE TO APPLY: EMBASSY OR CONSULATE?

The Consulate General in Dubai is the only German mission in the United Arab Emirates offering consular services. Therefore the consular jurisdiction of the Consulate General in Dubai has been extended to the whole territory of the UAE, including the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The Embassy in Abu Dhabi is no longer open to the public for consular questions / enquires. All national visa applications have to be lodged personally at the German Consulate in Dubai, after prior appointment through our external service provider VFS Global.

• 3. PURPOSE OF TRAVEL

All checklists & information leaflets can be found on our website https://uae.diplo.de/ae-en/service/05-VisaEinreise/-/1358926 or https://visa.vfsglobal.com/are/en/deu, which covers several National Visa categories:

1. Employment
2. Self-Employment
3. Specialty Cooks
4. Study
5. Family Reunion
6. Family Reunion to Syrian Refugees
7. Au Pair
8. Medical long stay
9. Recognition of foreign qualifications for regulated professions (§ 16d AufenthG))
10. Job Seeker – limited to 6 months-

General Information of the required documents:

• Student Blocked Account and Formal Obligation Letter
• German Language Requirements
• Recognition of Foreign Documents
• Incoming Health Insurance in Germany
• In case the above information leaflet does not answer all you questions, please submit your detailed question via e-mail: visa@duba.diplo.de
• Kindly note that queries regarding information which is already mentioned on our website cannot be entertained.
• Status updates for long term visa applications will not receive a reply within 10 weeks from the date when all documents were handed in. The visa section will contact you directly once a decision is taken.
• Please note that the documents requested in the leaflets may not be sufficient. Every application is treated as a separate case and consequently sometimes additional information may be needed during the processing period.

• 4. HOW TO APPLY

• As a rule, all applicants have to apply in the Visa Section by appointment only.
• Applicants need to apply in person and with their passport and all relevant documents (please see information leaflets & checklists).
• All applications must be filled out in German or English.
• Documents in other languages, including Arabic ones, must be translated into German/English and need to be submitted as original along with the translation.
• If your application is incomplete, your visa application will be returned to you and you will need to arrange a new appointment in order to reapply. The Consulate cannot be held responsible if you fail to apply well in advance.
• The passport will be returned to you at the end of the interview.
• Applicants under the age of 18 years need to present a signed form “Letter of consent” including the passport copies of both parents/ legal Guardians.

Every applicant needs to arrange an appointment for the National visa by sending an Email directly to the Visa Section to : visa@duba.diplo.de

Following details will be required to schedule the appointment:

• Name of the applicant
• Copy of the passport
• Copy of UAE residence visa
• Purpose of travel
• Contact number
• E-Mail address

• Please note that any enquiries regarding appointments have to be directed to VFS Global. The Consulate General is not involved in scheduling Appointments.
• Applicants who come late to their appointment by more than 15 min, will not be permitted to enter the visa section and are required to book a new appointment.
• Please book your appointment well in advance, and use the waiting time to obtain all necessary documents. If you realize that the required documents might not be available by the date of application, please reschedule your appointment.

• 6. FEES

Regular visa fees are to be paid in UAE Dirham (AED), only exact amount in cash will be accepted. Current exchange rate of the German Consulate applies.

National, long-term visa (category D): 75, 00 Euro

Children up to 18 years (category D): 37, 50 Euro

Please note that depending on your nationality and your passport the visa fees might vary. You will be informed at the counter if that is applicable to you.

• 7. TIPS (HOW TO SAVE TIME AND MONEY)

Is it possible to submit the application through mail, an agent or VFS service center?

All applicants have to come in person, since the identity needs to be verified and biometric data has to be collected. Long term visa applicants have to visit the German Consulate according to their appointment, arranged by VFS.

How can I prepare myself for the appointment, interview and submission of application?
Book your appointment as soon as you know the month of your planned settlement in Germany. Book your appointment in advance and while waiting for the appointment date to come, ensure to collect all necessary documents as per checklist. Make sure to have filled out your application form correctly.

Make enough copies in order to have 1 x set of originals and 2 x sets of copies. Sort your application according to the checklist/ information leaflet. Please come on time on the day of your appointment.

Can a Schengen visa be extended or transferred to a residence permit?

A Schengen visa entitles its holder to stay for a total of 90 days within 180 days only & cannot be transferred or converted into a residence permit

Is it possible to apply for the visa directly in Germany?

No, the visa has to be applied for by the applicant personally at the German Foreign Mission of the country, where he is permanently residing.

Do I need to take anything in consideration, when it comes to official certificates (birth, marriage, death, divorce…)?

Documents from certain countries must be legalized before they are recognized by the German authorities. You will find more information on the website of the German Foreign Mission of the country, which has issued the certificate. Additional charges for the legalization process or verification of documents might apply. Please check our separate leaflet.

My visa has been issued by the German Consulate, could I use this visa to make a side trip to other European countries (for example to France or Austria)?

Yes you can. A long term visa entitles you to travel outside of Germany and within the Schengen Area, provided that your visa is still valid and you maintain your residence in Germany. However your passport might not be recognized by all countries, and hence the possibility to visit other Schengen countries may be limited.

My spouse is a German or EU national. We both plan to establish a joint residence in Germany. Do I get a German work permit immediately after we move to Germany?

Yes, you do. The residence permit will be issued by the Aliens' Office after your arrival in Germany. It will include a work permit.

Where is the German Consulate in Dubai located?

German Consulate General

Passport- and Visa section (separate entrance)

Jumeirah I, Street 8 A (behind the former Dubai Zoo)

Dubai, United Arab Emirates