Why are Schengen visa appointments becoming more difficult for UAE travellers to secure?
Travellers in the United Arab Emirates trying to secure Schengen visa appointments for Europe this summer are increasingly facing difficulties, as AI bots and unofficial agents are reportedly booking available slots and reselling them at inflated prices.
According to Monaz Billimoria, Regional Head UAE at VFS Global, automated bots are rapidly booking visa appointments the moment new slots are released online, creating what she described as a “false or forced limitation” in availability.
“The bots, unlike humans, are able to work tirelessly scanning appointment pages, waiting for slots to be released, and then snapping them up instantly,” she said.
“This creates an artificial shortage of appointment slots, which are then resold externally at high prices, even though appointments are actually available free of charge on our official websites,” she added.
The issue comes as demand for travel to Europe from the United Arab Emirates continues to rise ahead of the peak Eid and summer holiday season.
An entire ecosystem of AI-powered and automated services has now emerged to secure Schengen visa appointments, particularly in high-demand markets such as the UK, Germany, France, and others.
Many of these platforms openly promote automated monitoring, instant alerts, and even auto-booking services for appointment systems run by providers such as VFS Global, TLScontact, and BLS International.
Travel agents told that appointment availability varies significantly depending on the Schengen destination, with popular countries being far more difficult to secure than others. They added that some embassies have introduced waitlist systems that notify applicants when new appointment slots open up.
Agents also reminded travellers that Schengen visa rules require applicants to apply through the country that will be their main destination or first point of entry.
They advised UAE residents planning European holidays to begin the process months in advance, prepare a clear itinerary with tentative travel dates, and ensure all travel arrangements are properly planned before submitting applications.
“Across our Schengen visa centres, we continue to see strong daily application volumes with no noticeable decline attributable to the current geopolitical situation,” said Monaz Billimoria.
Travellers planning trips to Europe’s Schengen Area between May and August are already facing limited appointment availability due to a sharp rise in application volumes, immigration services firm Fragomen warned in a recent alert, highlighting growing delays and sustained demand pressures.
VFS Global said travel demand to Europe has remained strong despite recent geopolitical tensions and regional airspace disruptions.
“Demand for travel to Europe remains robust,” she said.
“Across our Schengen visa centres, we continue to see strong daily application volumes with no noticeable decline attributable to the current geopolitical situation.”
According to VFS Global, demand for Schengen visas has been increasing by nearly 10% year on year and has risen by almost 22% since 2022.
The visa appointment crunch has become a recurring issue for residents of the United Arab Emirates since international travel rebounded after the Covid-19 pandemic.
VFS Global said some embassies and consulates briefly suspended operations during the initial weeks of recent regional tensions, though services resumed shortly afterwards.
However, the timing of these disruptions added further strain to an already pressured system. “The disruption did impact travel plans, particularly as it coincided with a period when many people were planning trips for Eid and the summer season,” Monaz said.
“By the time operations normalised, it was closer to Eid and summer, and the resulting pent-up demand placed additional pressure on appointment availability.”
VFS Global stressed that visa appointment capacity is determined by embassies and consulates, not by the company itself. “It is not fair to generalise as different embassies and consulates have different appointment availability,” she added.
VFS also clarified that Schengen appointments are typically released up to six months in advance and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. It added that additional slots may become available when cancellations occur or when embassies release extra capacity.
Warning against unofficial agents
The growing shortage of appointments has fuelled a parallel market of unofficial agents charging travellers for faster access to slots. VFS Global warned applicants against paying high fees to third parties for appointments that are officially provided free of charge.
“While we continue to work towards addressing this growing issue, we also urge applicants to beware of malicious entities charging high prices for what are actually free appointment slots,” Monaz said.
“Plan your trip in advance, apply for a visa early, and avoid last-minute challenges.”
VFS Global said some countries have also introduced waitlist systems that notify applicants when appointments become available.
Despite rising travel costs and ongoing visa-related frustrations, Europe remains one of the most popular summer destinations for travellers from the United Arab Emirates due to its proximity and strong air connectivity from the region.
