VFS Global Warns UAE Travellers: Schengen “Small Country Trick” Promises Fast Visas but Often Leads to Refusals

VFS Global has cautioned UAE travellers against relying on the widespread belief that applying for a Schengen visa through smaller countries such as Luxembourg or Malta guarantees quicker approval.

According to Monaz Billimoria, VFS Global’s UAE Regional Director, this assumption is incorrect — and, in many cases, leads directly to visa refusals. Billimoria stressed that Schengen visa processing is governed by the EU Visa Code (Regulation 810/2009), which outlines a clear and binding hierarchy for determining which member state is responsible for handling an application.

Under Article 5 of the Code, that responsibility falls first to the country the applicant intends to visit. If the traveller plans to visit several countries, the competent authority becomes the nation where they will spend the greatest number of days. When there is no main destination, the country of first entry is responsible. As Billimoria reiterated, “the Schengen law says you need to apply to the country that you’re traveling to or the country where you’re going to be staying the maximum amount of days. They enforce this rule very strictly.

If you don’t, then there is a possibility that they will refuse you.” Such refusals become a permanent part of the applicant’s record in the Visa Information System (VIS), potentially complicating future visa applications to any Schengen state.

Billimoria also dismissed the idea that Schengen visas can be fast-tracked or expedited “regardless of urgency or the applicant’s willingness to pay extra fees.” This system, she explained, is markedly different from the UK’s model, which guarantees UAE residents an appointment within five working days — a policy that has driven a significant increase in UK visa applications. Her advice was unequivocal: “Please first decide where you’re going and please apply to the Schengen country you’re supposed to be traveling to. Please do not come to us and say anything will do. There is no such thing as anything.”

Her comments were echoed by Besart Bajrami, who highlighted that many refusals arise because applicants choose the wrong consulate from the start. “We have seen many cases of visa refusals based on violation of Article 5. Consular officers check each part of your application for visas – flights, accommodations, itinerary, etc., and clearly see when a person who has applied through Malta, spends eight days in Germany, and only two in Malta. The issue here isn’t how to ‘play’ the game; this is about following EU laws. Using the appropriate member state may be less convenient, however demonstrates your understanding and compliance with the laws and regulations and builds stronger cases.”

Shifting travel patterns among UAE residents are also influencing visa demand. Billimoria noted a growing appetite for trips outside the traditional summer period. “There is an important trend that has taken hold among UAE residents and travelers — that of changing the mindset of traveling only in the summer months. Many UAE residents travel prior to the summer and in the autumn and winter months.” Lower prices, reduced crowding and easier logistics have encouraged more travellers to explore Europe in colder months, particularly the Nordic countries during December, with many seeking Northern Lights experiences. This evolving pattern has also helped ease pressure on appointment systems during peak summer season.

However, persistent myths about obtaining “faster” Schengen visas have opened the door for fraudulent agents who take advantage of travellers desperate for appointments.

Billimoria advised residents to avoid anyone claiming to secure guaranteed slots or expedited processing in exchange for additional fees. Such individuals, she warned, “operate outside of the valid processes and channels of embassies and authorized visa centers like VFS Global and therefore should be avoided by UAE residents. If you are looking for a visa, do not fall victim to these types of scams.” Official channels remain limited to embassies and authorised visa centres such as VFS Global.

For travellers navigating Schengen requirements, Billimoria and Bajrami stressed the importance of identifying a clear main destination — based on the longest stay or primary purpose of the trip — and applying to that country. If time is evenly divided between several states, applicants must seek their visa from the country of first entry. A well-documented itinerary is essential, particularly since travellers may be asked to prove their plans. Travelling during shoulder seasons can offer better conditions, lower prices and fewer logistical barriers. Above all, applicants should avoid third-party services promising accelerated processing, as such claims contradict official Schengen procedures.

The risks of “visa shopping” — applying to a country with minimal or no planned stay — also extend beyond the application stage. Border control authorities do not simply scan a visa and wave travellers through; they routinely ask questions about itineraries, destinations and trip duration. A traveller holding a Luxembourg-issued visa but spending ten days in France with only a brief stop in Luxembourg is likely to raise suspicion. Border agents have the authority to deny entry even when a visa is legitimate if they believe it was issued by the wrong member state.

The dangers increase at departure. By the time a traveller exits the Schengen area, border officials have access to hotel bookings, train tickets and other documentation that reveals actual travel behaviour. A Maltese visa paired with evidence of a week spent entirely in Spain, for example, often signals misuse. These discrepancies are recorded in the Schengen Information System (SIS) and remain accessible to all consulates, potentially triggering heightened scrutiny or even long-term refusals in future applications.

As Bajrami put it, “A visa shopper may feel they are taking a minor shortcut at the time but it could have lasting effects throughout the entire Schengen Area.”

By fLEXI tEAM