Schengen visa rejections rise as travellers use the “small country strategy,” VFS Global warns UAE applicants

Key Points

• Applying through a smaller or less popular Schengen country to speed up processing can result in visa refusals, VFS Global’s UAE leadership warns.

• Article 5 of the EU Visa Code determines which Schengen country must process an application — based on main destination, length of stay, or first point of entry if stays are equal.

• Visa refusals are permanently recorded in the Visa Information System (VIS), affecting future applications across all Schengen states.

• There is no official fast-track or paid expedited processing for Schengen visas; travellers should avoid agents offering guaranteed appointments.

The belief that UAE residents can secure a faster Schengen visa by applying through less busy countries such as Luxembourg or Malta — commonly known as the “small country trick” — has been debunked by VFS Global’s UAE Regional Director, Monaz Billimoria. In fact, this approach can lead directly to a refusal.

Which country should process a Schengen visa?

The EU Visa Code (Regulation 810/2009) clearly outlines the rules in Article 5:

1. The country the applicant will primarily visit.

2. If visiting multiple countries, the country where they will spend the most time.

3. If time is split equally, the country where the applicant will first enter the Schengen Area.

Billimoria stressed that these rules are enforced strictly: applicants must apply to the correct consulate. Failure to do so can lead to rejection — and that refusal becomes a permanent entry in the VIS, complicating future applications to any Schengen country.

No fast-track option in the Schengen system

Billimoria also clarified that the Schengen system does not offer any form of expedited processing, regardless of urgency or additional fees. This differs sharply from systems like the UK’s, which guarantees appointment availability within five working days for UAE residents.

Her advice is simple:
Decide where you’re actually travelling, then apply to that country. There is no “anything will do” option.

Besart Bajrami, founder of SchengenVisaInfo, added that many refusals arise because applicants submit files to the wrong consulate. Consular officers check travel plans carefully—flights, accommodation, itineraries—and it becomes obvious when someone applies through one country but spends most of their trip in another.

Changing travel habits among UAE residents

UAE travellers are increasingly choosing to visit Europe outside of the summer season to save money, avoid crowds, and benefit from smoother logistics. This shift has boosted demand in certain regions—particularly Nordic countries in December for Northern Lights trips—helping reduce pressure on appointment systems during the usual summer peak.

Fraudulent agents taking advantage

Myths around “faster processing” have created opportunities for fraudulent agents who claim to offer guaranteed appointments or special access. Billimoria urged travellers to avoid such agents, as they operate outside approved channels.

Only official visa centres such as VFS Global and embassy submission systems should be used. Any third-party promising shortcuts should be regarded with extreme caution.

What travellers should actually do

To comply with Schengen rules:

• Identify your main destination or where you will spend the most time.

• If time is equal across countries, apply to the first point of entry.

• Be ready to document your itinerary.

• Consider travelling during shoulder seasons (autumn and winter) for easier planning and lower prices.

• Avoid agents claiming to have fast-track access — such services do not exist in the Schengen system.

Border control risks: when “visa shopping” backfires

Even if a traveller manages to obtain a visa through the wrong country, border checks can still cause issues. Immigration officers often ask about travel plans, duration of stay, and destinations. If the answers do not align with the issuing country, entry can be denied on the spot.

On exit, discrepancies between travel history and the country that issued the visa can be flagged through hotel bookings, tickets, and other records. These inconsistencies can be logged in the SIS system and affect future visa applications for years.

Visa shopping may seem like a shortcut, but it can create long-term complications across the entire Schengen Area.