Travel visa · Schengen · 2026

Romania visa from the UAE (2026)

This is a Schengen state — the visa, fee and 90/180 rule base is shared. Read the full Schengen guide →

Romania became a full Schengen member in 2025, and that changed the practical picture for UAE residents: the standard €90 C visa and 90/180 rules now apply, and a Romanian visa carries zone-wide credibility. Most UAE missions have yet to build dedicated Romania content — this page fills that gap.

Visa fee (adult): €90 ≈ AED 360 · child 6–11: €45
Processing time: 10–15 days extendable to 45 in peak season
Stay allowed: 90/180 days per half-year, Schengen-wide
Insurance minimum: €30,000 medical coverage, full Schengen stay

Visas

Who needs this visa

UAE citizens are visa-waived across the Schengen area (since 2022) — this guide is for UAE residents on other passports.
Residents of India, Pakistan, Philippines, Egypt, Nigeria, Russia and most other non-waiver passports need a C-type Schengen visa.
Applications are handled through the Romanian mission's designated channel in the UAE; volumes are still lower than the big Schengen missions.
As a new member, Romania's appointment infrastructure is growing — check the current filing channel before booking travel.
Holders of UK, US, Canadian, Gulf and several other waiver passports enter visa-free for up to 90 days — no application needed.

Document checklist

Passport valid for 3+ months after you return, issued within the past 10 years, with two blank pages
Schengen application form, filled and signed
Two recent colour photos 35×45 mm against a white background
Travel medical insurance with minimum €30,000 coverage valid across the whole Schengen area
Reserved return flight itinerary — a booking is enough at filing stage
Hotel booking or a formal invitation from a host in the destination
Three months of bank statements demonstrating funds for the trip
NOC letter from the employer plus labour contract, or trade licence for business owners

Process

How it works

Anchor the itinerary
day 0

The visa is issued by the mission of your main destination — the longest stay or the trip's defining purpose.
Reserve an application slot
weeks ahead

Appointments are taken via the VFS portal; peak-season calendars fill early, cancellations release new windows.
Assemble the file
1–2 weeks

Work through the checklist in order and keep every date consistent across bookings, letters and the form.
File and give fingerprints
1 day

Submission is in person at the visa centre; biometrics repeat only every 59 months.
Wait for the decision
10–15 days

The statutory window is 15 calendar days, extendable to 45 in peak periods.
Read the sticker before flying
1–3 days

Check validity, number of entries and stay duration against the approved plan before leaving the centre.

Fees and rules checked September 2026 — confirm with the application center before booking.

Visa fees

Fee item	Amount
Schengen visa fee — adult	€90 (≈ AED 360)
Schengen visa fee — child 6–11	€45 (≈ AED 180)
Child under 6	Free
VFS service fee	Set by the centre, paid in AED

Government fees are set in local currency; service fees are set by the application center. Checked Sep 2026.

Frequently asked questions

Does one refusal affect future applications?

A refusal is not a ban. What matters is whether the next file addresses the stated reason; applicants who correct it regularly receive multi-entry visas afterwards.

Do UAE citizens need a visa for this trip?

No — UAE passport holders are visa-waived across the whole Schengen area for up to 90 days in any 180. The €90 C visa applies to residents travelling on other passports.

Can I visit other Schengen countries on this visa?

Yes — a Schengen C visa is valid across the zone. The application country should be your main destination by nights or purpose; a visa used mostly elsewhere is flagged on later applications.

Is a Romanian visa a full Schengen visa now?

Yes. Since Romania's 2025 accession, the C visa issued here carries the harmonised fee, the 90/180 ceiling and validity across the whole Schengen area.

Did older Romanian visas convert to Schengen?

No — visas issued before accession were national. New applications fall under the Schengen framework and its calendar.

Why consider Romania over bigger missions?

Lower appointment pressure for a genuinely Romania-anchored trip, Bucharest's growing business profile, and the same zone-wide travel rights once issued.