Ukraine Schengen Visa

Applying for the right visa for your visit is the first step that goes into smart planning for your international trips. The type of visa that you would require depends not only on the purpose of your visit but also on your citizenship. Each country out there has different visa rules for citizens of different countries.

We will take this article to discuss Schengen visa requirements for Ukraine citizens living in the UAE. The article will discuss the kinds of Ukraine Schengen visas available for UAE residents, travel insurance requirements, and how you can obtain your visa.

Do you need Schengen Visa if You Are a Ukraine Citizen Living in the UAE?

Ukrainians can visit the Schengen region for up to 90 days without a visa. This means that Ukraine citizens don’t need a short-term visa unless they have been banned from visa-free entry to the Schengen region.

However, Ukrainians would be required to apply for an electronic visa waiver to enter the Schengen region from November 2023 onwards. Once applied for and received, the visa waiver will be valid for the next 3 years. All holders of this waiver can visit the Schengen region freely in the mentioned period.

As far as a long-stay visa is concerned, each Ukrainian visiting the Schengen region must get a long-term visa as per the purpose of their visits. Long terms visas for Schengen countries are known as Type D visas and are issued for visit purposes like studies, work, research, and so on. The minimum validity of a long-term visa is 6 months.

Requirements to Apply for Schengen Visa

The following is a detailed list of the documents you will need to successfully submit your visa application for a Ukraine Schengen visa in the UAE:

• Duly filled visa application form obtained from the embassy of the Schengen country you wish to visit. Take out two photocopies of this form and self-attest them as well for later use.
• A valid Ukrainian passport (a maximum of 10 years old) with validity extending at least three months beyond your Schengen visit dates
• Two photos – passport-sized and not more than 3-month old
• A valid resident visa for the UAE with 3 months of validity remaining beyond your travel dates 
• Travel itinerary of your trip explaining your course of action during the trip
• Round-trip plane tickets for your trip properly mentioning the departure and return dates 
• Proof of accommodation in the form of hotel bookings or guest house bookings
• If you will be staying with a host, an invitation letter from the host will be required 
• A proper cover letter explaining the reasons for your visit to the Schengen area
• A proper travel insurance plan for your trip with at least EUR 30,000 medical treatment cover and validity across the entire Schengen region 
• Proof that you have sufficient funds to support your visit to the UAE such as – 
  • Bank statements presenting adequate funds to support the trip
  • A sponsorship letter from your host in the Schengen region

How to Apply for Schengen Visa for Ukraine Citizens in the UAE?

Given below are the steps to be followed to apply for your Schengen visa for Ukraine citizens in the UAE:

• Find out the ways you can send in your Schengen visa application. You may apply for a Ukraine Schengen visa via an embassy, general consulate, or an authorised visa centre in the UAE.
• Collect the documents required for visa application and obtain the visa form.
• Fill out the paperwork and get an appointment at the visa centre/embassy/general consulate.
• Submit the paperwork on the day of your appointment and complete the visa interview.
• Once your visa has been approved, you will receive a call back from the visa office. You may go ahead and get your visa stamped now.

Keep in mind that your visa application must be submitted at the embassy of the Schengen country that you plan to visit or at an authorised visa centre. Residents of Sharjah, Fujairah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Dubai may submit their visa applications at visa centres located in Dubai. Residents of Al Ain and Abu Dhabi, however, can visit visa centres in Al Ain to submit their applications.

Do I need Travel Insurance for Schengen Visa?

As per the travel and visa rules for Schengen countries, a proper Schengen travel insurance plan is necessary in order to obtain a Schengen visa. At the same time, travel insurance is not mandated by law if you are eligible to visit the region visa-free. However, it is recommended to get a proper insurance plan before you leave the UAE to protect your financial interests properly.

As far as mandated travel insurance coverage is concerned, each Schengen travel insurance plan must have a minimum of EUR 30,000 worth of emergency medical sum. Moreover, this plan shall be valid across all the Schengen countries.

Benefits of Schengen Travel Insurance

Buying a Schengen travel insurance plan for your trip will serve you well when it comes to protecting your financial interests. Taking a trip to a Schengen country, whether for work or leisure, can come with substantial costs whether due to medical emergencies, travel inconveniences, and other factors. This makes it essential to protect your financial interests with a travel insurance plan.

Here are a few benefits that you can utilise with a Schengen travel insurance plan for a Ukraine Schengen visa:

• Special COVID-19 Coverage: Most travel insurance plans come with a specialised COVID-19 cover which offers coverage for all treatment and medicine-related expenses if the policyholder tests positive for COVID-19 during their trip. The cover includes expenses for RT-PCR tests, medications, and 7-14 days of quarantine expenses.
• Emergency Medical Cover: Your travel insurance plan will provide proper coverage for all the medical expenses incurred during an emergency. This includes expenses associated with hospital stays, critical care, pharmaceutical requirements, and more. The plan also offers coverage for emergency medical evacuation and the repatriation of mortal remains back home to the UAE.
• Trip Cancellation Cover: If you need to cancel your trip due to an unforeseen reason, your travel insurance plan can compensate you for all pre-booked non-refundable expenses. This includes bookings for flight tickets, hotel accommodations, and other activities. Trip cancellation is covered for reasons like illnesses, unsuspected changes in the weather, unannounced natural calamity at your destination, and so forth.
• Trip Curtailment Cover: If you are required to cut your trip short due to an unforeseen reason, a travel insurance plan can compensate you for all non-refundable pre-booked expenses. Moreover, the plan may also cover the additional expenses related to booking additional flights. However, it must be noted that this cover comes into effect only if more than 50% of your trip is remaining.
• Flight-Related Cover: Travel insurance plans also offer compensation for any travel inconvenience that you may face related to your flights, which includes time spent waiting for the delayed flight or a missed connection flight due to a prior delay. The insurance provider may also provide coverage for the cost of the missed flight.
• Baggage Theft and Loss Cover: You would be entitled to compensation if you happen to lose your luggage during your trip with travel insurance. In such cases, your travel insurance provider may offer compensation for the lost item recovery or help in arranging for the replacement items. Compensation is also offered if your checked-in baggage is delayed at the airport or gets lost during transit.

Types of Schengen Travel Insurance Plans

Schengen travel insurance plans for Ukrainians can be divided into several categories as per the type of travellers, the purpose of your visit, and the duration and frequency of your trip. Let’s cover a brief description of each type of travel insurance plan for the Ukraine Schengen visa:

As Per the Duration and Frequency of the Trips

• Single-Trip Travel Insurance: Single-trip travel insurance plans are designed to cover only one trip to your destination. The coverage begins when you depart and ends as soon as you come back from the trip and land in the UAE. These plans may be available for trip durations ranging from 30 to 180 days, depending on the provider and the chosen plan.
• Annual Multi-Trip Travel Insurance: These plans cover all trips taken within the tenure of the plan. Annual multi-trip plans come with a validity of 1 year and are renewable. Each trip taken by the insured travellers within this duration is covered. However, a sub-limit may apply on the maximum number of days covered for each trip taken by the insured.

As Per Number and Types of Travellers

• Individual Travel Insurance: As the name indicates, an individual travel insurance plan is designed to cover only a single traveller. These plans are ideal for folks travelling solo from the UAE to the Schengen region. This type of plan offers comprehensive coverage including medical, baggage, flight, travel inconveniences, and personal liabilities.
• Family Travel Insurance: These travel plans offer similar benefits as the ones offered by individual travel plans. The only difference here is that these plans cover the whole family travelling together instead of just one person. The policyholder can add their spouse and children older than 30 days and younger than 18 years to these plans.
• Senior Citizen Travel Insurance: Senior citizen travel plans are made to cover travellers aged 65 years or more. The benefits offered by these plans are similar to those of generic travel plans. The maximum age limit for these plans, however, may differ for each plan and provider.

As Per the Purpose of the Visit

• Business Travel Insurance: As evident from the title, business travel insurance plans offer specialised coverage for trips taken for business and work reasons. Whereas generic travel insurance plans don’t cover loss or theft of precious belongings like gadgets and electronic items, business travel insurance plans specialised coverage for them all. These plans can be taken as a single-trip travel insurance plan or as annual multi-trip travel plans.
• Student Travel Insurance: Student travel insurance plans are specifically designed for students travelling to the Schengen region from the UAE. Thus, in addition to the generic benefits covered, these plans also offer unique covers like sponsor protection cover, study interruption cover, and more.

Processing Time for the Schengen Visa

Schengen visas for Ukraine citizens in the UAE may get processed within 14 days. The visa centre sends a notification once your visa has been processed. You may then visit the centre and get the visa stamped on your passport.

In some cases, the visa processing duration may get stretched up to 45 days. However, this is a highly unlikely event and happens only in specific cases. To avoid delays and rejection, make sure that you add all the required documents for your visa application and submit a flawless form.

When Should You Apply for Schengen Visa?

There is no government-mandated timeline to apply for your Schengen visa. However, considering that visa approval and arrival take a few days, it is smart to send in your visa applications as soon as you finalise your trip plans.

Authorities require individuals to apply for a tour Schengen visa a minimum of 3 weeks before their flight dates. If possible, it is better to apply for the visa even before that. Waiting until the last possible moment may result in delayed submissions, errors in the application, and more.

Fill out your application properly and collect all the documents. Submit the stack while keeping a margin for error in mind. This will prove helpful if there happens to be an error in your application, as you would have sufficient time to revisit, resubmit, and get the visa in time.

Schengen Visa Application Fee for Ukrainian Citizens in the UAE

Here are the application fees for a Ukraine Schengen visa in the UAE:

Visa Category	Fee in AED	Fee in EUR
Adult	340	80
Minors between 6 and 12 years of age	170	40
Minors younger than 6 years of age	Free	Free
A family member of EU national or EEA national	Free	Free
Ukraine diplomats and holders of a service passport	Free	Free

Validity of Schengen Visa for Ukrainian Passport Holders in the UAE

The validity of Schengen visas differs as per the type of visa you are carrying – Type C, Type D, or Limited Territory Validity visa. Let’s cover validity for all visa types -

Type C Schengen Visa

Type C Schengen visa is the short-term visa Schengen visa and is valid for 90 days, counting from the date of entry in the Schengen region. There are three types of Type C Schengen visas available in the UAE:

• Single-Entry Type C Visa: This visa allows the holder to enter the Schengen region once and stay for a maximum of 90 days. The visa expires after the holder exists in the Schengen region or when the 90-day period ends, whichever happens first.
• Double Entry Type C Visa: With this type C visa, an individual can enter the Schengen region twice during 180 days and stay there for a maximum of 90 days. The validity expires once the holder exits the Schengen region for the second time or when the 90-day period has been exhausted.
• Multiple Entry Type C Visa: Holders can enter the Schengen region multiple times during a 180-day period with this types C visa and stay in the Schengen region for a maximum of 90 days during this 180-day duration. The visa expires when the 180-day period ends or when the 90-day limit has been exhausted.

Type D Schengen Visa 

This is the long-term offered to people who need to stay in the Schengen region for durations longer than 6 months. The maximum validity of a Type D visa is 5 years after which the holder has to get it renewed as per their purpose of stay. The Type D visa is offered for purposes like studies, work, research, and more.

Limited Territorial Validity Visa 

A Limited Territorial Validity visa or an LTV visa allows the holder to stay or visit some specific Schengen countries. Unlike individuals with general Schengen visas, LTV visa holders can only visit the countries mentioned on the visa. This visa is issued only for special reasons like refugees on humanitarian grounds.

Conclusion

Obtaining your Schengen visa is a lengthy yet easy task. All you need to do is make sure that you have all the documents ready and that your visa form is completely error-free. As far as purchasing a travel insurance plan for a Schengen visa is concerned, you can do by continuing on our official website, policybazaar.ae. You can browse and compare the most relevant plans and purchase one in just a matter of minutes.

Before you leave the UAE for your trip to the Schengen region, make sure that you have collected all the required travel documents. You can always connect with your travel insurance provider in case you run into any trouble during the trip.

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