Spain has quietly overhauled the way Schengen-visa appointments are booked in the UAE, and the change takes effect immediately. Under the new procedure, residents must reserve their slots themselves through the official BLS International website. Applications submitted by travel agents, typing offices or other third-party “facilitators” will be rejected outright when applicants arrive at the visa application centre (VAC). The decision was confirmed in a notice published late on 29 July by BLS, Spain’s sole outsourced partner in the Emirates. The clamp-down is designed to stamp out a thriving black market in visa appointments that had pushed legitimate applicants to pay up to AED 1,000 for an otherwise free service. BLS said its technical platform has been upgraded to verify that the person logging in is the same individual who will appear in person. If an applicant cancels, the slot is released back into the system automatically, closing a loophole used by “slot scalpers.” For UAE corporates the change carries practical implications. Summer business travellers heading to Spain—or transiting the Schengen area—will need to plan further ahead as appointment lead times adjust to genuine demand. Global mobility managers should revise their internal travel-approval timelines, ensure employees have the required documentation (including employer No-Objection Certificates signed with Emirates-ID details) and budget extra days in case a fresh appointment must be secured. BLS also reiterated that visa fees are paid only inside the VAC and reminded applicants that Spanish authorities—not BLS—take all decisions. Companies are therefore advised to brief staff never to transfer money to intermediaries offering to "speed up" a visa or “guarantee” approval. Spain processed more than 58,000 UAE applications last year; officials expect volumes to rise again once the peak-summer backlog clears under the new, more transparent booking regime.
Source: Khaleej Times
