UAE residents apply for a Luxembourg Schengen visa to the Embassy of Luxembourg in Abu Dhabi. VFS Global publishes the Luxembourg checklists and fees for the UAE. The visa fee is AED 385 for adults, plus a VFS service fee of AED 106.53. Luxembourg is one of the hardest Schengen visas for UAE residents: in 2025 it refused 48.5% of UAE applications, the second-highest rate after Bulgaria.
Checked on 5 November 2026 against the Embassy of Luxembourg in Abu Dhabi, the Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the VFS Global Luxembourg UAE page and checklist, Annex 18 of the EU Visa Code Handbook (July 2025) and European Commission 2025 statistics reported by Gulf News. The rules below come from your UAE residence; your passport changes only whether you need a visa at all (Emiratis don’t).
Luxembourg at a glance
| Item | Luxembourg from the UAE |
|---|---|
| Who decides | Embassy of Luxembourg in Abu Dhabi |
| Where you hand in | See “Where to apply” below: the embassy page and VFS Global give different instructions |
| Visa fee | AED 385 adults, AED 195 ages 6–11, free under 6 (VFS page). The embassy page lists €90 / €45. |
| VFS service fee | AED 106.53 including VAT |
| Funds | About €67 per person per day (Luxembourg ties this to the minimum wage) |
| UAE residence | Valid 3 months after you leave Schengen |
| When to apply | Up to 6 months before. The embassy advises 4 weeks ahead, or 6 weeks from March to June. |
| Decision | 15 calendar days, up to 45 if more checks are needed. VFS says 2–3 weeks. |
| 2025 refusal rate (UAE) | 48.5% |
Where to apply
Two official sources say different things, so check both before you book:
- The Embassy of Luxembourg in Abu Dhabi says applications are made at the consulate by appointment. You request an appointment by email at [email protected] (phone +971 2 207 9999, Monday–Friday, 9 am–12 pm).
- VFS Global publishes Luxembourg checklists for Abu Dhabi, visa fees in AED and a service fee, which means it takes Luxembourg applications in the UAE.
Email the embassy first and ask which route applies to your trip. Keep the reply with your file.
Apply to Luxembourg only if it is your main destination: where you spend the most nights, or the main reason for the trip. If you are visiting several countries, see which Schengen country to apply to.
Documents for a tourist or family visit
From the VFS Luxembourg checklist for Abu Dhabi. All documents must be on A4 paper, in English or with a sworn English translation.
- Application form, completed, dated and signed
- One colour photo, 35 × 45 mm, white background, pasted (not stapled) on the form
- Passport valid 3 months after your return, issued within 10 years, with 2 blank pages. Add a copy of the data page and of any earlier Schengen visas.
- UAE residence visa valid 3 months after you leave Schengen. GCC citizens can give a UAE ID card instead.
- Employees: an original employer letter with your position, contract length and salary, plus a copy of the company’s valid trade licence
- Business owners: your valid trade licence
- Bank statements for the last 3 months, original, stamped and signed by the bank, plus your last 3 payslips
- Return flight booking. The embassy says it does not need a confirmed, paid ticket.
- Hotel booking, proof of property, or your host’s invitation letter covering the whole stay
- Full travel itinerary
- Travel insurance of at least €30,000, valid in all Schengen states for the whole stay. For a multiple-entry visa, you also sign a declaration covering later trips.
Staying with family or friends who will pay for you? Luxembourg uses a formal obligation letter (sponsorship form). Your host signs it in Luxembourg and adds their last 3 payslips or other proof of income. It must be no older than 6 months when you apply. See Schengen invitation letters.
How to apply: step by step
- Confirm that Luxembourg is your main destination and that your UAE residence will be valid 3 months after you leave Schengen.
- Email the embassy to confirm where to hand in (embassy appointment or VFS).
- Prepare your file on A4 paper, in the checklist order, with stamped bank statements.
- Attend your appointment, give fingerprints (unless you gave them in the last 59 months) and pay the fees. Fees are not refunded if you are refused.
- Wait for the decision: usually 15 calendar days, up to 45. Track it as described in tracking a Schengen application.
How much money do you need?
The embassy does not publish a minimum. The EU’s list of reference amounts says Luxembourg uses the daily minimum wage for an unskilled worker, about €67 per person per day. For a 7-day trip that is about €470 (roughly AED 1,900) on top of flights and accommodation.
Why refusals are high, and how to appeal
Luxembourg receives few UAE applications, and many are trips where Luxembourg is not clearly the main destination. Before you apply, make sure your itinerary, hotel nights and funds all point to Luxembourg. The refusal form lists the reason; see the refusal letter explained.
- Administrative appeal: a formal letter with your handwritten signature, within 3 months of the refusal, to the Passport, Visa and Legalisation Office ([email protected], 6 rue de l’Ancien Athénée, L-1144 Luxembourg). Late or unsigned appeals are not reviewed.
- Court appeal: before the Administrative Tribunal, within 3 months, filed by a lawyer.
A fresh application with the gaps fixed is often faster than an appeal. See Schengen refusal appeals from the UAE.
Questions people ask
Is there a Luxembourg embassy in the UAE?
Yes. The Embassy of Luxembourg is in Abu Dhabi, and it handles Schengen visa applications from UAE residents.
How much is the Luxembourg visa fee in AED?
AED 385 for adults and AED 195 for children aged 6–11 on the VFS page, plus the AED 106.53 VFS service fee. Children under 6 pay no visa fee.
Do I need a paid flight ticket for Luxembourg?
No. The embassy says it does not require confirmed air tickets; a reservation is enough.
How long does a Luxembourg visa take from the UAE?
Normally up to 15 calendar days after the embassy receives a complete file, and up to 45 days in some cases. Apply at least 4 weeks ahead, or 6 weeks between March and June.
Related guides
- Belgium Schengen visa from the UAE (a common combined trip)
- Schengen visa checklist for UAE residents
- Schengen refusal rates by consulate
Sources
- Embassy of Luxembourg in Abu Dhabi: Short-term Schengen visa
- Luxembourg Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Visa and immigration (appeals)
- VFS Global: Luxembourg visa information, UAE and tourist and family checklist (Abu Dhabi)
- EU Visa Code Handbook, Annex 18: Reference amounts (31 July 2025)
- Gulf News: Refusal rates (EC 2025 data)
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 5 November 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] and it will be fixed and logged.