VFS Global has warned UAE residents against applying for Schengen visas through “small countries” to skip appointment queues, stressing that such applications often lead to refusals. Speaking to Gulf News on 10 November 2025, Monaz Billimoria, VFS’s regional head, said travellers must file with the state of main stay—otherwise consulates can reject applications outright.
The interview highlights a sharp seasonal shift in booking patterns: instead of focusing on Europe’s summer peak, Gulf travellers are flocking to Nordic destinations for December and January. “Finland especially, I see a jump in that period,” Billimoria noted, citing Northern Lights packages and Santa-themed tourism in Lapland as key drivers.
![Visa ‘shortcut’ myths debunked as UAE demand for winter trips to Finland surges]()
For Finnish inbound operators, the spike from the Gulf is welcome news at a time when Chinese group tours remain subdued. Visit Finland projects Middle-Eastern arrivals to grow 27 % this winter, helped by daily Emirates and Qatar Airways flights to Helsinki and visa-processing times that average ten calendar days—well below the Schengen median.
Global-mobility managers should take note: Schengen rules require business travellers to apply to the country of primary purpose or longest stay, not the point of first entry. Mis-filing can jeopardise multiple-entry visas that staff rely on for regional trips. VFS warns that fraudulent “fixers” continue to promise fast-track appointments that do not exist; companies are advised to book through official channels and allow extra lead time during the holiday rush.
The conversation also underscores a broader trend—corporates are leveraging off-peak travel windows to reduce airfare and hotel costs in Europe by up to 30 %. Finland’s tourism board is capitalising on this by partnering with Emirates Holidays and Etihad Holidays to bundle Northern Lights tours with stopovers, further fuelling demand for Finnish visas.
The interview highlights a sharp seasonal shift in booking patterns: instead of focusing on Europe’s summer peak, Gulf travellers are flocking to Nordic destinations for December and January. “Finland especially, I see a jump in that period,” Billimoria noted, citing Northern Lights packages and Santa-themed tourism in Lapland as key drivers.
For Finnish inbound operators, the spike from the Gulf is welcome news at a time when Chinese group tours remain subdued. Visit Finland projects Middle-Eastern arrivals to grow 27 % this winter, helped by daily Emirates and Qatar Airways flights to Helsinki and visa-processing times that average ten calendar days—well below the Schengen median.
Global-mobility managers should take note: Schengen rules require business travellers to apply to the country of primary purpose or longest stay, not the point of first entry. Mis-filing can jeopardise multiple-entry visas that staff rely on for regional trips. VFS warns that fraudulent “fixers” continue to promise fast-track appointments that do not exist; companies are advised to book through official channels and allow extra lead time during the holiday rush.
The conversation also underscores a broader trend—corporates are leveraging off-peak travel windows to reduce airfare and hotel costs in Europe by up to 30 %. Finland’s tourism board is capitalising on this by partnering with Emirates Holidays and Etihad Holidays to bundle Northern Lights tours with stopovers, further fuelling demand for Finnish visas.
