Every child needs their own Schengen visa application, signed by both parents or legal guardians.
- Travelling with only one parent, or without parents: you also need an original consent letter from the absent parent, signed in front of a visa officer or legalised. Add copies of that parent’s passport and UAE residence visa.
- Visa fee: €45 for ages 6–11, and nothing under age 6.
- Fingerprints: children under 12 don’t give them.
- The child’s UAE residence must be valid for 3 months after you leave the Schengen area, just like an adult’s.
Checked on 4 November 2026 against the UAE checklists for Portugal and Sweden (VFS Global), the EU Visa Code and the European Commission fee rules. A child’s need for a visa depends on the child’s passport. Where you apply depends on the child’s UAE residence.
Documents for a child’s Schengen visa
| Document | Details |
|---|---|
| Application form | Signed by both parents or legal guardians |
| Child’s passport | Valid 3 months after leaving Schengen, issued within 10 years |
| Child’s UAE residence visa and Emirates ID | Valid 3 months after leaving Schengen |
| Birth certificate | With a certified English translation if it is in Arabic. Portugal also accepts a Portuguese translation. |
| Parents’ passports and UAE visas | Copies for both parents, especially for any parent not travelling |
| Consent letter | Needed if the child travels with one parent or without parents (see below) |
| Custody or guardianship papers | A court decision for sole custody, an adoption certificate, or a parent’s death certificate, where relevant |
| Photos, insurance and bookings | As for adults; the child must be named on the insurance and bookings |
| Financial proof | The parents’ bank statements and employer letter or no-objection letter |
A school leave letter is not on the Portuguese or Swedish checklists. It can still help if the trip falls during term time.
When you need a consent letter, and how to sign it
| Who is travelling | What is needed |
|---|---|
| Child with both parents | Both parents sign the form. No separate consent letter is needed. |
| Child with one parent | A consent letter from the other parent, plus copies of their passport and UAE visa. Sweden asks for the letter to be signed in front of a visa officer or legalised. Portugal asks for the NOC to be legalised if only one parent attends. |
| Child with grandparents, a school group or alone | An original authorisation from both parents. Portugal wants it signed before the visa officer at the child’s own country’s embassy in Abu Dhabi. |
| One parent has sole custody | The court decision or other proof of custody, in place of the other parent’s consent |
Parental consent letter template
[Date] To: The Embassy of [Country], Visa Section, [Abu Dhabi/Dubai] Subject: Travel consent for my child [Child full name], passport no. [number] I, [Parent full name], passport no. [number], UAE residence visa no. [number], am the [father/mother] of [child name], born on [date]. I give my consent for [child name] to travel to [country/Schengen area] from [date] to [date] with [name of travelling parent/adult, relationship, passport no.]. Contact during the trip: [phone] | [email] Enclosed: copy of my passport and UAE residence visa. Signature: ____________ [Parent name] (Signed before the visa officer / legalised as required)
How to apply for your child: step by step
- Check the child’s passport and UAE visa dates. Both must be valid 3 months after leaving Schengen.
- Translate the birth certificate if it is in Arabic, using a certified translator.
- Prepare the consent letter if a parent is not travelling, and plan how it will be signed or legalised.
- Book one appointment per family member on the same day, so the files are linked.
- Attend with the child. Children under 12 give a photo but no fingerprints.
Questions people ask
How much is a Schengen visa for a child from Dubai?
€45 (about AED 190–200) for children aged 6 to 11, and no visa fee under 6. Visa centres may still charge their service fee.
Can my child travel to Europe with only me?
Yes. Include the other parent’s signed consent letter, signed before a visa officer or legalised, plus copies of their passport and UAE visa.
Does my child need fingerprints for a Schengen visa?
Not under 12. Children aged 12 and over give fingerprints like adults.
Do both parents need to come to the appointment?
Not always, but both must sign the form. If only one parent attends, some consulates, such as Portugal’s, want the other parent’s consent legalised.
Related guides
- Schengen visa fee from Dubai
- Schengen visa for a dependent spouse in the UAE
- Schengen visa document checklist for UAE residents
Sources
- VFS Global Portugal UAE: Tourist checklist (minors)
- VFS Global Sweden UAE: Tourism checklist (minors)
- Hellenic Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Fingerprint exemptions (Visa Code Art. 13(7))
- European Commission: Schengen visa fees
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 or sell visa services. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 4 November 2026. Found an error? Email ionicwaleed@gmail.com and it will be fixed and logged.