Schengen visa for citizens of Yemen in 2023

If you are a Yemeni who wants to travel to Europe, you will almost certainly need a visa in order to enter any of the 26 countries in the Schengen area. A Schengen visa from Yemen is a good option for Yemenis who want to visit multiple countries in Europe for a period of under 90 days. However, because of the current conflict in the country, obtaining a Schengen visa from Yemen will likely involve traveling and applying from outside of the country. Read on to discover specific and timely information about the Schengen visa for citizens of Yemen in 2021, including how to apply for a Schengen visa in Yemen, tourist visa interview questions and Schengen visa types for Yemeni citizens, Schengen visa fees for Yemen citizens, and other information about the Schengen visa for citizens of Yemen, and for more general information about visas, including Schengen visa requirements

Schengen visa for citizens of Yemen in 2023

• The ongoing crisis in the country continues to create challenges for those seeking a Schengen visa from Yemen or attempting to travel to Europe generally. 
• Applicants for Schengen visas from Yemen (and from any country) must traditionally apply through the embassy, consulate, or visa application center of the Schengen country they seek a visa from. While the majority of the application processes for most countries can be done entirely online, applicants will almost certainly have to appear in person in order to submit their application, have their biometric information collected, and attend a Schengen visa interview. 
• Because most European countries have closed their embassies and consulates in Yemen due to the war, it is difficult to apply for a Schengen visa in Yemen. In general, Yemeni applicants for Schengen visas must apply outside Yemen, from another country. Because of this, if you seek to apply for a Schengen visa from Yemen, you will likely have to travel to another country in order to do so. 
•  For example, at the moment, applicants for French Schengen visas in Yemen cannot apply in Yemen. Instead, they must apply through a French Embassy located in either Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, or Egypt. 
• Similarly, Yemeni applicants for Schengen visas from Germany cannot apply in Yemen. Instead they should apply through one of the following: the German Embassy in Abu Dhabi (UAE), the Germany Embassy in Muscat (Oman), the visa application center affiliated with Germany in Cairo (Egypt) the German embassy in Amman (Jordan) or the German Embassy in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia). 

Schengen visas for Yemen citizens

• Because Yemen does not have visa-free access to the Schengen area, Yemenis who seek to travel to Europe will need a visa in order to enter most countries there, including any of the 26 Schengen Member States. 
• A Yemeni who applies for and receives a Schengen visa will be able to enter and remain in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. 
• There are multiple different types of Schengen visas, which reflect varies purposes for travel. Some of the most popular include tourism, business, and medical. For a complete list of Schengen visa types, click here.
• Schengen visas are available in single, double, and multiple entry categories. The number of times you need to enter and exit the Schengen area during your visa validity period will determine the category you apply for. 
• Applicants for Schengen visas apply through a single Schengen country. They country they apply through is the country they intend to spend the majority of time in on their trip. 
• For example, if you are a Yemeni who plans to spend 90 days in multiple Schengen countries, but you intend to spend 60 of those days in France, you should apply for a French Schengen visa. If you are spending an equal amount of time in more than one destination (such as if you are spending 45 days in France and 45 days in Italy) you should apply for a Schengen visa from the country that represents your first entry to the Schengen area (so for example, if you are spending an equal amount of time in both Italy and France, but you will enter the Schengen area through Italy, then you should apply for an Italian Schengen visa. 

How to apply for Schengen visa for Yemen citizens

As noted above, Schengen visa seekers from Yemen will almost certainly have to be outside the country in order to apply for a Schengen visa.

1. The first step for applying for a Schengen visa for citizens of Yemen is to determine what Schengen country you should apply through (i.e. what Schengen country you will be spending the most time in). 
2. Locate the country’s embassy or consulate outside of Yemen that is handling Schengen visa applications for Yemenis. Select which embassy/consulate is most convenient to for you, and verify that they will accept Schengen visa applications for Yemenis. 
3. Travel to that country in order to begin the application process. 
4. Make an appointment at the embassy, consulate, or visa application center responsible for processing Schengen visa application for your selected countries. 
5. Gather your required documents. 
6. Apply online for your Schengen visa. Depending on what country you are applying through, you may be able to submit the universal Schengen visa form, available here. Alternatively, you may be asked to apply through a country-specific visa portal. 
7. Appear in person at the embassy, consulate, or visa application to submit your application, have your biometric information collected, and attend a visa interview. 

Tourist visa interview questions and Schengen visa types for Yemeni citizens

• The type of Schengen visa you apply for will determine the kinds of questions you will be asked in your Schengen visa interview. 
• If you are applying for a tourist visa, you will be asked a number of questions relating to your trip, in addition to basic biographical questions about who you are. These could include any or all of the following:
  • Where were you born in Yemen? 
  • Where do you work and what is your salary? 
  • What do your parents do? 
  • Are you married? Do you have children?
  • What is your purpose of travel in the Schengen area?
  • Why do you want to travel to [whatever country you have applied to]?
  • What tourist activities do you intend to do in the country?
  • How will you afford everything you want to do in the country?
  • What do you want to specifically see/do in the country? 
  • Are you, or have you ever been, a member of a terrorist organization? 
  • Do you have any friends or family in the country ?
  • Do you know where you can travel on your Schengen visa?
  • Why do you need to spend so long in the country?
• By asking you these questions, the consular authorities of the country you seek a visa from are attempting to determine the following:
  • If your purpose for travelling as a Yemeni tourist is genuine, or if you actually have another reason for seeking a visa. 
  • If you can financially afford your trip. 
  • If you will leave the country/Schengen area before your visa expires. 
  • If you will try to seek asylum in one of the Schengen countries.  
  • If you will present a security risk to the Schengen area.
• In responding to the above questions in pursuit of a tourist visa from Yemen, you should make sure to establish yourself as someone who has credible reasons to return to Yemen (such as family within the country, a significant job, academic commitments, etc). 
• As a Yemeni, you should have very specific and credible reasons for wanting to travel for tourism, so make sure you have specific, highly detailed information of what you want to see in the Schengen area, and why. 

Schengen visa fees for Yemen citizens

• All Schengen visa applicants, regardless of where they are applying from, are subject to the same Schengen visa fees. 
• The basic cost of a Schengen visa from Yemen (and from anywhere) is €80 euros. 
• Certain applicants, such as students, those on diplomatic visas, and other categories of applicants can theoretically be exempt from fees. For complete information on Schengen visa fees, click here.

Schengen visa requirements for Yemen

• All Schengen visa applicants, regardless of where they are from, must fulfil the same requirements.
• All Schengen visa applicants must provide the following required documents and materials:
  • Passport 
  • Passport photos (two, passport sized) 
  • Visa fee 
  • Proof of accommodation
  • Proof of subsidence
  • Proof of travel medical insurance 
• In addition to the above materials, Schengen visa applicants must also supply a number of other supplemental documents depending on the type of Schengen visa they are applying for. For example, if you are applying for a Schengen Business visa from Yemen, you will be required to present different documents than if you were applying for a Schengen Cultural visa. 
• Unless they are already in the system, Schengen visa applicants are required to have their fingerprints and photos (biometric information) collected. This is done in person at the Schengen visa appointment. 
• In addition to the above requirements, in order to be approved for a Schengen visa in Yemen, applicants must pass a complete background check. The purpose of a background check is to establish that the applicant, regardless of where he or she is from, will not present a security or criminal risk to the Schengen area.