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New biometric age requirement for long-stay visa applications

New biometric age requirement for long-stay visa applications

9/1/2026

From 1 September 2026, the minimum age for fingerprint collection for long-stay visa (Category D) applications is reduced from 12 to 6 years old.

This means that children aged 6 and over must now provide their fingerprints as part of their visa application.

Children aged 6 and over must attend the appointment in person to have their fingerprints collected.

If you are applying as a family, please make sure that all children aged 6 and over attend the appointment. Plan accordingly when booking your appointment to ensure that all applicants can meet the new biometric requirements.

New queue-based appointment allocation system

New queue-based appointment allocation system

8/10/2026

The new queue-based appointment allocation system will be implemented effective 10 August 2026 for:

  • Legalization applications at TLScontact Visa Application Centres in Sheikh Zayed and Hurghada.
  • Student visa applications at the TLScontact Visa Application Centre in Sheikh Zayed.

How does the appointment allocation process work?

  1. Register on the TLScontact website and enter the required personal information.
  2. Once your application is validated, you will receive a confirmation that it has been placed in the queue.
  3. An appointment will be automatically assigned, and you will receive an email notification with the allocated date.
  4. To confirm your appointment, you must pay the service fee within the deadline indicated in the email.
  5. If payment is not completed within the given timeframe, the appointment will be cancelled and allocated to the next applicant in the queue. You will need to register again to rejoin the queue.

Important notice

Applicants who have already created their application and are currently waiting for an appointment must log in to their personal TLScontact account to ensure they are included in the queue.

This new system has been introduced to provide a fairer and more efficient appointment allocation process while helping to reduce appointment misuse.

For any questions or assistance, please contact our Customer Service Team.

Appointment Attendance Rules for Premium Lounge

Appointment Attendance Rules for Premium Lounge

4/29/2026

To ensure a smooth application process, please carefully follow the appointment timing rules for the Premium Lounge service.

Arrival and Attendance Policy

In accordance with the instructions of the German Federal Foreign Office, applicants must arrive within the allowed time window for their scheduled appointment.

  • Late arrivals: You may arrive up to 29 minutes after your scheduled appointment time.
  • More than 29 minutes late: If you arrive more than 29 minutes late, your appointment can no longer be accepted, and the Premium Lounge service will not be available. You will need to book a new appointment online through the official portal.
  • Early arrivals: The Premium Lounge service cannot be provided before your scheduled appointment time. If you arrive early, you will be asked to wait until your appointment slot.
OCTOBER 2025: NEW APPOINTMENT ALLOCATION SYSTEM AT THE EL-SHEIKH ZAYED VISA APPLICATION CENTRE

OCTOBER 2025: NEW APPOINTMENT ALLOCATION SYSTEM AT THE EL-SHEIKH ZAYED VISA APPLICATION CENTRE

10/2/2025

Starting from 2 October 2025 TLScontact will implement a new appointment allocation system at the visa application centre in El-Sheikh Zayed.
 
Which visa types are concerned?
* Tourist visa (less than 90 days)
 
What is the new procedure to obtain an appointment?
 
1. Register on the TLScontact website and enter the required personal information in the online form.
2. Once your application is validated, you will receive a confirmation that it has been placed in the waiting queue.
3. You will be assigned an appointment according to the order of your registration on the waiting list, and you will receive an email with the allocated appointment.
4. You must pay the service fees within the deadline indicated in the email to confirm your appointment.
5. Fill out the visa application form on the VIDEX website, print it out, and bring it along with the other required application documents to your appointment.
 
Why is this change being introduced?
 
This new process is being implemented for certain visa types to protect applicants against fraudulent and costly third-party appointment booking agencies. Our goal is to ensure fair and equal access to appointments for all genuine visa applicants.
 
We thank you for your understanding.
 
Sincerely,
The TLScontact Team
Increase of short-stay Schengen visa fees

Increase of short-stay Schengen visa fees

6/7/2024

As per Commission Delegated Regulation 2024/1415 amending Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 as regards the amount of visa fees, Schengen visa fees will increase from 80 EUR to 90 EUR for short-stay visas for adults and from 40 to 45 EUR for short-stay visas for children from 6 to 12 years.

The new visa fee will come into force on 11 June 2024.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO VISIT YOUR FRIENDS OR THE SECOND DEGREE OF YOUR FAMILY, YOU WILL NEED TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT FOR TOURISM

IF YOU ARE GOING TO VISIT YOUR FRIENDS OR THE SECOND DEGREE OF YOUR FAMILY, YOU WILL NEED TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT FOR TOURISM

7/6/2023

You can only book an appointment for visit if you will visit your children, parents, siblings, grandfather, grandmother or your spouse.

You need to prove the family ties with original documents. (eg family registry, birth and marriage certificates)

If you will visit other family members or friends, you need to book an appointment for tourism.

Your visa application won’t be accepted at TLScontact if you book the wrong appointment category.