Schengen Visa Bank Statement: VFS Won't Skip Arabic

Summer holiday planned. Schengen visa application ready. You get your bank statement from the branch, three months of transactions, stamped and signed. The transactions are in English. But the bank stamp has Arabic text around the seal. VFS sends it back.

What VFS actually checks

VFS processes visa applications for European consulates. Their document checkers verify that every page is in English (or the consulate’s language). Most UAE bank statements are bilingual. The transaction lines are English, the account summary is English, but:

• The bank stamp. The circular stamp with the bank’s name and branch often includes Arabic. This is the most common reason for rejection.
• Arabic headers or footers. Some banks include Arabic text in the page header or footer alongside English.
• Branch address. Listed in Arabic on some bank letterheads.
• Handwritten notations. If a bank officer wrote anything in Arabic on the statement (balance confirmation, “to whom it may concern” notes), it needs translation.

Which consulates are strict

Requirements vary by consulate. From Dubai:

• French consulate. Strict about Arabic elements. Prefers everything in French or English.
• German consulate. Accepts bilingual statements but may flag Arabic-only stamps.
• Italian consulate. Similar to French, clean English or translated.

Rather than guessing which consulate will be lenient, translate the Arabic elements before submitting. One rejection means rebooking your VFS appointment, which could delay your trip by weeks during peak season.

Other visa documents with Arabic

Bank statements aren’t the only document with Arabic surprises. Salary certificates from UAE employers, NOC letters, and employment contracts may include Arabic text. Some expats only discover the Arabic issue after their bank account gets frozen over a KYC update SMS they couldn’t read. If you’re applying for a Schengen visa from Dubai, check every document for Arabic elements before your VFS appointment.

Need your bank statement or other visa documents translated before your VFS appointment? Send them on WhatsApp: +971 50 862 0217. Same-day certified translation.