The increase in fees follows the Schengen Visa Code’s requirement for a revision of EU visa fees every three years, mandated in December 2023. The EU justifies the raise citing inflation and civil officials’ salaries. The last fee increase was in February 2020, raising fees from €60 to €80.
The European Commission plans to raise Schengen visa fees starting June 11, 2024. Slovenia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs has verified that fees for adult applicants will rise from €80 to €90. Additionally, visa fees for children aged six to twelve will increase from €40 to €45. Moreover, countries failing to cooperate in readmitting their irregularly staying citizens in the EU may face visa fee increases to €135 or €180.
“The decision by the European Commission includes a 12% worldwide escalation in Schengen visa (type C) fees for brief visits, scheduled to commence on June 11, 2024, across the globe.”
The fee hike comes after a December 2023 review of EU visa fees, citing inflation and civil servants’ salaries as reasons for the increase. The last adjustment occurred in February 2020, when fees rose from €60 to €80.
The decision has stirred discontent, particularly among Turkish citizens anticipating a visa-free agreement with the EU. In 2023, the Schengen Area processed more than 10.3 million short-stay visa applications, marking a 37% surge from 2022, yet remaining below the peak of 17 million applications recorded in 2019.
The Schengen area includes 29 European nations, with 25 of them being members of the EU. These countries include Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
Planning a trip to Europe? Here’s how to obtain a five-year multiple-entry Schengen visa.
At what point is a Schengen Visa required?
When traveling to the Schengen Area from a country without a visa-free travel agreement, applying for a Schengen visa is necessary. There are four primary types of Schengen visas—A, B, C, and D—available for this purpose.
The Uniform Schengen Visa, the most common type, combines categories A, B, and C. It enables travel to any Schengen Zone nation once every half-year for a maximum of 90 days, also granting access to airport transit. If your trip to Europe is brief, this visa is essential.
There has been a notable surge in European travel interest among Indian nationals, evidenced by a 43% rise in Schengen visa applications in 2023 compared to 2022.India placed third in visa applications, with 966,687 filings. Chinese nationals reclaimed the top spot with 1.1 million applications, marking their return to the lead since 2018. According to SchengenVisaInfo, Chinese nationals accounted for over 10% of applications in 2023, followed by Turkish and Indian nationals.
The European Commission has implemented a new visa “cascade” system for Indian nationals, simplifying the process for acquiring multi-entry visas with extended validity. Indian residents can now qualify for a two-year multi-entry visa after lawfully utilizing two visas within the preceding three years. Subsequently, they may be eligible for a five-year visa, permitting short stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
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