European holiday in mind? Your Schengen visa may soon cost you more

Your next Europe trip may end up costing you more. The European Commission has proposed to raise the basic fee for a Schengen visa, impacting both adults and children. Currently set at 80 euros for adults and 40 euros for children, the proposed adjustment would see these fees increase to 90 euros for adults and 45 euros for children.

Schengen visas, available to non-EU citizens from countries not covered by the EU/Schengen area's 90-day rule, are sought after by individuals from nations like South Africa, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and China.

According to reports, the proposal also introduces a higher fee tier for countries deemed uncooperative in accepting expelled citizens back from member states. In cases where the EU Council determines "insufficient cooperation on readmission," the Schengen visa fee for citizens from that country could rise from the current range of 120/160 euros to 135/180 euros.


Moreover, the revision of visa fees extends to external service providers handling visa applications on behalf of member states. The maximum charge imposed by these service providers, typically half the standard fee, is slated to increase from 40 to 45 euros.

Despite the proposed hike, the European Commission asserts that Schengen visa fees remain comparatively low. For instance, the proposed fee for a Schengen visa extension will stay at 30 euros. The Commission emphasizes that even with the increase, these fees are still reasonable when juxtaposed with other countries. For instance, a US visa costs €185, a UK visa starts from £115 (€134), a Canadian visa is $100 plus $85 for biometrics, equivalent to €130, and an Australian visa is $190, roughly €117.

The proposal is currently open for consultation until March 1. Following this period, the Commission can adopt the regulation, and it will come into effect 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.