The European Commission has increased the Schengen visa fee from 11 June 2024 by up to 12%. The current uniform visa fee is set as €80 and is set to be changed to €90. The extension of the Schengen visa has been proposed the same as €30.
The Biometric fee is separate from this fee as it carries from country to country handled by third-party companies on behalf of the Schengen countries’ foreign missions. These visa application handling bodies have been allowed to charge for their services half of the standard visa fee which would be €45 instead of the previously set as €40.
The countries showing a lack of cooperation with readmission with the Schengen countries may be able to charge a visa fee of EUR 120 or EUR 160 for adult applicants.
The proposed increase was announced by the Commission on 2 February 2024 due to the Europe-wide annual inflation rate and salary changes for civil and national workers in three years. The commission asked for general feedback from 2 February to 1 March and the adaption date was set as 14 March 2024.
The visa fee was first announced to be changed back in 2020 when the EU also announced to change it in the future every three years. Schengen member zone countries have to implement the overall laws announced by the European Commission. This is why when the visa fee is set at a certain amount, all the countries have to follow that. The Schengen visa fee is set the same for all types of Schengen visas such as for single, double, and multiple entries.
New Schengen Visa Fee
| Schengen Visa Category | Fee in EUR |
| Adult applicant | 90€ |
| Children between 6-12 years of age | 45€ |
| Children younger than 6 years of age | Free |
| Holders of diplomatic, official, or service passports traveling for official purposes | Free |
| A family member of an EU/EEA national | Free |
| Pupils, students, and accompanying teachers during a school trip | Free |
| Researchers traveling to perform scientific research | Free |
| Nationals from Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia. | 35€ |
Schengen Visa Fee before 11 June 2024
| Schengen Visa Category | Fee in EUR |
| Adult applicant | €80 |
| Children between 6-12 years of age | €40 |
| Children younger than 6 years of age | Free |
| Holders of diplomatic, official, or service passports traveling for official purposes | Free |
| A family member of an EU/EEA national | Free |
| Pupils, students, and accompanying teachers during a school trip | Free |
| Researchers traveling to perform scientific research | Free |
| Nationals from Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia. | €35 |
| Citizens of Cabo Verde | €60 |
The Cost of a Schengen Visa
The Schengen visa cost includes many factors not only the visa fee but also where you apply it from. These could be:
- Travel and health insurance are mandatory for all EU citizens willing to travel to the Schengen countries. This must be valid for the whole period of the trip;
- Biometric fee, collected by third-party companies such as VFS Global or BLS. One has to pay it directly to them at the time of Biometric collection;
- Translation fee of the documents in English (this varries);
- Cost for return ticket booking;
- Cost for the Hotel booking (reservation charges);
- Finally, the Schengen visa fee is currently €80 for adults and is proposed €90 in the future.
The short-term “c” type Schengen visa (you cannot stay more than 90 days during 180 days in a row in a Schengen country on this visa even if the validity of the visa is 5 years at maximum) is valid for all 29 Schengen countries.
Schengen Visa Fee Comparison with Other Main Countries
In its draft of the fee increase proposal, the EU also compares the Schengen visa fee with the following countries. And in their point of view, Schengen countries are still charging less fees than these.
| Country | Approximate fees in EUR |
| UK | 115 – 780 |
| USA | 172 |
| Canada | 130 |
| New Zealand | 120 (including NZ Tourism Lavy) |
| Japan | Single Entry 19, Multiple Entry 38 |
| Australia | 117 |