EU announces Schengen Visa fee to increase from June 11

The European Union has confirmed that Schengen visa fees will be increased globally starting from June 11.

The decision to raise visa costs by 12 percent was adopted by the European Commission, according to an announcement from Slovenia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.

Under the new fee structure, adult applicants will have to pay €90 for a Schengen visa, up from the current €80. For children aged 6 to 12, the visa fee will increase from €40 to €45.

The EU has cited inflation and higher salaries for civil servants as the primary reasons behind the fee hike. This increase follows a scheduled review of EU visa fees that takes place every three years, as mandated by the Schengen Visa Code.

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In addition to the general fee increase, countries that do not cooperate with the EU in readmitting their irregularly staying citizens may face substantially higher visa costs, ranging from €135 to €180.

The last time Schengen visa fees were raised was in February 2020, when the cost jumped from €60 to €80.

Despite the fee increase, the Schengen Area experienced a surge in short-stay visa applications in 2023, receiving over 10.3 million applications – a 37 percent increase from the previous year, though still below the 2019 peak of 17 million applications.

The Schengen Area comprises 29 European countries, including 25 EU member states, allowing visa-free travel across internal borders for individuals holding a Schengen visa.