Changes to Schengen Visa Fees Effective Q3 2024

Introduction

Schengen visa fees will undergo a significant increase of 12.5%. This adjustment affects both adult and child applicants, though some categories will remain exempt or unaffected by the fee hike.

Impact:
Low

What has changed?

Increased Visa Fees:

• For adults, the Schengen visa fee will rise from €80 to €90.
• For children, the fee will increase from €40 to €45.
• Applicants from countries that do not cooperate with the EU on the re-admission of their nationals will see even higher fees, ranging from €135 to €180.

Unaffected Categories:

• Nationals of countries with a visa facilitation agreement with the EU, such as Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus (excluding certain officials), and Cape Verde, will continue to pay €35.
• Nationals of eight countries with visa-free entry agreements but without biometric passports (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, and Ukraine) will also see no change, maintaining a fee of €35.
• Children under six from all countries will remain exempt from visa fees.
• Children under 12 from non-cooperating countries will have their fees increased to €45, unlike adults.

Exemptions: Certain categories will continue to be exempt from paying any visa fees, including:

• Family members of EU citizens and citizens of Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland.
• Holders of diplomatic, service, or official passports.
• Pupils, students, postgraduate students, and accompanying teachers traveling for study or training purposes.
• Representatives of non-profit organisations under 26 participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural, or educational events organised by non-profit organisations.

What to expect /impact?

For Travelers: The increased fees add an extra financial consideration for those planning short-term visits to Schengen countries. This change is particularly significant for families and frequent travellers who may face higher overall costs.

For Businesses: Companies that frequently send employees to Schengen countries will need to account for the increased visa costs in their budgets. Additionally, employees may need to plan their travel more carefully to ensure compliance with the updated fee structure.

For Visa Facilitation Countries: Travelers from countries with existing visa facilitation agreements will see no change, maintaining their current fee levels. This ensures continued ease of access to Schengen countries for these nationals.

What you need to do

The new visa fees are part of broader changes aimed at enhancing the EU's immigration policies and ensuring effective cooperation on migration issues. As embassies and consulates implement these changes, applicants should ensure that they carefully plan any Schengen applications early and check country embassies prior to travel.

For further information on these developments, please contact the Sterling Lexicon immigration team at immigration@sterlinglexicon.com