The European Union (EU) will increase Schengen visa fees starting June 11, 2024. This change follows the Schengen Visa Code’s triennial review, which adjusts visa costs based on inflation and civil servant salary trends.
Under the new fee structure, adult applicants seeking short-stay visas (type C) for the Schengen zone will be required to pay €90, marking a €10 hike from the current €80 fee. Similarly, the visa fee for children aged between six and twelve years will increase from €40 to €45.
However, the fee escalation will be more substantial for nations that have demonstrated reluctance in cooperating with the EU regarding the readmission of their citizens residing irregularly within the Member States. For such countries, visa costs could soar to €135 or even €180.
The decision to augment Schengen visa fees stems from the most recent review conducted in December 2023, as stipulated by the Schengen Visa Code. This periodic assessment, undertaken every three years, ensures that visa costs remain aligned with the prevailing economic conditions within the European Union.
Hence, the previous fee revision took place in February 2020, increasing visa application charges from €60 to €80. The forthcoming increase of 12% is a direct response to the escalating inflation rates and rising salaries of civil servants across the EU Member States.
While the fee hike aims to maintain parity with economic realities, concerns have been raised regarding its potential repercussions on the tourism sector. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has cautioned that costlier visas could deter travelers from choosing Schengen destinations, ultimately impacting local economies within the bloc.
According to IATA’s feedback report, heightened visa costs might render travel to the EU less affordable, thereby discouraging potential visitors and leading to a reduction in travel volumes. This, in turn, could have a ripple effect on the region’s tourism-dependent economies.
In light of these concerns, various stakeholders have urged the EU to strike a balance between maintaining a sustainable visa regime and fostering an environment conducive to tourism.
Turkish citizens, in particular, have voiced their discontent with the fee increase, as they await the long-overdue conclusion of a visa-free agreement between the EU and Turkey. Many have highlighted the additional financial burden this move will impose on Turkish nationals seeking to visit the Schengen Area.
Despite the impending fee hike, data from 2023 reveals a substantial surge in Schengen visa applications compared to the previous year. The Schengen Area Member States received over 10.3 million short-stay visa applications in 2023, a remarkable 37% increase from 2022.
However, it is worth noting that these figures still fall short of the pre-pandemic levels witnessed in 2019, when Schengen visa centers abroad processed approximately 17 million applications.
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