EU Proposed To Raise Schengen Visa Fee
The European Commission is contemplating a 12 percent increase in the fees associated with obtaining a Schengen visa.
The proposal suggests raising the basic fee for adults from €80 to €90 and for children from €40 to €45.
Schengen visas are required for non-EU citizens from countries not covered by the EU/Schengen area's 90-day rule.
Moreover, the EU is considering a steeper fee for countries perceived as uncooperative in repatriating expelled citizens from member states.
In case of insufficient cooperation on readmission, the Schengen visa fee for citizens from such countries could elevate from €120/€160 to €135/€180. This move aligns with the EU Council making decisions based on the cooperation level regarding expelled citizens.
The proposed revision also impacts the maximum charge that external service providers, handling visa applications on behalf of member states, can impose. Currently set at €40 but this charge may increase to €45.
The fee for a Schengen visa extension remains at €30.
The EU Commission revisits these fees every three years. New fees are assessed using objective criteria such as the EU inflation rate and average civil servant wages in member states.
If approved, the regulation will come into force 20 days after publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Despite the increase, the Commission asserts that Schengen area visa fees remain relatively low compared to other nations. For instance, US visas cost €185 or €172, and UK visas start from £115 (€134).
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