The European Commission has accepted a proposal to hike Schengen visa fees worldwide by 12%, confirmed Slovenia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs.
The fee for adult applicants will rise from €80 to €90, while the fee for children aged six to twelve will go up from €40 to €45.
Additionally, countries that do not cooperate with the EU in readmitting their irregularly staying citizens may see their visa fees surge to €135 or even €180.
"The European Commission adopted a decision to increase short-stay Schengen visa (visa type C) fees worldwide by 12 percent. This increase will apply globally starting June 11, 2024," the Slovenian government stated.
This decision follows a scheduled review of EU visa fees that took place in December 2023, which occurs every three years as stipulated by the Schengen Visa Code.
The EU attributes the fee hike to inflation and increased salaries for civil servants. The previous increase in February 2020 saw fees rise from €60 to €80.
The announcement has caused discontent, especially among Turkish citizens who have been anticipating a visa-free agreement with the EU.
In 2023, the Schengen Area received over 10.3 million short-stay visa applications, a 37% increase from 2022, though still below the 2019 peak of 17 million applications.
The Schengen Area comprises 29 European countries, including 25 EU member states.
Source: India Today