The Schengen visa is set to become more expensive starting June 11, 2024, as per the latest amendment by the European Commission (EC). Slovenia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs stated that the fee for adult applicants for Schengen visas will rise from €80 to €90 while the visas for children aged between 6-12 will cost €45, an increase from €40. Moreover, the ministry has also clarified that countries not cooperating with the readmission of their irregularly staying citizens in the European Union (EU) may have to face visa fees increasing to €135 or €180.
What is a Schengen visa?
The holders of Schengen visas are allowed to travel freely in the ‘Schengen area’ for short stays of a maximum of 90 days (in any 180-day period). The visas are not purpose-bound but do not grant holders the right to work. The Schengen area includes 29 European countries wherein 25 are EU states.
The countries part of the Schengen area include Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
Why EC hike the Schengen visa fee?
The fee hike comes after a review of EU visa fees in December 2023. The review occurs every three years as mandated by the Schengen Visa Code. The EU accords inflation and civil servants' salaries as reasons for the revision in visa fees. The last increase happened in February 2020 when fees rose from €60 to €80.
Revised fee (2024):
For Adult applicants: The fee will increase from €80 to €90 (around Rs 8,200).
For Children (6-12): The fee will rise from €40 to €45 (around Rs 4,100).
"The European Commission adopted a decision to increase short-stay Schengen visa (visa type C) fees worldwide by 12 per cent,” the Slovenian government said in a statement highlighting that the new revisions will be applicable worldwide as of 11 June 2024.
Indian travellers showing a preference for Europe
As per a recent study by the Policybazaar, around 82 per cent of Indian travellers are showing a preference for destinations in Europe like France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, and Spain in the upcoming season. Indians showed a growing interest in Europe wherein a 43 per cent increase was witnessed in Schengen visa applications in 2023 compared to 2022. India ranked third in visa applications, with 966,687 filings.
The EU recently launched a new visa scheme, called ‘cascade,’ for Indian citizens applying for Schengen visas. This recent step by the EU showed a shift from the traditional visa code regulations for Indian nationals. According to the new Schengen visa rules, Indian passport holders can now get long-term multiple-entry Schengen visas for two or five years, especially if they've previously travelled on a Schengen visa.
