The European Commission reportedly accepted a proposal to hike Schengen visa fees worldwide by 12 percent.
The increased visa fees are to come in force from June 11, an announcement by Slovenia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs said.
“The European Commission adopted a decision to increase short-stay Schengen visa fees worldwide by 12 percent. This increase will apply globally starting June 11, 2024,” the Slovenian government said.
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.
This visa fee hike 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 attributed the fee hike to inflation and increased salaries for civil servants.
The previous increase in February 2020 saw fees rise from €60 to €80.
In 2023, the Schengen Area received over 10.3 million short-stay visa applications, a 37 percent increase from 2022.
This was, however, still below the 2019 peak of 17 million applications.
The Schengen Area comprises 29 European countries, including 25 EU member states.
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