Schengen Visa: Pay higher fees for travelling to Schengen states from June 11

All those travelling to Schengen States will need to pay higher fees soon. The European Commission has decided to increase short stay Schengen visa (visa type C) fees worldwide by 12 per cent. The increase will apply worldwide as of June 11, 2024.

New Schengen visa fees will be 90 euros for adults and 45 euros for children aged 6 to below 12 years of age. Till the new Schengen visa fees become applicable, the old rates of 80 euros for adults and 40 euros for children aged 6-12 will apply.

A Schengen visa is an entry permit for non-EU nationals to make a short, temporary visit of up to 90 days in any 180-day period to a country in the Schengen area. Generally, the visa issued allows you to visit any of the Schengen States during the same trip, within the validity of the visa.

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A Schengen visa is not appropriate, if you wish to remain in a Schengen country for longer than 90 days, take up employment or establish a business, trade or profession.

The Schengen area covers 26 countries (Schengen States) without border controls between them. These countries are: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. These countries apply the common visa policy for short stay visas.

Schengen visas come in 3 forms:

Single-entry visa – allowing you to enter the Schengen area once;

Multiple-entry visa – allowing several visits to the Schengen area for as long as the visa is valid;

Airport transit visa – allows you to connect through the international transit area of an airport in the Schengen area during a stopover or a change of flights. It does not allow you to leave the international transit area.

Citizens of certain non-EU countries must hold a short-stay visa when travelling to the Schengen area. Some non-EU nationals must also hold an airport transit visa when connecting through the international transit areas of airports located in any of the Schengen States.

For citizens of certain additional countries, an airport transit visa is required when connecting through the international transit areas of airports located in some of the Schengen countries.

You must lodge your application for a Schengen visa at the consulate of the country you intend to visit. If you are visiting more than 1 Schengen country, then apply at the consulate of the country where you will spend the longest time. When you are visiting several Schengen countries for stays of equal length, then apply at the consulate of the first country you will visit.

You must submit your application to the consulate at least 15 days before your intended journey and no earlier than 6 months beforehand. The normal processing time for a visa application is 15 days. This period may be extended to up to 45 days if a more detailed examination of the application or additional documents are required.