Schengen Visa Fees to Increase by 2020

Unless they come from one of the visa-exempt nations, all foreign citizens travelling to one of the Schengen zone countries must obtain a Schengen visa.

Visa-free nationalities can visit the Schengen Area for up to 90 days until November 2023.

This will change in November 2023, when the ETIAS for Europe visa waiver implementation is completed. ETIAS electronic travel authorisation will be required for all visa waiver nations travelling to all Schengen Area countries.

The ETIAS will only be available online through a simple application form that will only take a few minutes to complete. Check this list to see if your nationality is ETIAS eligible.

Those who are not eligible for ETIAS must apply for a Schengen visa at the embassy or consulate of the primary Schengen country they intend to visit.

To coincide with the forthcoming implementation of ETIAS, the European Parliament has endorsed a proposal to alter the EU Immigration Code, which includes expediting visa operations and raising Schengen visa payments. Continue reading to learn about the new cost of a Schengen visa application.

HOW MUCH DOES A SCHENGEN VISA COST?

In 2019, the European Union Council approved proposed revisions to the Schengen visa rules, which include a price increase in the application fee for a Schengen visa, beginning in 2020.

The new 2020 Schengen visa fees have gone up for all passengers, including minors.

The Council has indicated that the cash generated by the rise in Schengen visa prices will be used to assist member states in covering the expenses of visa processing, as well as to expand the tools available to respond to difficulties caused by illegal migration.

The EU has also implemented a mechanism that will evaluate whether Schengen visa application fees should alter or remain the same on a regular basis.

The new rules also affect the amount of time passengers can apply for a Schengen visa before their desired entrance date into the EU.

Previously, applicants could submit an application up to three months before their trip; this has now been increased to six months, with no later than 15 days before the desired date of arrival into the Schengen zone.

The authorised changes to Schengen visa fees went into effect on February 2, 2020. Within the next six months, all Schengen nations will gradually implement these restrictions.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ETIAS AND SCHENGEN VISA PAYMENT METHODS

There are certain distinctions between a Schengen visa and an ETIAS that you can read about in our dedicated section.

However, there are several distinctions between the ETIAS payment and the Schengen visa payment choices, including the following:

• A Schengen visa —whether single, double, or multiple-entry— is only available through application via a European embassy or consulate

Applicants must pay the Schengen visa fees in person at the chosen diplomatic office when submitting their application

Certain consulates may accept credit card payments, while others require all Schengen visa fees to be paid in cash

• The ETIAS is available exclusively online with a fixed application fee

The ETIAS is a three-year electronic travel authorization with multiple entry points.

ETIAS for Europe fees can be paid with a credit or debit card by applicants.