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Rabat – The European Commission proposed a 12% increase in the application fees for the Schengen visa.
According to a report from Euronews, the hike would mean that adults could be paying €90 for Schengen visas, up from the current €80. Meanwhile, fees for children might go from €40 to €45.
The Schengen visa is a mandatory requirement for citizens from non-EU countries who don’t benefit from the 90-day visa-free rule.
In addition, the EU Commission’s proposal includes a provision suggesting that for countries deemed to be lacking in cooperation on readmission – the process of accepting individuals expelled from member states – the fee hike should be even higher.
The fee for such cases might go from €120 to €135 for adults and from €160 to €180 for children.
If greenlit, the proposal could enter into effect in the coming months. The European Commission, which presented the draft on February 2 following substantial support from member state experts, is currently soliciting feedback until March 1.
Citizens of the EU have the opportunity to voice their opinions on the proposal during this period, the Euronews report explains.
The Commission cites rising inflation within the EU as a primary cause behind the increase in application fees.
The Commission typically revises Schengen visa fees every three years. In addition to the fee adjustments, the Commission is considering enabling external providers, mainly visa agencies, to raise their service fees in line with the proposed revision.
Under the new proposal, the maximum fee charged by these external providers could climb from €40 to €45.
Read Also: EU Council Approves Digitalization of Schengen Visa Application Process
