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Starting today, June 11, 2024, travelers to Europe will face higher visa application fees. The European Commission has implemented a 12% increase in Schengen Visa fees, affecting applicants worldwide. This move aligns with the bloc's efforts to boost tourism in the region. Under the new fee structure, adult applicants will now pay €90, up from €80, and children aged 6-12 will pay €45, increased from €40. Countries deemed uncooperative with the EU's repatriation efforts will experience steeper hikes, with fees reaching €135 or €180. The Slovenian government has confirmed the European Commission's decision to raise short-stay Schengen visa (visa type C) fees globally by 12%, effective from June 11, 2024. The Commission cites inflation and rising civil servant salaries as justifications for this increase, which follows a scheduled review of EU visa fees that took place in December 2023, as required by the Schengen Visa Code every three years.
The Schengen visa system encompasses a group of European nations, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway (though not officially a member, it adheres to the regulations), Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. This development has brought disappointment, particularly for Turkish citizens who have long awaited a visa-free travel agreement with the EU.
In 2023, the Schengen region experienced a significant increase in short-stay visa applications, reaching over 10.3 million, representing a 37% year-on-year rise. However, this figure still falls short of the pre-pandemic peak of 17 million applications received in 2019. India secured the third position in terms of visa applications for Europe, with a total of 966,687 submissions. The recent visa fee hike coincides with Europe's efforts to attract tourists from around the globe. Notably, on April 18, 2024, the European Commission introduced a new visa regime specifically for Indian citizens residing in India, referred to as a "visa cascade", which includes easier access to multi-entry visas, rewarding positive visa history, and the potential for a five-year visa.
