The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)

12 % hike in Schengen visa fee comes into effect

Fromtuesda­yonwards,thecost of a short-stay Schengen visa has increased by 12 per cent. While the Schengen visa fee for adults has increased to 90 euros from 80 euros, children between the age of 6 and 12 will now pay 45 euros instead of 40 euros. It is still free for those under six years of age.

The EU attributes the increase to both inflation and growing civil worker wages.

Schengen visa allows the holder to travel freely in the Schengen Area comprising 29 European countries, for short stays of a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. The visas are not purpose-bound, but they do not grant the right to work.

Schengen countries are among the most popular destinatio­ns for Indian travellers with a high preference for destinatio­ns like France, Spain, Germany, Italy and Switzerlan­d, among others. Schengen countries account for around 20 per cent of India’s outbound traffic, as per estimates.

The hiked fee comes into effect globally as per a statement by the European Commission. The EU visa costs were reviewed in December20­23,asschengen­visa Code mandates review every three years. The fee was increased from 60 euros to 80 euros in February 2020. A few weeks ago, theeuhadan­nouncedama­jorrepriev­e for Indian travellers to Europe, offering multiple entry Schengen visas with longer validity. Frequent Indian travellers can now apply for five-year multiple entry visas, which puts them on par with “visa-free nationals”.

Indian nationals can now be issued long-term, multi-entry Schengenvi­sasvalidfo­rtwoyears after having obtained and used two visas in past three years. “The two-yearvisawi­llnormally­befollowed by a five-year visa, if the passportha­ssufficien­tvalidityr­emaining,” said a statement by the European Commission in April.