Schengen Visa Fees to Increase by 12% Starting June 11
Key Takeaways
1. Schengen Visa Fees Increase: Starting June 11, Schengen visa fees will rise to €90 for adults.
2. Announcement Source: This information was disclosed by the Slovenian MFA, although the EU has yet to officially announce it.
3. Public Reaction: The fee hike has been met with dissatisfaction among applicants and organizations.
The Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs has alerted third-country nationals requiring a Schengen visa that, as of June 11, 2024, they will face higher application fees.
According to the Ministry, adult applicants for a short-term visa to Slovenia will need to pay €90 instead of the current €80. For children aged 6 to 12, the fee will increase from €40 to €45, as reported by SchengenNews.
The European Commission has decided to raise short-stay Schengen visa (visa type C) fees worldwide by 12%. This increase will be effective globally from June 11, 2024, setting new fees at €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to below 12 years.
Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
Additionally, nationals from countries not cooperating on the readmission of their irregularly staying nationals in the EU will face visa fees of €135 or €180, depending on the Council's decision.
The EU Commission has yet to announce the exact date of the increase but is expected to publish it in the Official Journal by the end of this week.
This decision coincides with the EU's report that the number of visas issued in 2023 rose by 36.3% compared to 2022. However, this figure is still down by 39% compared to 2019, when Schengen states received 16 million applications.
Schengen Visa Fee Increase Justified by Inflation and Salaries
The EU published its draft proposal for the Schengen visa fee increase on February 2, 2024, inviting public feedback.
According to the Commission, the EU Visa Code permits reviewing visa fees every three years. The latest review was at the end of December 2023, following the previous increase from €60 to €80 in February 2020.
The proposal is based on calculations of the bloc's inflation rates and the salaries of civil servants in Member States. The reference period used for this calculation was from July 1, 2020, to July 1, 2023.
EU Commission
Feedback from EU Applicants and Organizations
From February 2 to March 1, the draft law on the visa fee increase was open for public feedback. Most responses came from Turkish citizens, who criticized both the fee increase and the visa procedures.
Turkish citizen Erhan Kaplan suggested improving the reliability and quality of visa services before implementing such measures.
“There should be no room for subjectivity or doubt in decision-making processes, and visa durations should be determined fairly and transparently.”
— **Erhan Kaplan, Turkish citizen**
Another Turkish citizen emphasized that the fee hike represents a significant financial burden for many who wish to travel to the Schengen Area for business, education, or tourism, urging the EU to reconsider the increase for countries like Türkiye.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) also voiced concerns, noting that higher visa fees might deter potential visitors, thus reducing travel volumes.
“The proposed increase in visa fees—from €80 to €90—will raise travel costs for passengers, accounting for 34% of the total expenses (up from 31% before the fee increase). This revision may discourage tourists from choosing Schengen destinations, especially when other places do not require visas or offer more cost-effective options.”
— **International Air Transport Association (IATA)**
The Italian Ocean Sea Foundation echoed these concerns, calling for certain cases to be exempt from visa fees to facilitate cultural and trade exchanges and promote greater integration and understanding between countries.