The EU has lowered the Schengen visa fee for The Gambia to the standard rate of €80.
Summary:
- The EU has decreased the Schengen visa fee for Gambian citizens to €80, the standard rate.
- Gambians have been paying a fee of €120 since 2022.
- The reduction in fee comes as a result of enhanced cooperation between The Gambia and the EU.
The European Union Council has opted to reduce the Schengen visa fee for The Gambia to the standard rate of €80. Previously, Gambians were subject to a higher fee of €120 due to challenges in cooperation regarding the readmission of irregular migrants in the EU. However, with The Gambia's improved cooperation efforts, the Council has reinstated the standard application cost of €80.
While Gambians will now pay the normal visa fee, they will still follow the same application procedures as before, with the only change being a savings of €40. Although EU authorities have not commented on the potential impact of this adjustment, it is anticipated that there will be an increase in visa applications from Gambians now that the elevated fee no longer applies to them.
Since December 2022, Gambians have been paying a 50% higher fee for Schengen visas compared to other nationals, marking a significant increase from previous rates. Prior to this fee adjustment, the EU also implemented measures against Gambian nationals in 2021, including suspensions on visa document requirements waivers, multiple entry visas, and processing time limits, resulting in longer wait times for applicants.
While the current standard fee for Schengen visas remains at €80, the EU Commission is considering a potential 12% increase, raising the fee to €90. This proposed increase is attributed to inflation, as stated in the Commission's draft proposal. However, if approved, countries with existing visa facilitation agreements with the EU will not be affected by these changes.