The EU plans to raise the fee for Schengen visa applications by 12%, from €80 (R1 630) to €90 (R1 835) for adults. Application fees for children will increase from €40 (R815) to €45 (R917).
The draft plan also outlined a potential increase in visa fees for applicants from countries that have shown insufficient co-operation in readmitting citizens expelled from the Schengen area. These fees will increase from between €120 (R2 446) and €160 (R3 262) to €135 (R2 752) and €180 (R3 670). Alongside this, the Commission said external Schengen visa service providers could also apply a higher fee, increasing their charge from €40 to €45.
In a revision of fee amounts, which takes place every three years, the European Commission said an increase was necessary due to inflation. The Commission has published its proposal for the price hike, which will remain open for consultation until March 1. The regulation can then be put into practice, if it is adopted, 20 days after its publication.
