Travelers gearing up for a journey to the Schengen area should brace themselves for significantly higher expenses, as the cost of obtaining Schengen visas is poised to skyrocket.

In the upcoming months, obtaining a Schengen visa is expected to become substantially more expensive due to a proposed hike in fees by the European Commission. This proposal aims to increase the basic fee for a Schengen visa in 2024. Additionally, there are plans to further raise fees for countries exhibiting "insufficient cooperation on readmission," referring to nations that do not readily accept individuals expelled from Schengen member states.

The Schengen area consists of 27 European member countries operating under a unified visa policy for international travel. Citizens of these member countries can freely travel within the Schengen area for up to 90 days without requiring a visa.

However, citizens from non-European Union member countries, such as those from South Africa, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and China, need a Schengen visa to travel to the Schengen area. Notably, citizens of Britain, Canada, the United States, and Australia are exempt from this requirement.

If the proposal is approved, the cost of obtaining a Schengen visa for adults will increase by 12.5 percent, from €80 to €90, and for children, it will rise from €40 to €45, according to reports.

Furthermore, for countries that have not cooperated in citizen readmission, the visa fee for children will increase from €120 to €135, and for adults, it will rise from €160 to €180, sources say.

The European Commission unveiled the draft of the Schengen visa fee on February 2, and feedback will be accepted until March 1. During a meeting in December 2023, experts from member countries overwhelmingly supported the revision of visa fees.

The proposed increase in Schengen visa fees is attributed to the rising inflation rate in the European Union, according to the European Commission. External providers of Schengen visas will also be allowed to adjust their fees in accordance with the proposed revision.

Under the proposal, external providers, such as visa agencies, can charge up to €45, up from the previous limit of €40, which is half the value of the standard fee. However, the fee for extending a Schengen visa will remain unchanged at €30.

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