Schengen Visa Costs Face Another Hike Under Proposed EU Visa Code Rewrite

The European Commission is examining an additional EU-level charge on top of the baseline €90 Schengen visa fee as part of an overhaul of the Schengen Visa Code.

Unlike existing visa fees, which flow directly to the treasury of the individual member state processing the application, this proposed surtax would be collected at the Union level to directly fund the EU’s common visa policy infrastructure. The Commission launched a call for evidence on September 8, 2026, which closed for public feedback on October 6, 2026. A formal legislative proposal is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2027 and will require approval from both the European Parliament and member state governments before taking effect.

Who the Proposal Impacts

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The overhaul affects all non-EU nationals requiring short-stay Schengen visas, including corporate travelers, international remote teams, and commercial operators. While the Commission has not yet specified the exact fee amount, how it will be collected, or whether fee-exempt groups like young children will be excluded, the wider reform package carries specific operational consequences for businesses:

Verified Business Fast-Tracking: The broader Visa Code revision includes proposals for expedited visa processing for accredited employees of verified companies, potentially reducing administrative lead times for corporate travel.
Reciprocity and Restrictions: The package seeks to grant the EU expanded enforcement powers to curb visa issuance for nationals of non-EU countries that refuse to cooperate on migrant readmission.
Higher Total Outlays: Standard adult fees already stand at €90 following a 12.5% increase in June 2024. When paired with external service provider fees (such as VFS Global, TLScontact, or BLS International) capped at €45, baseline costs for a single application routinely reach €135 before accounting for optional add-ons or internal processing costs.
Non-Refundable Refusal Risks: Business budgets must absorb the full cost of rejected applications. Unsuccessful applicants lost an estimated €157.1 million in unrefunded fees across all Schengen consulates in 2025.

Historical Schengen Visa Fee Adjustments

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The basic application fee has risen by 50% since early 2020 under previous indexation rules.

Period	Adult Fee	Child Fee (6, 11)	Adult Fee Change
Until 1 February 2020	€60	€35	,
2 February 2020 to 10 June 2024	€80	€40	+33.3%
From 11 June 2024	€90	€45	+12.5%

Corporate travel departments and legal teams should prepare for additional line-item costs on short-stay travel budgets once the European Commission presents its formal text in early 2027.