Schengen Visa: There will shortly be increased application fees for visas for visitors to Europe. As to the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia, the Schengen visa fees would increase by 12 percent, effective globally on June 11, 2024, after approval by the European Commission. The bloc is attempting to boost tourism in the area at the same time as this action.
Revised Fee Schedule for Schengen Visa Applicants
Adult applicants will now pay €90 (formerly €80) and children (6–12) will pay €45 (previously €40) under the revised price schedule. Fees could rise even further for nations who are judged to be disobeying EU efforts to repatriate citizens, possibly to the tune of €135 or €180. At the moment, one euro (€) is worth 90.45 Indian rupees.
Reasons Behind the Fee Hike
“The European Commission adopted a decision to increase short-stay Schengen visa (visa type C) fees worldwide by 12 per cent. This increase will apply globally starting June 11, 2024,” the Slovenian government stated. The European Commission justifies the hike by pointing to rising civil worker wages and inflation.
The last increase in fees took place in February 2020. This decision follows a planned review of EU visa fees that happened in December 2023, as required by the Schengen Visa Code and which happens every three years.
Schengen Visa Benefits and Travel Permissions
The Schengen Area, which includes 29 European nations, allows holders of a Schengen visa to enter the area without a visa for brief visits. Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway (which is not technically a part of the Schengen Area but follows its own set of rules), Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland are among them.
Disappointment Among Turkish Citizens
Some people are disappointed by this news, especially Turkish citizens who have been waiting a long time for an agreement with the EU allowing them to travel without a visa. Some people are disappointed by this news, especially Turkish citizens who have been waiting a long time for an agreement with the EU allowing them to travel without a visa.
More over 10.3 million short-stay visa applications were received by the Schengen region in 2023, a 37% increase from the previous year. This is still less than the 17 million applications that were received in 2019 prior to the pandemic.
Introduction of the Visa Cascade Policy
India ranked third in terms of the overall number of visa applications submitted to Europe (9,66,687). The increase in visa fees coincides with Europe’s desire to attract tourists from throughout the world. The European Commission unveiled a new visa policy known as a “visa cascade” on April 18, 2024, which is intended exclusively for Indian nationals living in India. It featured the possibility of a five-year visa, rewards for a clean visa record, and simpler access to multi-entry visas.