The European Commission, a division of the executive branch of the European Union (EU), has announced a 12% hike in visa application fees for short-stay Schengen visas (type C) to its member nations, effective Tuesday, June 11, 2024.
Adult foreign nationals, including Ghanaians, are now required to pay €90, marking a €10 rise from the prior €80 fee for a Schengen visa.
Children aged 6 to 12 will also see an increase, with visa fees now set at €45, up by €5 from the previous €40 charge. However, visas for children under 6 will remain free, according to a report by graphic.com.gh.
The European Commission explained that the increase in the cost of Schengen visas is due to the “general Union-wide inflation rate and the weighted average of the salaries of Member States’ civil servants between July 1, 2020, and July 1, 2023.”
Schengen visas enable non-European Union citizens to visit any member country within the Schengen zone for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
This visa facilitates travel across all Schengen countries during its validity but does not permit stays exceeding 90 days or engagement in employment/business activities within the zone.
The Schengen area comprises twenty-six European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. These countries have abolished internal border controls.
Per media reports, visa agencies and travel firms can now opt to elevate their service charge for processing Schengen visa applications from €40 to €45.
Furthermore, the fee for extending a Schengen visa remains steady at €30.