Travel Costs are Rising: What About Schengen Visas?
People across the state have noticed one thing in the past few years – costs are rising. From grocery bills to rent and real estate, there seems to be a never-ending creep-up.
Travel, too, is one of the costs that seems to have skyrocketed, especially in an inflated post-pandemic world.
When it comes to Europe (specifically, the Schengen Zone), travelers have a lot of questions and concerns about whether costs have risen there, too, especially regarding the visa application process.
Has the cost of Schengen visas gone up? Here are the details.
The Schengen visa application fee
Applying for a Schengen visa isn’t free. If you need one, which some travelers heading to Europe do, the fee is non-refundable and non-negotiable.
The cost of the fee went up in the summer of 2024, and it hasn’t risen since.
“The European Commission is required to reassess the Schengen visa application fee every three years,” said a spokesperson for Insurte, a Schengen visa insurance company. “That doesn’t mean it can’t change between assessments, however. This is why it’s so important to check what the current rates are on an official embassy or visa processor website.”
Currently, the rate has been the same since June 2024, and it’s as follows:
- Adults (ages 12+): €90 per person.
- Children (ages 6-12): €45 per person.
- Babies and toddlers (ages 0-5): There is no application fee.
The next assessment is scheduled for 2027, at which time the fee may be adjusted. Also, keep in mind that there are different Schengen visa types.
The costs being discussed are for short-stay Schengen visas, which many people do not need for France, Spain, Italy, and other countries in the Schengen Zone. That said, many residents do. Whether you need a Schengen visa depends mainly on your nationality.
There are also long-stay visas that come with costs. Long-stay Schengen visas are for travelers looking to spend more than 90 days in the Schengen Area. This could be for work, to study, or even for a long vacation or retirement.
Long-stay Schengen visa costs vary significantly, which means you cannot rely on the numbers above. Unlike short-stay Schengen visas (also called Type-C), long-stay visas are not standardized across the Schengen Zone.
If you’re applying for a short-stay visa, whether you’re applying to go to France, Germany, Switzerland, or anywhere else in the Zone, the application fee is the same.
However, if you are applying for a long-stay visa, the cost varies based on visa type and destination. The range of costs is very varied.
Other costs to look out for
In the visa application process, the application fee isn’t the only cost you need to watch out for.
In most cases, people need to apply for a Schengen visa through a visa application center. Visa application centers are official partners of European governments, and their job is to facilitate the visa application process on the government’s behalf.
Visa application centers, though they’re often mandatory to apply through, usually have service fees that you will need to pay. The service fee rate will depend on a few different factors, but it’s just good to be aware that it exists and that it is mandatory.
While it’s not often seen as so, paying the application fee and applicable service fees are actually one of the (many) Schengen visa requirements. If you don’t pay them, your application won’t be submitted for a decision to be made.
Apart from official fees, there are a few other costs to be aware of, too.
Official translation services. When you apply for a Schengen visa, you will be asked to provide several different documents. Depending on which language the original documents are in and which country you’re applying to, you may need to get official, certified translations of your documents. In this case, you will need to pay for a translation service.
Notaries. In some cases, you could be asked for one or more of your documents to be notarized, which comes at a fee.
Apostilles. It’s also possible to be asked to provide an apostille.
Shipping. In most cases, you will need to provide a return shipping label to receive your passport back. You may also need to ship documents for apostilles or translation services.
Travel. Many visa applicants need to travel to another city to attend their mandated in-person visa appointment. If this is the case, you may need to book flights, hotels, etc.
Taken together, Schengen visa fees and related administrative expenses add another layer to the overall cost of traveling to Europe. For people planning a trip, understanding these requirements in advance can help avoid unexpected expenses and make budgeting for international travel more predictable.
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This story was originally published February 24, 2026 at 3:46 PM.
