Tuesday, May 21, 2024 Starting June 2024, a significant hike in Schengen visa fees will affect travel costs and plans for tourists visiting Europe. Starting from June 11, 2024, the cost of obtaining a Schengen visa will increase, as confirmed by the Slovenian Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs. Adults applying for visas will now pay 90 pounds, up from the current fee of 80 pounds, while fees for children between the ages of six and twelve will rise to 45 pounds from 40 pounds.
Additionally, nations that do not cooperate with the EU on the repatriation of citizens who are in the EU without authorization could see visa fees surge to 135 pounds or even 180 pounds. The announcement from the Slovenian authorities stated that the 12% rise in the fees for a short-stay Schengen visa (type C) is a global adjustment. The review in December 2023, a routine three-year assessment mandated by the Schengen Visa Code, led to this decision.
The European Union attributes this increase to factors such as inflation and the growing salaries of civil servants. The last increase was in February 2020, when fees jumped from 60 pounds to 80 pounds. This fee hike has sparked particular unrest among Turkish nationals, who are still anticipating a visa-free agreement with the EU.
Despite a significant recovery in visa applications within the Schengen zone—over 10.3 million in 2023, up 37% from 2022—the figures are still below the 2019 high of 17 million. In 2023, the European Commission noted t.
