EU Weighs Extra Charge on Top of the €90 Schengen Visa Fee

The European Commission is examining whether to add an EU-level charge on top of the current €90 Schengen visa fee. The idea is part of a planned rewrite of the Visa Code, the law that governs short-stay visas for the Schengen area.

What the Commission has said

In a call for evidence on the revision of the Visa Code, published on 8 September 2026, the Commission said it would explore "a harmonised additional charge levied at EU level on top of the Schengen visa fee", with the revenue going towards the EU's common visa policy. According to SchengenVisaInfo, which contacted the Commission, no amount for the charge has been drafted yet.

• A legislative proposal is expected in the first quarter of 2027.
• Any new charge would also need approval from the European Parliament and EU governments.
• Feedback on the call for evidence was open until 6 October 2026.

What visa applicants pay today

The basic fee is set in Article 16 of the Visa Code: €90 for adults and €45 for children aged six to 11. Children under six pay nothing, and nationals of countries with an EU visa facilitation agreement usually pay a reduced €35. The fee has been €90 since 11 June 2024. If an external provider such as VFS Global, TLScontact or BLS International handles applications, it can charge a service fee of up to half the visa fee on top.

Other changes under consideration

The charge is only one item in the wider Visa Code revision. According to the call for evidence, the Commission is also looking at:

• common lists of verified companies, with faster visa processing for their employees;
• faster and more flexible visa restrictions for countries that do not cooperate on returns;
• technical updates to fit the planned EU online visa application platform.

What this means

For now nothing has changed: the fee remains €90 and no extra charge has been proposed. The Commission has not said how a charge would be collected or who would be exempt. Applicants should rely on the official rules of the consulate they apply to.

Planning to work in the EU? Contact H P S CONSULTANCY L.L.C: question@humansvc.com, humansvc.com.

Source: SchengenVisaInfo, 11 November 2026 (citing the European Commission call for evidence, Ares(2026)8530615).