EU Considers Surcharge on Schengen Visa Fees

Bringing family or friends to Denmark from China may soon cost more. The European Commission is considering a new surcharge on Schengen visa fees. The current fee for a short-stay visa is 90 euros. A proposed 20 percent increase would add an 18 euro surcharge per application. News outlet Agence Europe reported the proposal from an official note sent to member states.

The Commission considers the current Schengen visa fee relatively low. Other major destinations charge much higher fees for visitors. United States visas cost 162 euros, while United Kingdom visas cost 158 euros. Australia charges 152 euros and Canada charges 115 euros. The EU wants to align its visa costs with these international standards.

In 2025, applicants submitted 12.2 million Schengen visa applications. An 18 euro surcharge would bring around 187 million euros each year to the EU budget. The extra revenue would support general European expenditures. Member states must now give feedback on the proposed fee structure. The EU also plans to launch a digital visa application platform in 2030.