EU plans changes to Schengen short-stay visa rules and fees

The European Commission plans to revise Schengen rules for short-stay visas. The proposal will arrive in the first quarter of 2027. This update will affect short-stay visas for visits up to 90 days. It applies to travellers from non-EU countries who need a visa. According to The Local Denmark, the EU aims to make travel rules more coherent.

One key change targets business travellers and reliable applicants. The Commission wants to create common lists of verified companies across the EU. Employees of these trusted companies could get fast-track visa processing. They may also get priority appointments and need fewer supporting documents. Currently, national facilitation schemes vary between different EU countries. This creates fragmentation for companies active in Denmark and Sweden.

The new plan will also add a harmonised extra fee to visa costs. This EU fee will sit on top of the standard Schengen visa fee. Money raised will support the development of the common EU visa policy. In 2024, Schengen countries received over 11.7 million short-stay visa applications. They issued almost 10.3 million visas that year.

The Commission also wants stricter rules for non-cooperative countries. Restrictive visa measures could apply during serious political or security threats. The public can submit feedback on this plan until October 6. This allows residents in Denmark and Sweden to share their views online.