What does my Schengen visa fee cover?

  • The standard Schengen visa fee covers the cost of your application for a Schengen visa.
  • In all cases whatsoever, the embassy/consulate or visa service provider will not begin processing your visa application until you have submitted your Schengen visa fee payment.

What is the cost for a Schengen visa?

  • The standard cost of an adult Schengen visa is 80 EUR.
  • Children from the ages of 6-12 will pay 40 EUR.
  • Children under 6 years old are free.
  • In addition to young children, certain other types of applicants are exempt from all visa fees. If you are one of the following, you are exempt from paying a Schengen visa fee:
    • A scientific researcher intent on carrying out further research or participating in a scientific conference/seminar.
    • A student (at any level, including post-graduate) or a teacher/professor travelling with a student(s) who is journeying to the Schengen area in order to enroll in educational training or study.
    • Age 25 or under, representing a non-profit organization and participating in conferences/seminars/events of a cultural, educational, or sporting nature organized by a non-profit organization(s).
    • Age 25 or under and participating in conferences/seminars/events of a cultural, educational, or sporting nature organized by a non-profit organization(s).
    • If you have a service or diplomatic passport.

How do I submit payment?

  • Different country consulates/embassies and visa service providers have different procedures for accepting payments for Schengen visa applications.
  • In many cases, whatever consulate/embassy or visa service provider you are applying through will accept payment in the form of a check, cash, or a bank transfer. Contact your consulate/embassy or visa service provider directly to determine their recommended payment method.

When do I submit payment?

  • Different country consulates/embassies and visa service providers will require payment at different steps in the application process. In all cases whatsoever, however, you will pay your visa fee before you submit your application.
  • In some cases, you will be encouraged to pay online, right before submitting an online application through an official online application portal. Alternatively, you may be asked to submit your payment when you arrive in person at the consulate/embassy for your application appointment. You will undoubtably learn when and how to pay your visa fee once you begin the application process. Contact your respective consulate/embassy or visa service provider directly to find out when you should submit your payment.

What currency will I be charged in?

  • Fees for a Schengen visa are in euros, in the third country’s currency or in the currency of the third country where you are living when you apply for your visa. If you pay in your local currency (i.e. not the euro), your fee will be subject to the standard foreign exchange rate for the euro as established by the European Central Bank. Please note, after remitting payment, you are entitled to (and should receive) a receipt indicating you have paid your visa fee.

Are Schengen visa fees all the same? Do different types of Schengen visas cost different amounts?

  • The cost for all Schengen visas is the same for every purpose, type, entry number, and duration. This means that the Schengen visa fees for a tourist visa for single entry and for multiple entry are the same. You will not pay more for multiple entries or longer durations of stay, and one purpose of travel is not more expensive than another – for example, a medical visa costs the same as a Schengen business visa. 

If my application for a Schengen visa is denied, do I get my money back?

  • Unfortunately, all Schengen visa fees are generally non-refundable. This means that if your visa application is denied for whatever reason, or if you withdraw your application after you have already submitted payment, you will not receive a Schengen visa fee refund. The following are exceptions to this general rule:
    • If the consulate/embassy through which you applied decides it lacks the competency to issue a decision on your visa.
    • There was a problem with the collection of your requisite biometric data.
    • If your application is ruled inadmissible for one of the following reasons:
      1. You didn’t submit your application in the appropriate time frame (i.e. it was submitted too early or too late).
      2. You submitted an accompanying travel document that was ruled invalid.
      3. You submitted a photograph that does not conform to the specifications regarding sizing/format/perspective.
      4. Something is wrong with your submitted application form.

Are there any additional costs I should be aware of?

  • Please be aware that the standard cost of a Schengen visa is not inclusive of any service fees for visa processing, which you may have to pay depending on how you submit your application, (i.e. whether you apply through a visa service provider).
  • If you are applying through a visa service provider, you will almost certainly be charged an additional amount.
  • By law, the service for a Schengen visa not allowed to exceed half of the amount of the visa fee. For example, because the cost of a standard adult Schengen visa is 80 euros, a visa service provider should not charge you more than 40 euros.