The Schengen visa fee rose to EUR 90 for adults on 11 June 2024. But the fee itself is only part of what a Schengen application actually costs. This breakdown covers every cost layer: the official fee, the visa center service charge, travel insurance, flight reservations, and the smaller costs that catch first-time applicants by surprise.
This guide applies to any non-European traveler applying for a standard short-stay Schengen visa, regardless of passport nationality.
The official Schengen visa fee
According to the European Commission’s Schengen visa guidance, the current short-stay visa fee is:
| Applicant type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Adults | EUR 90 |
| Children from 6 until they turn 12 | EUR 45 |
| Children under 6 | Free |
That fee is non-refundable. If your application is refused, the visa fee is still gone.
If your application centre collects in local currency, the exact amount will vary with the exchange rate on the day you pay.
For the official EU guidance, see Applying for a Schengen visa and the Commission news note on the Schengen visa fee increase.
The visa-centre fee
Many applicants pay their visa fee through a service centre such as VFS Global or BLS International, depending on their country of residence and the embassy handling the application. That means there is usually a separate service charge on top of the visa fee.
In practice, many applicants should budget an additional service-centre fee for:
- the visa-centre service fee
- passport return courier service
- SMS notifications or tracking add-ons
- optional photo or copy services
The exact amount depends on the country you apply to and the visa centre you use, so it is worth checking the current fee schedule before your appointment.
Mandatory travel insurance
Schengen applications require travel insurance with at least EUR 30,000 in medical coverage, valid across the Schengen Area and for the full duration of your stay.
No official body sets the premium. It depends on your age, how long you stay, and what else the policy covers, such as cancellation, so compare quotes for your exact dates.
Document costs
Your actual document costs depend on your situation, but these are the common line items:
- bank statement printing or certification
- civil-status certificates or translations if the embassy asks for them
- police clearances if needed for your applicant profile
- photocopies, printing, and scanning
- notarised sponsor documents if you are applying with support from family
These costs vary too much from one country and one applicant to the next to give a fair range, so price them where you live.
Reservations and itinerary holds
Embassies usually want to see a flight reservation and hotel bookings, but you do not need to gamble on a non-refundable ticket before approval.
Many applicants use:
- cancellable hotel reservations
- temporary flight itineraries for visa filing
- refundable fares only if they already know the trip will proceed
That can add a small service fee, but it is usually much cheaper than losing a full ticket on a refused application.
What a Schengen application costs, line by line
Only the first line below is set by EU law. The rest depend on where you apply and what you choose to buy.
| Item | Who sets the cost |
|---|---|
| Schengen visa fee | EU law: EUR 90 for adults |
| Visa-centre service fee | The service centre. Check its published fee schedule for your country |
| Courier and optional add-ons | The service centre |
| Schengen travel insurance | The insurer |
| Documents and copies | Local providers where you live |
| Temporary reservations or itinerary holds | The provider you use |
That is before you even book the actual flight.
What you do not get back if the visa is refused
The visa fee is non-refundable. The visa-centre fee is also usually non-refundable. If you bought non-refundable bookings too early, that is where the painful losses happen.
A refused application can easily cost more than the fee alone, because the flights, the insurance and the time are usually already spent.
To understand what is being asked of you, start with our Schengen visa requirements guide for non-European travelers, then work through the Schengen document checklist against the official list your own consulate publishes.
What does the fee actually buy?
The fee buys one thing: the processing of your application. It does not buy a decision, a faster decision, or a better one. Paying more for optional services sold alongside it does not change that either.
The fee also does not cover the things you still have to pay for separately:
- the visa-centre service fee, if you apply through one
- travel insurance meeting the Schengen requirement
- printing, copies and any certified translations
- courier return of your passport, where that is offered
- reservations you hold while the application is processed
That is why the visa fee should be treated as the start of the application budget, not the whole of it. Check the current fee and what your own consulate includes on its official page before you plan around any of these numbers.
Frequently asked questions
Can I pay the visa fee in local currency? Usually yes. The amount is calculated using the exchange rate and payment rules applied by your visa centre or consulate.
Is the fee the same for all Schengen countries? Yes. The standard fee is the same whichever Schengen country you apply to. A few nationalities pay a lower fee under agreements with the EU.
Do sponsored applicants still pay the visa fee? Yes. Sponsorship covers your trip costs, not the visa application fee itself.
Should I buy insurance before or after booking my appointment? You should have insurance ready before submission, because it is part of the required file.
Sources: European Commission, Applying for a Schengen visa; European Commission news on the fee increase of 11 June 2024; the Visa Code, Regulation (EC) No 810/2009, consolidated text of 11 June 2024, Articles 15 and 16, for the insurance minimum, the children’s fees, paying in local currency and refunds. Last checked against these official sources on 17 September 2026.