Schengen Visa Fees: Complete Cost Breakdown 2026

Understanding Schengen Visa Fees

Applying for a Schengen visa involves several costs beyond just the visa fee itself. Understanding the complete cost breakdown helps you budget properly and avoid surprises.

Let's break down every expense you'll encounter.

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Standard Visa Fees

Official Embassy Fees

These fees are set by the European Union and are consistent across all Schengen countries.

| Applicant Type | Fee (EUR) | Fee (USD approx) |

|----------------|-----------|------------------|

| Adults (12+) | €80 | $90 |

| Children (6-11) | €40 | $45 |

| Children (0-5) | Free | Free |

Important: Fees are non-refundable, even if your visa is rejected.

Where Fees Go

The visa fee covers:

• Application processing
• Document verification
• Background checks
• Administrative costs
• Consular services

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Visa Application Center Service Fees

VFS Global Fees

Most countries process applications through VFS Global, which charges additional service fees.

Typical VFS fees by region:

| Region | Service Fee |

|--------|-------------|

| Middle East | $30-40 |

| Asia | $25-35 |

| Africa | $20-30 |

| Latin America | $25-35 |

What this covers:

• Appointment booking system
• Document collection
• Biometric data collection
• Application forwarding to embassy
• Passport return logistics

Optional VFS Services

Prime Time Appointments:

• Fee: $30-50
• Benefit: Preferred time slots

Lounge Service:

• Fee: $20-40
• Benefit: Comfortable waiting area, refreshments

SMS Updates:

• Fee: $5-10
• Benefit: Real-time status notifications

Courier Return:

• Fee: $20-30
• Benefit: Passport delivered to your address

Photo Service:

• Fee: $10-15
• Benefit: Professional visa photos on-site

Photocopying:

• Fee: $0.50-1 per page
• Benefit: Copy documents at center

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Travel Insurance Costs

Mandatory Insurance Requirements

Minimum coverage: €30,000

Valid in: All Schengen countries

Duration: Entire trip

Insurance Cost by Trip Length

| Trip Duration | Budget | Standard | Premium |

|---------------|--------|----------|----------|

| 1 week | €10-15 | €15-25 | €30-50 |

| 2 weeks | €15-25 | €25-40 | €50-80 |

| 1 month | €25-40 | €40-70 | €80-150 |

| 3 months | €60-100 | €100-180 | €200-350 |

Factors Affecting Cost

Age:

• 18-35: Base rate
• 36-50: +10-20%
• 51-65: +30-50%
• 66-75: +80-150%
• 75+: Specialist provider needed

Coverage level:

• €30,000: Minimum
• €50,000: Recommended
• €100,000+: Premium

Activities:

• Standard tourism: Base rate
• Winter sports: +20-40%
• Adventure sports: +50-100%

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Additional Documentation Costs

Passport Photos

Cost: $5-15

Quantity needed: 2 photos

Specifications: 35mm x 45mm, recent

Where to get:

• Professional photo studios: $10-15
• Pharmacy photo booths: $8-12
• DIY at home: $2-5 (paper/ink)

Document Translations

If your documents aren't in English or the embassy's language:

Professional translation:

• Per page: $15-30
• Typical documents needed: 5-10 pages
• Total: $75-300

Certified translation:

• Per page: $25-50
• With notarization: +$10-20

Document Certification/Notarization

Per document: $10-30

Common documents requiring certification:

• Bank statements
• Employment letters
• Sponsorship letters
• Invitation letters

Photocopies

At home: $0.10-0.20 per page

At copy shop: $0.20-0.50 per page

Typical pages needed: 30-50 pages

Total: $6-25

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Travel Costs for Application

Transportation to Visa Center

If visa center isn't in your city:

Domestic flight:

• Round trip: $100-300
• Budget airline: $50-150

Train/Bus:

• Varies by distance
• Average: $20-100

Local taxi/Uber:

• To/from visa center: $10-30

Accommodation (if needed)

One night near visa center:

• Budget hotel: $30-50
• Mid-range: $60-100
• If appointment unavailable for weeks

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Flight Reservation Costs

Options and Costs

Refundable tickets:

• Cost: Full ticket price
• Refund: Usually 70-90% back
• Risk: Lose 10-30% if visa denied

Airline hold/reservation:

• Cost: Free - $50
• Duration: 24-72 hours
• Some airlines offer this service

Flight reservation services:

• Cost: $10-30
• Valid: 7-14 days
• Specifically for visa applications

Travel agency reservations:

• Cost: $15-40
• Valid: 2 weeks typically
• Usually accepted by embassies

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Hotel Booking Costs

Free Cancellation Bookings

Booking.com/Hotels.com:

• Cost: $0 upfront (free cancellation)
• Strategy: Book refundable, cancel if denied
• Risk: Very low if done correctly

Actual hotel costs (for budget):

• Per night: €30-150 depending on city
• 7-day trip: €210-1,050
• 14-day trip: €420-2,100

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Professional Service Fees

Visa Consultation Services

Document review:

• Cost: $50-150
• Benefit: Expert verification before submission

Complete application assistance:

• Cost: $200-500
• Includes: Document prep, form filling, appointment booking

Appeal/reapplication services:

• Cost: $300-800
• For rejected applications

Our Service (EZvisa)

Standard Package: AED 249

• Document checklist
• Application review
• Cover letter guidance
• Appointment assistance

Premium Package: AED 449

• Everything in Standard
• Interview preparation
• Dedicated consultant
• Follow-up support

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Fee Exemptions and Reductions

Who Pays Reduced or No Fees

Children under 6: Free

Children 6-11: €40 (50% discount)

Students traveling for study:

• Some embassies: Free or reduced
• Requires proof: Enrollment letter, student ID

Researchers:

• Often free or reduced
• Requires: Research agreement, invitation

Family members of EU/EEA citizens:

• Usually free
• Requires: Relationship proof, citizen's documents

Diplomatic/Official passport holders:

• Usually free
• Automatic exemption

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Total Cost Examples

Budget Solo Traveler

| Item | Cost |

|------|------|

| Visa fee | €80 ($90) |

| VFS service fee | $30 |

| Travel insurance (2 weeks) | €20 ($22) |

| Passport photos | $10 |

| Photocopies | $10 |

| Flight reservation service | $15 |

| Total | ~$177 |

Family of 4 (2 adults, 2 children 8 & 4)

| Item | Cost |

|------|------|

| Visa fees (€80 + €80 + €40 + €0) | €200 ($225) |

| VFS service fees (4 people) | $120 |

| Travel insurance (family, 2 weeks) | €80 ($90) |

| Photos (4 people) | $40 |

| Photocopies | $40 |

| Flight reservations | $60 |

| Total | ~$575 |

Premium Applicant (with assistance)

| Item | Cost |

|------|------|

| Visa fee | €80 ($90) |

| VFS service fee | $35 |

| VFS premium services | $60 |

| Travel insurance (1 month, premium) | €150 ($170) |

| Professional assistance | $300 |

| Photos | $15 |

| Translations (5 pages) | $125 |

| Total | ~$795 |

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Payment Methods

At Visa Application Center

Accepted methods:

• Cash (local currency or USD/EUR)
• Credit/Debit cards (Visa, Mastercard)
• Sometimes: Bank transfer (proof required)

Not accepted:

• Checks
• Mobile payment apps
• Cryptocurrency

Online Payments (VFS fees)

• Credit/Debit cards
• Online banking (some regions)
• Payment gateways

Pro tip: Check accepted payment methods on VFS website before appointment.

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Money-Saving Tips

Reduce Overall Costs

1. Skip optional services

• DIY passport photos: Save $10
• Make own photocopies: Save $10-20
• Skip premium appointments: Save $30-50

2. Compare insurance providers

• Use comparison websites
• Annual multi-trip if frequent traveler
• Potential savings: €20-50

3. Book refundable hotels

• Free vs paid cancellation
• Savings: $0 vs risking hundreds

4. Use flight reservation services

• $15-30 vs full ticket price
• Savings: $400-800

5. Apply early

• Avoid rush services
• Time for corrections
• Savings: $50-100 in expedite fees

6. Get it right first time

• Professional review: $100-200
• Rejection means reapplying: -$200+ (fees + lost bookings)
• Net saving: Potentially $300-500

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Hidden Costs to Avoid

Common Unexpected Expenses

1. Reapplication after rejection

• Cost: Full fees again (€80 + VFS fees)
• Plus: New insurance, new reservations
• Total: $150-250 lost

2. Last-minute travel insurance

• Premium: +30-50% vs booking early

3. Embassy-requested additional documents

• Rush translations: +$50-100
• Urgent notarizations: +$20-40

4. Missed appointments

• Rebooking fee: $30-50
• Delay costs: Potential trip cancellation

5. Incorrect photo specifications

• Need to redo: $10-15 wasted

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Refund Policy

What's Refundable

Never refundable:

• Visa application fee (€80)
• VFS service fees
• Insurance (unless policy allows)

Sometimes refundable:

• Premium VFS services (if unused)
• Flight reservations (if refundable booked)
• Hotel bookings (if free cancellation)

When you might get refunds:

• Application withdrawn before processing
• VFS service not provided

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Currency Considerations

Exchange Rate Impact

Visa fees are in EUR, but you pay in local currency:

€80 visa fee in different currencies:

• USD: ~$90 (varies daily)
• GBP: ~£70
• AED: ~AED 330
• INR: ~₹7,200
• PHP: ~₱5,000

Pro tip: Check current exchange rates when budgeting. Banks/centers use their own rates with markup.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I pay visa fees online?

A: No, visa fees are paid in person at appointment. Only VFS service fees can be paid online.

Q: What if I can't afford the visa fee?

A: Fee waivers are rare. Consider postponing travel to save, or seek sponsorship.

Q: Do I pay more for expedited processing?

A: Some embassies offer expedited for extra fee ($50-100). Check specific embassy.

Q: Are fees different for multiple entry vs single entry?

A: No, the fee is the same regardless of entries granted.

Q: Can someone else pay my fees?

A: Yes, but you must be present at payment. Some centers allow third-party payment.

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Budget Planning Worksheet

Use this to calculate your total costs:

Mandatory:

• [ ] Visa fee: €___
• [ ] VFS service fee: $___
• [ ] Travel insurance: €___
• [ ] Passport photos: $___
• [ ] Photocopies: $___

Reservations:

• [ ] Flight reservation: $___
• [ ] Hotel bookings: €___ (or free)

Optional:

• [ ] VFS premium services: $___
• [ ] Professional assistance: $___
• [ ] Translations: $___
• [ ] Travel to visa center: $___

TOTAL ESTIMATED COST: $_____

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Don't Let Costs Derail Your Dreams

While Schengen visa application involves several costs, proper planning makes it manageable. The key is understanding all expenses upfront and budgeting accordingly.

Investing in professional help ($200-500) often saves money by ensuring first-time approval, avoiding costly reapplications.

Ready to apply? Our experts help you minimize costs while maximizing approval chances. Start today!