If you are planning to visit Europe this summer, get ready to shell out some more cash. The cost of applying for a Schengen visa has been increased after 14 years.
The fees of Schengen visa has been recently hiked to 80 euros from 60 euros. Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that allows a person to stay for up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes in Schengen area. This visa is needed for entering 26 European countries, including Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Switzerland and Spain.
“The visa fee will increase to Euro 80 (for applicants not only from India, but from all countries except those with which the EU has a visa facilitation agreement),” a European Commission official told PTI. The new fees will came into effect from February 2.
Children aged 6 to 12 will have to pay 40 euros instead of 35 euros, according to a PTI report. There will be no fee for infants and children below six years of age as there is “no change” in this regard in the updated regulations.
With the new visa fee, the Schengen visa application form has also been slightly restructured. By international standards, the Schengen visa fee will remain comparatively low, according to a PTI report.
“A moderate increase of the fee to Euro 80 will ensure that we have sufficient financial resources to maintain a wide consular coverage worldwide, upgrade IT equipment and software and provide faster and user-friendly procedures for visa applicants,” the spokesperson told PTI.
Moreover, Budget 2020 proposed a 5% tax on foreign travel packages bought from tour operators. The rule will come into effect from April 1.
Source: www.livemint.com
