Germany's Schengen Visa Fee Holds at €90 for Short Stays

Germany continues to charge €90 for an adult short-stay Schengen visa, the rate set across the entire Schengen Area since 11 June 2024. Despite headlines suggesting a fresh increase, the figure reflects an EU-wide adjustment made more than a year ago rather than a new German-only change.

What the fee covers

The €90 charge applies to Type C visas used for tourism, business trips and family visits. It allows stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period across the 29 Schengen member states. Importantly, applicants pay once for the right to make a short visit — not per country. Someone travelling through Germany, France and Italy under a single eligible application stays within the same Schengen system.

Children aged 6 to under 12 pay €45 (up from €40), while children under 6 remain exempt. For adults, the €80-to-€90 rise represents a 12.5% increase.

The change came via Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1415, following the European Commission's required three-year review of visa fees. That review weighs euro-area inflation and average changes in EU civil servant salaries, so the fee is tied to a periodic mechanism that could shift again in future cycles. The Commission has said the extra revenue will fund more visa-processing staff, with the stated aim of cutting appointment waiting times.

What it means for nomads

If you hold a passport that requires a Schengen visa, budget €90 per adult application. Families applying together will notice the larger combined bill, and anyone travelling for work should factor the higher cost into assignment budgets. Remember that the fee is only part of the picture: securing an appointment slot remains a practical hurdle, so plan the application timeline, not just the payment.

A higher tier exists for nationals of countries the EU considers uncooperative on readmitting their citizens, where fees can reach €135 or €180. These are separate arrangements and do not replace the standard €90 adult rate for ordinary applicants.

The ETIAS piece

Travellers from visa-exempt countries do not pay the Schengen visa fee at all. Instead, they will use the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) once it becomes mandatory, currently scheduled for the final quarter of 2026. The Commission has confirmed an ETIAS fee of €20 for most adults — higher than the originally proposed €7.

The distinction comes down to entry status: those who need a short-stay visa continue paying the €90 fee, while visa-exempt visitors will pay the €20 ETIAS authorization once the system launches. Either way, short trips to Europe now carry a clearer, and slightly higher, upfront cost.

Originally reported by VisaVerge.