The European Union (EU) has announced an increase in Schengen visa application fees for adult African and other non-EU citizens, raising the cost from €80 to €90. The new fee structure will take effect on June 11, 2024.
The European Commission confirmed that any visa applications submitted on or after this date will be subject to the revised fees. For children aged six to twelve years, the application fee will be €45.
Europe continues to be a popular destination for many Nigerian youths seeking better opportunities. Non-EU nationals must obtain a Schengen visa to visit any country within the Schengen area temporarily, allowing stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period.
The 27 EU member states include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
In 2023, consulates of EU and Schengen-associated countries received over 10.3 million applications for short-stay visas, marking a 37% increase from the 7.5 million applications in 2022. However, this figure is still lower than the pre-pandemic level of 17 million applications in 2019.
