Schengen visas: EU prepares overhaul of rules and considers new fees

The European Union is preparing a major review of its Visa Code, the legislation governing applications for and issuance of short-stay Schengen visas. In a call for evidence published on September 8, 2026, the European Commission outlined the main directions being considered for the future reform. The initiative is intended to translate into legislation several measures announced in January as part of the European Union's first-ever visa strategy. At the time, VisasNews highlighted the main elements of the EU's new strategy on visas and migration. For now, however, the initiative remains at a preparatory stage. The Commission notes that both the policy options being considered and the proposed timeline may still change before a final legislative proposal is presented. For applicants, one of the most tangible potential changes concerns the cost of obtaining a visa. The Commission says it will examine, together with EU member states, 'the feasibility of introducing an additional charge on top of the Schengen visa fee,' to be collected at European level in addition to the existing visa charge. The revenue generated could be used to support the development of the EU's common visa policy. No amount has been proposed at this stage, meaning that no new increase in the price of a Schengen visa has been formally decided. Under the current European Union Visa Code, the standard fee is €90 for adults and €45 for children ages 6 to 11, subject to exemptions and special arrangements provided for under EU rules. Those fees have applied since June 11, 2024, when they were increased from €80 to €90 for adults and from €40 to €45 for children. The potential new charge would be a separate measure: rather than simply increasing the existing visa fee, it could be added on top of it. The reform is not focused solely on tighter rules. The Commission also wants to facilitate legitimate travel and is considering special treatment for certain trusted business travelers. Brussels notes that consular practices currently vary significantly and says there is no common Schengen-wide method for identifying companies and employees considered reliable. Future legislation could therefore allow for the creation of common lists of verified companies, drawn up by country or territory. Employees of those companies could then benefit from certain advantages when applying for a visa, including: faster processing; priority appointments; fewer supporting documents. The aim would be to make procedures more predictable across the Schengen Area and facilitate business travel. Another part of the reform would give the European Union more options when using visa policy in its relations with non-EU countries. The Visa Code already allows certain measures to be taken when a country does not cooperate sufficiently on the return and readmission of its nationals. The Commission, however, believes the current system lacks flexibility and is considering mechanisms that would allow the EU to respond more quickly or in a more targeted way. Future rules could also make it possible to suspend, restrict or reject certain categories of visa applications when there is a serious deterioration in the political or security situation in a non-EU country. The Commission specifically refers to hybrid threats, sabotage, espionage, the instrumentalization of migration and certain other hostile acts. It says such measures should be proportionate, targeted and reversible, with safeguards in particular for human rights defenders, independent journalists, dissidents and certain humanitarian cases. The review is also intended to adapt the Visa Code to the ongoing digital transformation of the Schengen visa system. The European Union is gradually preparing for the digitalization of Schengen visa application and issuance procedures, which will require several provisions to be updated because they are outdated or incompatible with future digital systems. The reform is therefore part of the strategy unveiled by the Commission in January 2026, which includes digital procedures, greater interoperability between European IT systems, and longer-validity multiple-entry visas for certain travelers considered reliable. The scale of the reform is significant. According to the latest statistics published by the European Commission, consulates of EU countries and Schengen-associated states received more than 12 million short-stay visa applications in 2025, up 4.3% from 2024. Nearly 10.3 million Schengen visas were issued during the year. Of those, around 5.3 million, or 51.7%, were multiple-entry visas. Demand nevertheless remains below pre-pandemic levels. In 2019, around 17 million applications were submitted and 15 million visas were issued. The largest source countries for applications in 2025 were China, with about 1.9 million applications, followed by Turkey (1.26 million), India (1.15 million), Russia (679,000) and Morocco (620,000). Schengen visas allow nationals who are subject to a visa requirement to stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. Any future reform of the Visa Code could therefore affect millions of travelers each year visiting Europe for tourism, business, family visits or other short stays. The process remains at a preliminary stage. The Commission has opened a consultation for individuals, businesses, travelers, national authorities and other stakeholders to contribute to the development of the proposal. Under the current timetable, a proposed regulation is expected to be presented between January and March 2027. The text will then have to go through the EU legislative process before any changes to the Visa Code can take effect. Until then, current Schengen visa rules and fees remain unchanged. Travelers are not currently required to pay any new additional charge. The European Commission has not announced a new increase in the price of a Schengen visa. As part of its planned reform of the Visa Code, it is considering harmonized additional fees that could be charged on top of the current €90 fee for adults and €45 fee for children ages 6 to 11. No amount or implementation date has been proposed. The legislative proposal is currently expected in the first quarter of 2027.