SCHENGEN NEWS

December 2006
The European Union Justice and Home Affairs Council recently passed the decision to raise the Schengen visa fees. The increase of the cost-oriented visa fee from 35 to 60 euros is caused by the implementation of the new visa information system and biometrics. The council has also found a solution for the necessary exceptions.

The following persons will be completely exempt from the visa fee payment requirement: children below the age of 6, school pupils, university students and their accompanying teachers when travelling for educational purposes. The exemption is also applicable to those travelling for scientific purposes. In exceptional cases the visa fee can be decreased on cultural interest grounds, humanitarian considerations, for foreign or development policy and other important reasons that concern the general public.