The European Commission plans to increase the cost of Schengen visas for adults and children due to inflation growing in the region. This means that the future adult visa will increase from 80 to 90 euros, and for children - from 40 to 45 euros.
According to the project, the visa fee will be increased for countries that do not cooperate with the EU in the return of their citizens who are illegally in Europe. For such countries, compensation will increase to 135 euros instead of 120, and to 180 euros instead of 160. These amounts include visa and service fees. In addition, the initiative provides for the opportunity for external visa service providers to establish larger fees. It is expected that the amount of service collection will increase together with the increase in visa.
Although the commission explains the increase in visa fees with rising inflation in the EU, such changes are opposed to a large part of the tourist community, especially those who regularly travel to Europe and need a Schengen visa. For example, Turks who are passionate about trips to the region believe that an increase in visa fees will complicate their situation and adversely affect the possibility of traveling to Europe. According to them, even a slight increase in the cost of visa fees will affect the budget of less secured people.
The Europeans themselves also express dissatisfaction with the changes. German citizens believe that this is a middle -class discrimination. "The EU has sufficient money. Stop inflation and there will be no need to raise prices according to it. Foreigners also suffer from inflation, do not make travel to the EU more expensive. Even a small increase in visa fees has a great effect on poor or less wealthy people," one of the Germans said.
