Schengen visa fees for Family and Friend Visits
The EU visa fee is normally the same across short-stay purposes. Your total appointment cost can still change because of service-provider fees, optional courier or SMS services, exchange-rate conversion, and country-specific local instructions.
Adult Schengen visa fee EUR 90 Standard short-stay visa fee for most applicants aged 12 and above.
Children aged 6 to under 12 EUR 45 Reduced EU visa fee for children in this age band.
Children under 6 No EU visa fee External service-provider charges or optional services can still vary by country and appointment channel.
Official Fee Waiver Categories (Article 16)
Under the Schengen Visa Code, specific categories of applicants are legally exempt from paying the visa fee or qualify for a reduced fee:
- Children under 6: Completely exempt from the sovereign visa fee.
- Students & Teachers: Pupils, students, post-graduate students, and accompanying teachers who undertake trips for the purpose of study or educational training.
- Scientific Researchers: Researchers from third countries traveling within the Community for the purpose of carrying out scientific research.
- Non-profit Representatives: Representatives of non-profit organizations aged 25 or under participating in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural, or educational events.
- EU/EEA Family Members: Spouses, registered partners, or dependent children of EU/EEA nationals exercising free-movement rights are exempt.
Our Professional Consulting & Audit Fee
₹3,000 Flat We believe in upfront transparency for applicants across India. We charge a flat professional service fee of ₹3,000 per applicant for comprehensive file preparation and consular pre-submission auditing:
- Complete Financial Proof Audit: Verifying salary credits, 3-6 month bank statement continuity, and ITR compliance to prevent Ground 3 refusals.
- Consular-Grade Cover Letter: Custom drafted according to Schengen Visa Code Article 14 standards.
- Day-by-Day Travel Itinerary Grid: Formatted with hotel proof and internal European transit alignment.
- Submission & Appointment Support: Guidance on booking appointment slots and biometric collection procedures.
Statutory fees note: Sovereign consulate visa fees (€90) and official VFS application centre biometric charges are separate statutory fees payable directly during submission.
Third-Party Service Provider & Premium Add-on Fees
When submitting your file through the official outsourced partners, service fees apply in addition to the embassy fee:
- Standard Service Charge: Capped at half of the visa fee (approx. €40 - €45 or equivalent in INR) under Article 17 of the Visa Code.
- Courier Return: Fee for passport delivery back to your home (usually ₹400 - ₹600). Highly recommended to avoid a second in-person visit.
- Premium Lounge: An optional service providing dedicated assistance, photocopying, and refreshments (typically ₹2,000 - ₹3,500). Note that premium services do not influence the processing speed or consulate decision.
- Photocopy & Biometric Photo services: Charged locally per page or print sheet at the submission counters.
Exchange Rates & Payment Methods
Consulates charge the visa fee in local currency (INR), converting the Euro amount using the official consular exchange rate (usually adjusted monthly). Payments at the application centre or consulate counters are typically accepted via credit/debit card, UPI, or cash, depending on the specific country's check-in desk.
Fee notes before appointment
- Fees can be collected in euro, local currency, or the currency normally used where the application is lodged.
- The visa fee is generally not refundable after collection, except where the application is not examined because of competence or admissibility issues.
- External service providers may charge a separate service fee. The ordinary cap is half of the Article 16 visa fee, with special higher caps in limited locations.
- Some applicants may qualify for fee waiver or reduction categories, including specific study, research, cultural, sport, humanitarian, diplomatic, or public-interest cases.
Source basis: consolidated EU Visa Code, current to 28 June 2024, and Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1415 on Schengen visa fees.
What this means for your file
Fees do not make a weak file stronger. For a family and friend visits application, the stronger signal is still a clear purpose, complete documents, realistic route, valid insurance, enough funds, and a credible return plan.
Review the document checklist
