While applying for the Schengen visa, as a mandatory step, you will have to pay a non-refundable Schengen visa fee. Also known as the application fee or the visa fee, this amount must be paid to the embassy/consulate either directly in person or online. In some cases, you may be able to pay the fees at the Visa Application Center (VAC).
You can pay the Schengen visa application fee through a debit/credit card or cash. Although, certain embassies will only accept cash. You must check the exact requirements of the embassy you are applying in order to determine the exact mode of payment.
Factors affecting Schengen visa fees
Something you should note is that the fees for the visa are fixed by all the Schengen members together. The primary fee is stated in Euros. However, while paying the fee, the payment is mostly done in the local currency. As a result, there are bound to be fluctuations in the Schengen visa cost due to the foreign exchange rates.
The fees can also depend on the age of the applicant and the status as given in the following table -
| Category | Fees (in Euros) |
| Adult (13 years of age and above) | 60 |
| Children (6-12 years of age) | 35 |
| Children (<6 years of age) | Free |
| Holders of diplomatic, official, or service passports travelling on an official visit |
Free |
| Family members of EU/EEA nationals | Free |
| Students accompanied by teachers for a school trip | Free |
| Researchers travelling for scientific research | Free |
| Nationals of Georgia, Kosovo, Russia, Ukraine | 35 |
Any change to these must be approved by all the Schengen members. As a result, these are fixed unless they have been updated. In fact, from January 2020, the fees for the Schengen visa will be increased by 33%, making the fees for an adult to 80 Euros as well as other categories with respect to it.
Schengen Visa Fees for multiple entry
The single-entry fees or the Schengen visa fee multiple entry is the same. The fees are not dependant on the number of entries. This is mainly due to the fact the entry-type is not issued according to the applicant’s choice. In fact, even though the applicant can mention his required number of entries, the exact entry type provided is based on the decision of the consular officer. As a result, in some cases even if you have opted for a multiple-entry type, you may receive a single-entry. Therefore, if there were differences in the fees for the entry type, there would be several discrepancies as the fee is paid before the issuance of the visa.
Schengen Visa Fees according to the purpose of visit
Although the fee is constant regardless of the purpose of the visit, there are certain exceptional cases. One of them is for the study visa. Students, graduate students and international students who visit the Schengen on the short-term study visa can get their fees waived. Even in the case of the Cultural/sports events visa, if the individual is under the age of 25 and if the event is organized by a non-profit organization will also have their visa fee waived. However, this is subject to the embassy’s decision based on your application. If the visa is denied, the fee will not be refunded in any case.