Schengen Visa Fee 2026: €90 for Adults, €45 for Children
The Schengen visa fee is €90 for adults. But VFS Global and other application centres add their own service charges on top — so the total you pay is higher. This page shows the full cost by country and applicant type.
Official visa fees are set by the EU Schengen Visa Code (Regulation EC 810/2009), last amended to raise the fee to €90 effective June 2024. VFS Global service charges are sourced from VFS country-specific fee schedules and verified against live booking portals as of June 2026. INR conversions use the approximate rate at time of writing and will fluctuate.
In this guide
- Basic Visa Fees (All Schengen Countries)
- VFS Service Charges (Visa Application Centers)
- Additional Costs You Need to Budget
- How to Pay Visa Fees
- Who Gets FREE Schengen Visa?
- Are Visa Fees Refundable?
- Family of 4 Cost Example
- Money-Saving Tips
- Country-Specific Fee Notes
- Complete your visa file
- Frequently Asked Questions
- People mostly search for…
💶 Basic Visa Fees (All Schengen Countries)
| Applicant Type | Visa Fee (EUR) | Approx. in INR | Approx. in USD |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult (12+ years) | €90 | ₹8,100 | $97 |
| Child (6-12 years) | €45 | ₹4,050 | $48 |
| Infant (Under 6 years) | FREE | ₹0 | $0 |
Exchange rates as of February 2026: €1 = ₹90 = $1.08 (approx)
🏢 VFS Service Charges (Visa Application Centers)
Most Schengen countries outsource visa applications to VFS Global. You pay BOTH visa fee + VFS service charges:
| 🇫🇷 France | ₹2,500 | €90 + ₹2,500 = ₹10,600 |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | ₹2,200 | €90 + ₹2,200 = ₹10,300 |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | ₹2,800 | €90 + ₹2,800 = ₹10,900 |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | ₹2,650 | €90 + ₹2,650 = ₹10,750 |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | ₹2,200 | €90 + ₹2,200 = ₹10,300 |
| 🇨🇭 Switzerland | ₹3,000 | €90 + ₹3,000 = ₹11,100 |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | ₹2,400 | €90 + ₹2,400 = ₹10,500 |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | ₹2,300 | €90 + ₹2,300 = ₹10,400 |
VFS charges vary by country and may change. Check official VFS website for current rates.
➕ Additional Costs You Need to Budget
1. Mandatory Costs:
- travel insurance: €30-50 (₹2,700-4,500) - MANDATORY for all applicants
- Visa Fees: €90 (adults) + €45 (children 6-12)
- VFS Service Charges: ₹2,200-3,000
- Biometric Fee (if applicable): Usually included in VFS charges
2. Optional Services (VFS):
- SMS Alerts: ₹150-250
- Prime Time Appointment: ₹2,500-5,000 (skip queue)
- Lounge Access: ₹1,500-3,000
- Photo Service: ₹300-500 (if you don't bring photos)
- Photocopying: ₹50-100 per set
- Courier Return: ₹500-800 (passport delivered home)
3. Document Preparation Costs:
- Flight Reservation: ₹500-2,000 (dummy booking service)
- Hotel Bookings: Free (if refundable) or ₹500 (booking service)
- Passport Photos: ₹100-300
- Document Translation: ₹500-2,000 per document (if required)
- Notarization/Attestation: ₹200-1,000 per document
💰 Total Budget for Adult Schengen Visa (India):
- Visa Fee: €90 = ₹8,100
- VFS Charges: ₹2,500
- Travel Insurance: ₹3,000
- Flight Reservation: ₹1,000
- Photos & Misc: ₹500
Total: ₹15,100 - ₹16,000
💳 How to Pay Visa Fees
Payment Methods (Varies by Country):
At VFS Centers:
- Cash: Accepted at most VFS centers (bring exact amount)
- Card: Credit/Debit cards accepted (may have 2-3% surcharge)
- Online Payment: Some countries allow pre-payment during booking
At Embassy (Direct Application):
- Demand Draft: In favor of the embassy
- Card Payment: Some embassies accept (France, Germany)
- Bank Transfer: Pay before appointment, bring receipt
✅ Who Gets FREE Schengen Visa?
Fee Waiver Categories:
- Children Under 6: Always free
- Students: Going for study/research/training (need invitation)
- Researchers: Academic/scientific research (need invitation from research institute)
- EU Family Members: Spouse/children of EU citizens
- Diplomatic/Official Passport Holders
- Emergency Medical Treatment: If you're traveling for urgent medical care (need hospital letter)
- Funeral/Serious Illness: Close family member in Europe (need proof)
Reduced Fee (€45 instead of €90):
- Children aged 6-12 years
- Students under 25 on school trips
🔄 Are Visa Fees Refundable?
❌ NO Refund If:
- Your visa is rejected
- You withdraw your application after payment
- You don't show up for appointment
- Your documents are incomplete
- You change your travel plans
✅ Possible Refund If:
- You paid twice by mistake (with proof)
- Embassy made an error in processing
- Payment was debited but application not registered
Bottom line: Consider visa fees as non-refundable. Only apply when you're fully prepared!
👨👩👧👦 Family of 4 Cost Example
Sample: Family Trip to France (2 adults + 2 children aged 8 & 4)
Visa Fees:
- Adult 1: €90 = ₹8,100
- Adult 2: €90 = ₹8,100
- Child 1 (8 years): €45 = ₹4,050
- Child 2 (4 years): FREE = ₹0
- Subtotal Visa Fees: ₹20,250
VFS Charges (France):
- 4 people × ₹2,500 = ₹10,000
Travel Insurance:
- Family plan: ₹8,000 (all 4 covered)
Documents:
- Flight reservations: ₹1,000
- Photos: ₹500
TOTAL for Family of 4: ₹39,750
💡 Money-Saving Tips
- Apply Early - Avoid "prime time" VFS charges (₹2,500-5,000 extra)
- Take Own Photos - Don't pay ₹500 at VFS, get them for ₹100 outside
- Make Own Copies - Photocopy all documents before going (VFS charges ₹50-100)
- Skip Optional Services - SMS, lounge, etc. are unnecessary
- Prepare Documents Well - Avoid rejection and losing €90
- Book Refundable Hotels - Don't pay for booking services
- Use Free Flight Reservation - Many travel agents provide free for 48 hours
- Travel Insurance Online - Buy from Policybazaar/Digit, cheaper than VFS
- Apply to Right Country - Some VFS centers charge less
- Group Applications - Family applies together, some costs shared
🌍 Country-Specific Fee Notes
France
- VFS Charges: ₹2,500
- Prime Time: +₹5,000 (skip queue)
- Payment: Cash/Card at VFS
Germany
- VFS Charges: ₹2,200 (lowest)
- Payment: Cash/Card at VFS
- Often no interview = save time
Spain
- VFS Charges: ₹2,800
- BLS International (not VFS)
- Payment: Cash/Card/Online
Italy
- VFS Charges: ₹2,650
- Payment: Online mandatory before appointment
- Courier return: ₹800
Switzerland
- VFS Charges: ₹3,000 (highest)
- More expensive overall
- Payment: Card preferred
Complete your visa file
Complete your visa file with the three bookings every Schengen embassy expects: refundable hotel, flight reservation, and €30,000+ travel insurance.
🔥 Most Asked by Applicants
- What documents do I need?
- How do I write a cover letter?
- How much bank balance to show?
- What travel insurance do I need?
- How do I book a visa appointment?
- How long does processing take?
- Which country approves easiest?
- Why do visas get rejected?
- How to get a flight reservation?
- Which insurance plan is best?
- How much does a Schengen visa cost?
- Where do I start as a first timer?
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Schengen visa fee in 2026?
€90 for adults (12+), €45 for children aged 6–12, free for children under 6. This is the same across all 27 Schengen countries.
What is the total cost including VFS charges?
The total varies by country. In India: €90 visa fee + ₹2,200–3,000 VFS service charge + ₹3,000 insurance = roughly ₹15,000–16,000 per adult all-in.
Are Schengen visa fees refundable if rejected?
No. Fees are non-refundable even if your visa is rejected, you withdraw, or you miss the appointment. Only apply when your documents are fully ready.
Who is exempt from the Schengen visa fee?
Children under 6, EU citizen family members, students/researchers with institutional invitation, diplomatic passport holders, and emergency medical cases may receive a full waiver. Note: VFS service charges still apply even with a fee waiver.
What payment methods are accepted?
At VFS centers: cash or card (some countries allow online pre-payment). At embassies: demand draft, card (France, Germany), or bank transfer. Methods vary — confirm with your specific center before visiting.
Is the fee the same for single-entry and multiple-entry visas?
Yes — €90 regardless of entry type. Whether you get single or multiple entry depends on your travel history and the embassy's decision, not the fee paid.
What optional VFS extras can I skip?
Prime Time appointments (₹2,500–5,000), lounge access (₹1,500–3,000), SMS alerts (₹150–250), and courier return (₹500–800) are all optional. Skip them to save ₹5,000+ per person.
What is the fee for a long-stay (Type D) Schengen visa?
Long-stay national visa fees vary by country — typically €99–120. Check the relevant embassy website for exact figures as they differ from the standard Type C fee.
💰 Smart Budget Planning
Budget ₹15,000-16,000 per adult for the complete visa process (fees + insurance + documents).
For families: Budget ₹40,000-45,000 for 2 adults + 2 children. The fee is non-refundable, so prepare your documents well to avoid rejection!