Schengen Visa Fee and Processing Time (2026): €90, 15 Days, and the 90/180 Rule
One short-stay visa opens 29 countries, and its price and timing are set by EU law, not by the consulate. The fee went up on 11 June 2024, the processing clock is 15 days, and you cannot apply earlier than six months before you travel. This guide reproduces the European Commission's own figures for the Schengen visa so you can check what a visa centre tells you.
Quick answer
A Schengen visa costs €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 12; children under six pay nothing. Reduced fees apply to applicants from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus (€35) and Cabo Verde (€67.50). The fee rose from €80 to €90 (and from €40 to €45 for children) on 11 June 2024 under the Visa Code's three-yearly review for inflation and civil-servant salaries, and it is not refunded if the visa is refused. The normal processing time is 15 days, extendable to 45 days if a more detailed examination or extra documents are needed. You must apply at least 15 days before the journey and no earlier than 6 months before. The visa allows stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the whole Schengen area, with as many entries as the visa permits.
The fee schedule
| Applicant | Fee |
|---|---|
| Adults | €90 |
| Children aged 6 to 12 | €45 |
| Children under six | Waived |
| Applicants from Armenia, Azerbaijan and Belarus | €35 |
| Applicants from Cabo Verde | €67.50 |
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, "Applying for a Schengen visa". An additional service fee may apply if you lodge through an external visa centre that collects applications for the consulate. The fee can be waived for specific categories of applicants.
Why it went up in 2024
The Commission's notice of 13 June 2024 records that as of 11 June 2024 the fee rose from €80 to €90 for adults and from €40 to €45 for children aged six to below 12. The Visa Code requires the Commission to assess the fees every three years against objective criteria such as EU-wide inflation and the salaries of member-state civil servants; the 2024 adjustment was the result of that review.
Processing time
The normal processing time for a visa application is 15 days. The period may be extended to up to 45 days if a more detailed examination of the application or additional documents are required. Family members of EU or EEA citizens are processed under more favourable conditions set out in the free-movement rules.
When to apply
You must submit the application to the consulate at least 15 days before your intended journey and no earlier than 6 months beforehand. You may have to book an appointment before lodging, and the Commission's list of required documents is the baseline: consulates can ask for additional documents. The fee is not refunded if the visa is refused.
What the visa allows
All 29 Schengen countries apply the same visa rules. A non-EU national who needs a visa can stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period; the 180-day window starts on entry, and you can enter as many times as the visa permits but only stay a total of 90 days in every 180. A Schengen visa is generally valid for every country in the area. Stays longer than 90 days are a matter for national long-stay visas and residence permits.
Reading a visa-centre invoice
- Separate the EU fee (€90, €45, €35 or €67.50) from the centre's service fee, which is additional and set locally.
- Check the date: the €90 figure applies to applications from 11 June 2024; the next three-yearly review is due in 2027.
- If a decision takes more than 15 days, the consulate is within its rights up to 45 days when it needs more examination or documents.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Schengen visa in 2026?
€90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 12; free under six; €35 for Armenian, Azerbaijani and Belarusian applicants and €67.50 for Cabo Verdeans.
How long does a Schengen visa take?
Normally 15 days, extendable to 45 days if a more detailed examination or additional documents are required.
How early can I apply?
No earlier than 6 months before the journey, and at least 15 days before.
Is the fee refunded if I am refused?
No. The Commission's guidance says the fee is not refunded if the visa is refused.
How long can I stay on a Schengen visa?
Up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area.