The European Commission, a branch of the executive of the European Union (EU), has announced a 12% increase in visa application fees for short-stay Schengen visas (type C) to its member countries, starting on Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

Adult foreign nationals, including Ghanaians, are now expected to pay €90, a €10 increase from the previous €80 for a Schengen visa.

Children aged 6 to 12 will also pay €45 for a visa, a €5 increase from the previous €40 fee. However, visas for children under 6 remain free, as reported by graphic.com.gh.

The European Commission explained that the increase in the cost of Schengen visas is due to the "general Union-wide inflation rate and the weighted average of the salaries of Member States' civil servants between July 1, 2020, and July 1, 2023."

Schengen visas allow non-European Union citizens to visit any member country within the Schengen zone for up to 90 days in a 180-day period. This visa facilitates travel across all Schengen countries during its validity but doesn't permit stays exceeding 90 days or employment/business activities within the zone.

Twenty-six European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, form the Schengen area.

These countries have abolished internal border controls.

The report by graphic.com.gh indicated that visa agencies and travel companies have the liberty to increase the cost of their service for handling Schengen visa applications from €40 to €45.

Also, the cost of extending a Schengen visa remains unchanged at €30.

BAI/OBG

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