ETIAS — European Travel Authorisation
Everything you need to know about the new EU travel authorisation.
Getting Started
Troubleshooting
The Schengen Area
30 European countries with no internal border controls.
Schengen Area
Rules & Tools
Schengen Short-Stay Visa
Complete guide to applications and requirements.
After Applying
Digital Nomad Visas
Residence visas for remote workers across 13 European countries — tax, family, citizenship paths, with 2026 ETIAS, EES and 90/180 rules explained alongside.
Top country guides
Compare by goal
Travel Insurance
Schengen-compliant cover guides.
Schengen Destinations
30 countries, top cities, and transit airports.
Popular Destinations
More Destinations
Transit
UK Travel
UK ETA, visas, and post-Brexit rules.
UK ETA
UK Travel
Fees and exemptions explained
A Schengen Visa costs €80 for adults and €40 for children aged 6-11. Children under 6 are free. Some nationalities have reduced fees through bilateral agreements.
Ages 12 and over
Ages 6-11
Under 6 years old
Even if denied
The €80 Schengen visa fee is set by EU regulation and applies uniformly across all Schengen countries. This fee covers the processing of your application but does not guarantee approval.
Important: The visa fee is non-refundable. If your application is denied, you will not get your money back. This is why it is important to submit a complete, well-documented application.
Service center fee: VFS Global and TLS Contact charge ~€20-35 on top of the visa fee for their services
Courier/delivery: €15-30 if you want your passport delivered instead of collecting it
Travel insurance: €15-50 for the required €30,000 coverage policy
Photos: €5-15 for passport-style photos meeting Schengen requirements
Document translations: Varies, can be €20-50+ per document
Notarization: If required for certain documents
| Type | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Schengen Visa | Embassy application | €80 (adults) |
| ETIAS | Online authorization | €20 (adults) |
| UK ETA | Online authorization | £20 |
Some applicants may qualify for reduced fees or exemptions:
Children under 6: Free visa
Children 6-12: Reduced fee of €40
Students/researchers: Some countries waive fees for educational travel
Diplomatic/official passports: Often exempt
EU family members: May be exempt (with residence card)
Certain nationalities: Bilateral agreements may reduce fees for specific countries
Payment methods accepted vary by location:
Check with your specific application location for accepted payment methods. Some only accept local currency; others accept Euros.
Visa centres and cafés both bill in local currency, and your bank adds its own markup on top. Wise uses the mid-market rate instead.