The European Commission has published a call for contributions outlining plans to overhaul the Schengen Visa Code, which could lead to additional fees for visa applicants, faster visa restrictions against certain countries, and simplified procedures for trusted business travellers. A formal legislative proposal is expected between January and March 2027.
Public Consultation Launched in September 2026
The European Commission launched a public consultation on September 8, 2026, setting out the main directions of the planned reform. The exercise is part of a broader visa strategy the Commission announced in January 2026, which covers digital procedures, improved data systems, and longer multiple-entry visas for certain travellers.
The Commission noted that the options outlined, including the proposed timetable, could still change before a final text is submitted.
Possible Extra Costs for Visa Applicants
One of the most direct impacts on applicants could be financial. The Commission said it would explore, alongside EU member states, the possibility of introducing fees on top of the standard Schengen visa charge. Any revenue raised through such a mechanism could go towards funding the development of a common visa policy across the bloc.
No specific amount has been proposed yet, and no formal decision has been taken. At present, the Visa Code sets the fee at €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to under 12. Those rates have been in place since June 11, 2024, when they were raised from €80 and €40 respectively. The new contribution being studied would work differently, sitting alongside the existing fee rather than replacing it.
Faster Restrictions and Business Travel Benefits
The reform also targets two other areas. First, the Commission wants to give the EU more tools to act quickly when a third country fails to cooperate on the return of its nationals, or when serious political or security concerns arise. Possible responses could include suspending, restricting, or rejecting certain categories of visa applications.
The Commission specifically mentioned hybrid threats, sabotage, espionage, the instrumentalisation of migration, and hostile acts as potential triggers, while stressing that any measures must be proportionate, targeted, and reversible, with protections for human rights defenders, independent journalists, dissidents, and people in humanitarian situations.
Second, the reform would make life easier for verified business travellers. The Commission observed that consulates across the Schengen area currently apply very different standards when assessing corporate applicants. Under the new rules, countries could maintain shared lists of trusted companies, and their employees could benefit from faster processing, priority appointment slots, and fewer supporting documents.
Scale of the Schengen Visa System
The reform comes as demand for Schengen visas continues to recover. EU consulates received more than 12 million short-stay visa applications in 2025, up 4.3% from 2024, and issued close to 10.3 million visas. China led all countries with about 1.9 million applications, followed by Turkey at 1.26 million and India at 1.15 million.
Despite the growth, volumes remain well below the 2019 peak of roughly 17 million applications. The Commission's consultation is open to travellers, businesses, national authorities, and other stakeholders, and will feed directly into the legislative proposal expected in early 2027.
