The European Commission has formally started reviewing the EU Visa Code, the legislation governing short-stay Schengen visa applications, with a call for evidence published on September 8, 2026. The review could introduce an additional charge on top of the existing €90 adult visa fee, while trusted business travellers may benefit from faster processing and reduced document requirements.
Possible New Charge on Top of Existing Visa Fee
One of the most direct changes under consideration is an additional charge collected at European level, potentially directed towards funding the EU's common visa policy. No figure has been proposed, and no formal decision has been taken, according to the European Commission. The initiative follows a visa strategy unveiled in January 2026, aiming to translate several policy announcements into law.
Under current rules, the standard Schengen visa fee stands at €90 for adults and €45 for children aged 6 to 11, rates in place since June 11, 2024, when they were raised from €80 and €40 respectively. Any new charge would sit alongside the existing fee rather than replace it. The Commission has cautioned that both the policy options and the timeline could shift before a final legislative proposal is expected, which is not anticipated before early 2027.
Business Travellers Could See Faster Processing
The review targets what the Commission describes as wide inconsistencies in how consulates across the Schengen Area handle business visa applications. To address this, future legislation could allow EU countries to draw up shared lists of verified companies by country or territory. Employees of those listed companies would be eligible for priority appointments, faster processing times, and reduced document requirements when applying for a visa.
The Commission says the goal is to make the process more consistent and predictable across the Schengen Area. This move is part of a broader effort to align the Visa Code with the EU's push to digitalise Schengen visa applications and issuance, updating provisions considered outdated or incompatible with future digital systems.
Greater Flexibility to Restrict Visas in Crisis Situations
Another proposed direction would give the EU additional tools to respond to political or security deterioration in non-EU countries. The existing Visa Code already permits certain restrictions when a country fails to cooperate on the return of its nationals, but the Commission argues the current framework is too inflexible. Under the proposed changes, the EU could suspend, restrict, or refuse specific categories of applications in response to hybrid threats, sabotage, espionage, the instrumentalisation of migration, or other hostile acts.
The Commission says any such measures must be proportionate, targeted, and reversible, with explicit protections for human rights defenders, independent journalists, dissidents, and certain humanitarian cases. The reform also aims to align the Visa Code with the EU's broader digitalisation push for Schengen visa applications and issuance.
Over 12 Million Applications Filed in 2025
The scale of the review is underscored by recent application figures. More than 12 million short-stay Schengen visa applications were received in 2025, up 4.3% from the previous year, with nearly 10.3 million visas issued. China led all source countries with about 1.9 million applications, followed by Turkey at 1.26 million and India at 1.15 million. Despite the growth, overall demand remains well below the roughly 17 million applications recorded in 2019.
The Commission has opened a public consultation for travellers, businesses, and national authorities to contribute before a proposed regulation is submitted between January and March 2027. Until new rules take effect, current Schengen visa fees and procedures remain unchanged.
