Schengen Visa Fee Is Now EUR 90: UAE Applicant Guide

The official Schengen visa government fee is now EUR 90 for adult applicants. This is the fee set by the Schengen states themselves, not a charge added by any visa application centre or agency. If you are applying for a tourist, business, or family visit visa from the UAE, this is the base amount you should budget for before anything else.

Schengen Visa Fee UAE: The Current Amount

The short stay Schengen visa fee was raised from EUR 80 to EUR 90 for adults, effective June 11, 2024. It remains the current fee through 2026. The increase was made under the Schengen Visa Code, which allows the fee to be reviewed periodically based on factors like eurozone inflation and average EU staff costs.

For children, the fee works differently based on age:

• Children aged 6 to 11: EUR 45
• Children under 6: no fee at all
• Applicants 12 and above: the full EUR 90 adult fee

These amounts apply across all 27 Schengen member states, so the government fee itself does not change depending on which country’s consulate or visa centre you apply through in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

Why the Schengen Visa Fee UAE Applicants Pay Went Up

The fee increase was not specific to the UAE. It was a Schengen wide adjustment applied to all applicants globally. Consulates review the fee periodically, and the current EUR 90 rate has held steady since mid 2024. Always check the fee on the day you book your appointment, since further reviews can happen in future years.

Government Fee vs Visa Application Centre Service Charge

This is the part that confuses many first time applicants. The EUR 90, or EUR 45 for a child, is the visa fee itself, paid to cover the cost of processing your application by the consulate. Separately, the visa application centre that collects your documents and biometrics, such as VFS Global or a similar operator used in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, charges its own service charge for handling your file locally.

That service charge is not part of the EUR 90. It covers the logistics of running the application centre: appointment scheduling, document handling, biometric collection, and courier return of your passport. Because the two charges are billed together at the counter, applicants sometimes assume the whole amount is the visa fee. It is not. Only the EUR 90 or EUR 45 portion goes toward the actual visa.

UAE residents applying from Dubai or Abu Dhabi should treat these as two separate line items when planning their budget, since the total amount paid at the counter will be higher than EUR 90 alone once the centre’s charge is added.

How to Pay the Schengen Visa Fee in the UAE

In most cases, you pay the government visa fee at the same time as the application centre service charge, during your appointment. A few points worth knowing:

• The fee is generally paid when you submit your documents and biometrics, not in advance online.
• Accepted payment methods vary by centre, so check the specific requirements before your appointment.
• The visa fee is normally non refundable, even if your travel plans change, since it covers the cost of processing.
• Keep your payment receipt, since it may be requested if you need to follow up on your application.

Because currency conversion at the counter can shift slightly day to day, confirm the exact amount due with your chosen visa application centre before your appointment, even though the underlying EUR 90 or EUR 45 government fee stays fixed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the EUR 90 fee refunded if my Schengen visa application is withdrawn?

No. The government visa fee covers the cost of processing your application and is generally not refundable once submitted, whether you later change your travel plans or withdraw the application yourself.

Do infants need to pay any Schengen visa fee in the UAE?

Children under 6 years old are exempt from the government visa fee entirely. Children aged 6 to 11 pay EUR 45, and anyone 12 or older pays the full EUR 90 adult fee.

How long does it take for a Schengen visa decision after I pay the fee?

Paying the fee does not speed up a decision. Under the Schengen Visa Code, embassies usually decide within 15 calendar days of submission, as set by the Schengen Visa Code, and some cases take longer.

Related Guides

• Schengen Visa Documents Checklist for UAE Residents
• ETIAS Delayed to 2027: What UAE Residents Should Know

Sources: European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs, Fragomen