The European Commission has put forth a draft proposal to raise Schengen visa fees from €80 to €90, a move that could see the total expenditure for visa applications surpass €6 million. If approved, this hike would translate to an additional €598,110 in visa costs for Pakistani applicants in 2024.
The proposed adjustments include higher fees for regular and minor applicants, as well as for nationals from non-cooperating countries in the readmission process, who would face fees of €135 and €180, respectively. However, extension visa application fees will remain steady at €30, and nationals from countries with existing visa facilitation agreements will be exempt from these additional charges.
Despite a decrease in application rates due to the post-COVID-19 pandemic, Pakistani visa applicants spent nearly €6.1 million in 2022. With the impending fee increase, expenses for Schengen visa applications are expected to rise even further.
Under the proposed changes, fees for child applicants would increase from €40 to €45, while nationals from non-cooperating countries would also face higher fees, bringing the total expenditure for Pakistani visas in 2024 to €6.9 million.
The proposed fees would impose a significant financial burden on Pakistani nationals, considering that the average monthly salary in Pakistan is €268, with a minimum wage of €67 and a maximum of €1,195. The proposed visa fees would amount to approximately one-third of the monthly salary.
The EU Commission attributes the fee hike to inflation affecting third-country visa applicants in 2024.
In 2022, Spain, Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands received the highest number of visa applications from Pakistanis, comprising 74.1 percent of all applications, totaling 56,436 requests.
Despite the high application rates, Pakistani nationals face significant rejection rates in some EU countries, particularly Sweden, where 74.7 percent of applicants are denied. Spain and Belgium also have rejection rates of 36 and 38 percent, respectively, while Greece, Italy, and Germany show comparatively higher approval rates for Pakistani applicants.
