The European Commission is contemplating a substantial increase of up to 12.5% in the application fees for Schengen visas for citizens of Tunisia. The goal of this campaign is to increase fees by at least €10 for each application, which might result in approximately €14 million in total costs.

Schengen Statistics data shows that Tunisians applied for visas on average 157,000 times a year between 2018 and 2022. Their total cost, including the current €80 application fee, came to €63 million.

The new price would escalate to €90 if the Commission accepts the proposed hike, meaning Tunisians will pay an extra €1.5 million in comparison to previous years.

All visa applicants would now have to pay higher fees under the proposed modifications, with minor applicants paying an additional €40 to €50 and Schengen visa applications going from €80 to €90. Moreover, readmission fees for nations judged uncooperative may increase; they may go from €120 to €135 or from €160 to €180. If the plan is approved, external Schengen visa service companies might also have to pay higher fees.

The proposal from the Commission was available for public comment until March 1, 2024, giving EU people a chance to express their thoughts on the subject.

The Commission emphasizes the need to adjust visa fees, citing EU inflation rates as a motivating factor. According to Eurostat data, the EU’s annual inflation rate in 2024 was 2.8%, significantly lower than the previous year’s 9.9% and down from 3.1% in January.

Latvia, Denmark, and Italy had the lowest rates of inflation in February 2024, at 0.6% and 0.8%, respectively.