South Africans to pay more for Schengen Visa
The increase also affects children, who will now have to pay more as well.
South Africans will now pay a fee of €80((R1325) instead of €60 when applying for a Schengen Visa from South Africa.
The increase also affects children, who will now have to pay €40(R662) instead of €35, as it is currently.
South Africans will now be subjected to several changes in terms of visa application procedures, rules and benefits, starting from February.
Due to the implementation of the Updated Schengen Visa Code, adopted by the EU Council in June 2019, all representative missions of the Schengen countries located abroad are obliged to apply the new rules, including the ones in South Africa.
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The Schengen visa is one of the most famous visas in the world, and one of the best to have.
“This decision has been taken by the European Union for all the Schengen countries,” said French Embassy Head of the Press, Yana Brugier.
Granting to its holder the possibility of travelling to 26 European countries, 22 of them part of the European Union, the number of Schengen visa applicants has been steadily increasing every year.
Currently, travellers from 104 countries and entities need to obtain a visa to enter the EU for stays up to three-months within the Schengen Zone.
The new rules also permit South Africans to submit an application up to six months in advance of their trip, instead of three as it is now, and foresee a harmonised approach to the issuing of multiple-entry visas with lengthier validity to regular travellers with a positive visa history.
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The main changes foreseen by the updated code are as follows:
Higher visa fees.
Extended application submission periods.
Electronic application forms in most countries.
Representative authorities of every Schengen Member must be present in every third-country in terms of visa admission after February 2nd.
Frequent travelers with a positive visa history to benefit from visas with lengthier validity.
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