Schengen visa fees breakup explained. Some countries cost more and others less

For Indian travellers, the Schengen visa serves as the gateway to exploring Europe — allowing entry into 29 countries with a fixed fee for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. To apply, travellers must submit standard documents, including travel plans, insurance, and financial proof. As of now, applicants must pay ₹9,100 for adults and ₹4,600 for children aged 6 to 12.

But that’s not all. The service fee charged by VFS Global often becomes the deciding factor in how expensive a Schengen visa application can be. Depending on the country, these additional charges can vary, making some Schengen visas costlier than others for Indian applicants.

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Users also have the option to pay extra for services like courier delivery, SMS updates, and premium lounge access, with charges varying by Schengen country.

With most embassies no longer accepting direct walk-in visa applications, applicants are required to submit their documents through VFS, the authorised visa processing agency. This change has made it unavoidable for travellers to rely on VFS services, meaning that the fees charged by VFS are mandatory and cannot be waived or avoided.

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Germany: Rs 11,033
For Germany, the VFS service charge is ₹1,933, which, when added to the visa fee of ₹9,100, brings the total application cost to ₹11,033. Additional optional charges include ₹686 for courier service and ₹147 for SMS updates.

France: Rs 11,334
For France, the VFS service charge is €22, approximately ₹2,234, which, when added to the visa fee of ₹9,100, brings the total cost to ₹11,334. Optional services include courier delivery at ₹550.

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Austria: Rs 11,374
The VFS service charge for this visa is ₹2,274, which adds to the Schengen visa fee of ₹9,100, bringing the total cost to ₹11,374.

Belgium: Rs 11,575
For Belgium, the VFS service charge is ₹2,475, bringing the total Schengen visa cost to ₹11,575.

Switzerland: Rs 11,790
For Switzerland, the VFS service charge is ₹2,690, bringing the total Schengen visa cost to ₹11,790. Additionally, optional services such as courier delivery (₹930) and SMS notifications (₹450) are available, potentially raising the overall expense based on individual preferences.

Portugal: Rs 12,211
The VFS service charge for Portugal is ₹3,111, and with the fixed visa fee, it takes the total cost to Rs 12,211.