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Schengen Visa
Context:
The cost of a short-stay Schengen visa has increased internationally by 12%, according to the European Commission.
More in News:
- The European Union attributes the increase in Schengen visa fees to both inflation and growing civil worker wages.
- The EU visa costs were reviewed in December 2023, as mandated by the Schengen Visa Code, which requires a review every three years.
Visa Application Statistics:
- 2023 Data: Over 10.3 million applications for short-stay visas were received in the Schengen Area in 2023.
- Comparison with Previous Years: This marks a 37% increase from 2022, but still less than the record 17 million applications in 2019.
Schengen Visa Overview:
- Travel Freedom: Schengen visa allows holders to travel freely within the Schengen Area, comprising 29 European countries.
- EU Member States: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland, Sweden.
- Non-EU Countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland.
- Duration: Valid for short stays of a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period.
- Purpose: Visas are not purpose-bound but do not grant the right to work.
- Popularity: Schengen countries are highly popular among Indian travellers, with top destinations including France, Spain, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.
- Outbound Traffic: Schengen countries account for around 20% of India’s outbound traffic, according to estimates.
- India maintained the third position in Schengen visa applications for 2023,