Schengen visa requirements, fees and processing

One canonical, EU-source-backed report for the common short-stay requirements. National consulates can request additional evidence.

The Schengen short-stay visa covers visits of up to 90 days in any 180-day period. The European Commission lists a €90 adult fee, €45 fee for children aged 6–12, normal 15-day processing (up to 45 days in extended cases), and travel medical insurance with at least €30,000 cover.

Accepted items
8
Scope
country
Last checked
2026-07-11

Source-backed answers

Compare each answer with its unit and checked date; the complete source ledger is below.

Question or countryVerified answerChecked
Who the Schengen short-stay visa coversUp to 90 days in any 180-day period2026-07-11
When to submit an application15 days to 6 months before travel2026-07-11
Adult visa fee€902026-07-11
Child visa fee (age 6–12)€452026-07-11
Normal processing time15 days normally; up to 45 days in extended cases2026-07-11
Travel medical insuranceMinimum cover €30,0002026-07-11
Core document policyCore documents plus case-specific evidence2026-07-11
Countries issuing Schengen visas29 issuing countries; Cyprus and Ireland excluded2026-07-11

How to read this report

Use EU-level rules for the common layer and keep consulate-specific variation as a visible caveat.

  • Schengen visa requirements are not the same as national long-stay visa rules.
  • Fee amounts exclude external visa-service-centre charges.
  • The area list is maintained by the Council; Cyprus and Ireland are explicitly not Schengen visa issuers.

Sources

Before you use this report

This is source-backed reference information, not legal, tax or immigration advice. Requirements and processing practice can change; check the linked authority before applying.

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