The cost of a Schengen visa isn't just the "90-euro fee." Let's add up the real line items from application to boarding, one by one.
1. Visa fee
The adult fee is €90, €45 for children aged 6-12, free under 6. The fee is non-refundable if rejected — so a complete file is your first saving.
2. Agency service charge
Applications are mostly submitted through agencies like iDATA, VFS or AS Visa; the service charge varies by agency and country but is usually in the €30-50 range. Add-ons like SMS notifications, courier and photos aren't mandatory — decline them if you don't need them.
3. Travel health insurance
Insurance with at least €30,000 coverage is required. For a 1-2 week trip it's around €15-40, depending on age and duration. "Refund-if-rejected" flights and hotels are also indirect insurance: choose cancellable reservations.
4. Document costs
- Biometric photo: a few dollars
- Bank statements / translations if needed: variable
- Travel cost if applying from another city: an often-forgotten item
5. The invisible item: reservations
Flight and hotel reservations are required, not purchases. Using a cancellable hotel booking (e.g. free-cancellation option) and an optional/refundable ticket protects hundreds of euros against the chance of rejection.
Total realistic budget
For a single adult, the application cost is roughly: €90 fee + €35 service + €25 insurance + ~€15 documents ≈ €165 (varies with exchange rate and agency). For family applications the fees repeat per person.
3 things that improve approval odds
- Return dates, accommodation and itinerary telling one consistent story.
- Account activity without "sudden pre-travel deposits."
- Strong ties to home: employer letter, property/vehicle, student certificate.
For after the visa comes through, our Paris, Rome, Madrid and Amsterdam guides have daily budget calculators ready.