News item Dutch embassy regarding the Schengen visa: Higher fees and exceeding processing times
On Friday, June 14, the Dutch embassy in Bangkok announced that the fees for a Schengen visa will be increased as of June 11. There was also a message about the processing times for a visa application. The embassy wrote the following on social media:
Communication from the Dutch embassy:
“It has been decided within the Schengen context to increase visa fees. From June 11, the visa fee for a short stay (maximum 90 days) will be 90 euros. This was 80 euros.
You can submit your visa application 6 months prior to the intended travel date. Due to a worldwide increase in visa applications and increasing processing times, it is recommended that you submit your application as early as possible. The processing of visa applications currently takes an average of 21 days. Due to the increasing crowds, this may increase further to a maximum of 45 days in the near future. More information about waiting times here: https://www.nederlandwereldwijd.nl/visum-nederland/wanneer-bericht-over-visumaanvraag
The following can be read on the Netherlands Worldwide website:
“!! Warning: Please do not contact us regarding the status of your request. You can track the status of your application online. We have no additional information about your request. (…)
!! Are you applying for a visa between April 2024 and October 2024? During this high season, the processing of your visa application may take longer. There is no point in contacting us about the status of your application. You can view the status online. We do not have any more information about the status of your application.”
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Explanation Rob V.
The increase in visa fees had previously been announced on Thailandblog (see here). Various member states indicated that they have had to deal with increases in wage costs and the like since 2020, which is why it was jointly decided to increase the fees. The European Commission writes (here): “In its assessment, the Commission analyzed developments in inflation for the Union as a whole and the weighted average of the salaries of Member States' civil servants between 1 July 2020 and 1 July 2023. It has come to the conclusion that the amount of the visa fee should be increased by 12,5%.” The Visa Code states that the new fees will come into effect 20 days after official announcement. The increase and the short period in which it takes place is of course less pleasant for applicants for a Schengen visa, to say the least.
Regarding the lead time of 21 days on average. This is a violation of the Visa Code, which states that a visa application must be processed within 15 calendar days. With the exception of individual cases where more research is required for a specific application (the applicant will often be asked for more documents, explanations or the like). Force majeure is also excluded: situations for which it was simply impossible to plan. However, the high season in spring and summer is an annual phenomenon. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs can expect this extra influx and therefore has the obligation to create extra capacity compared to the low season.
Unfortunately, as an applicant you don't do much about that. You can file a complaint through the embassy or the ministry in The Hague, but this may take a few weeks, so it will probably not make much difference in practice. One could also write to the European Commission. Particularly in the event of multiple complaints/feedback, a Member State could be held accountable by the EU for its services and failure to comply with the rules correctly. This is of course of no use to you as an applicant in the short term, because the official and European wheels do not turn that fast. So that is more something for fanatical long-term thinkers. If you would like to share your feedback with the European Commission, see: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/who-we-are/contact-us_en
I also understand that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has had to deal with inflexions for many years. There is less money available, while the number of visa applications increases year after year. Politicians also believed that the costs should be borne by the applicant for a service. Result: mandatory use of the External Service Provider (VFS Global) for most applicants, increase in costs and fees. The Foreign Affairs and the EU have been working on a digital application process for the Schengen visa for some time. The intention is that this will become active from 2025, but there is no further information about the current state of affairs. If this digital process is up and running for one or more years, it could reduce time and costs for Schengen visa applicants. Although anyone who does not yet (or no longer) have their fingerprints and passport photo in the database will still have to come by to have these fingerprints/photo taken.
Finally, advice
So apply for a visa as early as possible, this can be done six months in advance. Then the lead time should not be a problem, even if the ministry is in violation of the set deadlines. The Schengen file has further information on how to best prepare an application. Smart readers will also note that they may be eligible for a free visa, for example a Dutch/Belgian married to a Thai national who has a main purpose of traveling somewhere else in the EU (Schengen Member States), to spend their holiday there. So be sure to read the file. Can be found via the menu on the left under the heading “files”.
About this blogger
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Regular visitor to Thailand since 2008. Works in the accounting department of a Dutch wholesaler.
In his spare time he likes to go cycling, walking or reading a book. Mainly non-fiction, especially the history, politics, economy and society of the Netherlands, Thailand and countries in the region. Likes to listen to heavy metal and other noise
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Those 21 days are indeed contrary to the Visa Code, but what do you do about it?
Once 15 days have passed, the visa applicant can give notice of default to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. That will then be given another two weeks to decide on the application (before the administrative penalty becomes due. No one will be waiting for that.
Perhaps a complaint to the European Commission? Although that will not provide a solution in the short term.
See the options here: https://commission.europa.eu/about-european-commission/contact/problems-and-complaints/complaints-about-breaches-eu-law-member-states/how-make-complaint-eu-level_nl
My suggestion is to do two things: 1. make that complaint (and simultaneously request that the Commission initiate infringement proceedings against the Netherlands) and 2. submit the petition to the European Parliament.
(the European Ombudsman has no task here, so you can forget about him).
Both can be done in Dutch.
Even if it doesn't help your own business now, it might help others and yourself in the future.
The tip remains: just apply as soon as possible. And then submit a well-substantiated visa application.
Strange, in Thailand the minimum wage has not increased and in the Netherlands wages have increased by 3%, how did they arrive at 12,5%??