Find the authorised booking route
Only a Schengen country's embassy or consulate can process the visa. Some states use an official external service provider to collect applications 1.
Open the embassy page for the country that is your main destination. Follow the appointment link it publishes. Do not choose a provider from an advert alone.
Fees and optional services
The EU Delegation in Türkiye states that the standard application fee is €90, with lower amounts or exemptions for defined groups. An official provider may charge a limited service fee 2.
Premium rooms, form help, photocopying, SMS and passport delivery can be optional extra services. EU guidance says providers must tell applicants that such additions are optional 4.
What intermediaries cannot do
EU guidance says other intermediaries are not official providers and have no better access to embassies or consulates. Their help does not increase approval chances 1.
Only the state decides the application. A promise of guaranteed approval or a private appointment inventory is not supported by the official process 3.
If you paid for a slot
Check the appointment directly with the embassy or named provider. Do not book duplicates, since unused bookings reduce availability 1.
Ask your card issuer about the payment if the seller was not an authorised provider. Keep messages and receipts for a fraud report.
Common questions
How much is the standard Schengen visa fee?
€90 for an adult, with defined reductions and exemptions 2.
Can an agent get a better appointment?
EU guidance says intermediaries have no better consular access 1.
Can a provider charge a service fee?
An official external provider can charge a regulated service fee 2,3.
Who decides the visa?
The competent Schengen state 3.
Check before you pay. Rules and fees change. Confirm the details on the official site linked below. Spotted an error? Email [email protected] with the official link.
Evidence
Official sources
- European External Action Service: Schengen visa application guidance (accessed 19 October 2026)
- European External Action Service: Schengen visa fees and unauthorised intermediaries (2 May 2025)
- EUR-Lex: Schengen Visa Code, consolidated text (28 June 2024)
- European Commission: Visa Code handbook, optional services and fees (accessed 19 October 2026)