Planning a European holiday is becoming costlier for Indian tourists. In just over a year, VFS Global has raised its service charges for Switzerland Schengen visas by 127%, making the process of securing a visa far more expensive than before.

The official Schengen visa fee itself remains unchanged at around ₹8,000–10,000 for adults. However, VFS’ mandatory service charge along with add-ons like courier delivery and SMS updates has significantly increased the upfront cost of applying.

What’s Behind the Price Hike?

The latest increase doesn’t come from embassies or the visa fee itself. Instead, it’s due to the service fee collected by VFS Global, the private agency that manages visa submissions for most European countries.

Visa approval or denial is not the responsibility of VFS Global.Instead, it acts as the bridge between applicants and embassies, offering services such as biometric enrolment, document handling, and appointment scheduling. Since direct applications to embassies are no longer accepted in most cases, going through VFS is unavoidable making its charges non-optional.

How Much Have the Charges Increased?

According to travel agents, VFS service rates have already increased twice in 2025 once in January and once in April. The revised costs vary depending on the destination country.

Here’s a snapshot of the latest service charges compared to January 2025 rates:

Looking back further, the jump is even steeper.The service fee in Switzerland was ₹1,180 in March 2024. Today it stands at ₹2,680, a staggering 127% rise in just over a year.

Other countries have also seen considerable increases. Belgium now charges ₹2,475, Iceland ₹2,655, Portugal ₹1,992, Latvia ₹2,422, and Slovenia ₹2,428. Even smaller destinations like Malta (₹2,264) and Lithuania (₹1,788) are on the higher side.

Hidden Add-Ons: Courier and SMS Charges

The service charge isn’t the only expense. Applicants are also expected to pay for courier delivery and SMS updates, which VFS often treats as mandatory add-ons.

Though these may seem like minor costs, they quickly add up especially for families applying together. Here are some examples:

Across different countries, courier fees range between ₹500–1,455, while SMS updates cost anywhere from ₹300–800.

The Bigger Picture for Indian Travellers

For a single traveller, a few hundred rupees more may not seem dramatic. But when added on top of the existing visa fee and multiplied across a family of four or more the numbers quickly climb.

This means the total cost can easily cross ₹12,000 per person before flights, hotels, and insurance are even considered.

Travel experts argue that while these services are useful, the lack of clear communication around sudden and repeated hikes is a concern. For many families, what was once a dream vacation to Europe now requires significantly higher savings just to get the paperwork sorted.

What This Means Going Forward

Indian travellers hoping to explore Europe whether it’s a summer in Paris, a ski trip in Switzerland, or a cultural tour through Germany will now need to budget more carefully. The rising service charges, combined with already high airfares and accommodation rates, are making Europe less affordable than before.

For frequent travellers, students, or families, these additional expenses could influence destination choices. Countries outside the Schengen zone that offer simpler or cheaper visa processes may begin to look more attractive.

Final Word

The steep rise in VFS Global’s service charges, especially the 127% jump for Switzerland visas within just a year, has added a new layer of financial pressure on Indian tourists.

While VFS maintains that these costs cover essential facilitation services, the rapid escalation raises questions about affordability and transparency. For now, travellers will need to factor in these higher charges as part of their Europe plans because without going through VFS, that Schengen visa simply isn’t possible.

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