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From 10 July 2026, temporary restrictions will apply to Schengen visa applications submitted by Somali and Guinean nationals.

The Council of the European Union introduced these measures following an assessment by the European Commission regarding cooperation on the readmission of nationals staying irregularly in the EU.

What is changing?

For applicants from Somalia and Guinea:

• Only single-entry Schengen visas will be issued. Multiple-entry visas will no longer be issued.
• All required supporting documents must be provided. Applicants will no longer be exempt from documentary requirements.
• The visa fee exemption for diplomatic and service passport holders no longer applies. Holders of diplomatic or service passports must pay the EUR 90 visa fee.
• The standard processing time is 45 calendar days instead of 15.

Important

Please take the 45-day processing time into account when planning your travel. If your planned departure is less than 45 days after you submit your application, your visa may be refused on this basis.

These measures apply only to Schengen short-stay visas.

Please note the following upcoming changes to consular fees:

• From 1 August 2026, the consular fee for document legalisation will increase to €25.

• From 1 September 2026, the visa fee for long-stay return visas (visa D) will increase to €335.

Applicants are encouraged to take these changes into account when planning their application.

From 1 July 2026, the fee for long-stay visa (D visa) applications will increase to €250 / £225.

If you already have an appointment scheduled on or after 1 July 2026, the new fee will apply when you submit your visa application.

Please ensure that you pay the updated fee on the day of your appointment.

Gambian nationals are subject to the EUR 90 visa fee as of 1st June 2024. All other sanctions nevertheless continue to apply to all Gambian nationals.

With regard to Article 16(5)(b), Gambian nationals holding a diplomatic or service passport must now pay a visa fee of EUR 90 / GBP 81.

The Decision suspends the possibility of waiving, in individual cases, certain documentary requirements for visa applicants. This means that, irrespective of an applicant’s visa history and correct use of previously issued visas, a complete set of supporting documents demonstrating compliance with the entry conditions set out in the Schengen Borders Code must be submitted with every visa application.

The Decision also suspends the standard 15-calendar-day processing period referred to in Article 23(1) of the Visa Code. Consequently, the standard processing time is 45 days for all applications falling within the scope of these measures.

The Schengen airside (A) transit visa requirement will be abolished for holders of valid British residence permits as of 28 June 2024.

This means that any UK resident who would normally be subject to airside (A) transit visa requirements on account of their nationality will be able to transit through any Schengen airport visa-free, unless (for any of those on a type-C visa (visitors) would be required):

• Your final destination is within the Schengen member states;
• You have to pick up your luggage and/or have to check in again (please verify with your airline);
• You have to pass passport control (please verify with your airline)
• You are transiting through two or more airports in Belgium or Schengen countries (example: London-Antwerp-Brussels-Accra or London-Brussels-Paris-Lagos).
• You do not hold a confirmed airline ticket for the journey to your destination.

Important: this exemption only applies to holders of British BRPs. Holders of UK visas issued overseas are not being exempt.

Union published Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2024/1415 of 14 March 2024 amending Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 as regards the amount of the visa fee, which you will find in the appendix.

This means that starting from 11 June 2024, the visa fee will increase from EUR 80 to EUR 90 for short-stay visas for adults and from EUR 40 to EUR 45 for short-stay visas for children aged 6 to 12 years.

The visa fee amount remains unchanged for countries benefiting from a visa facilitation agreement, staying at EUR 35, except for Cape Verde nationals, for whom the visa fee will increase from EUR 60 to EUR 67.50 for adults and from EUR 30 to EUR 33.75 for children aged 6 to 12 years.