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

Regarding Ethiopia: From June 1, is affected by a first set of sanctions (similar to that applied in 2021 to the Gambians) under art. 25a of the Visa Code. On the basis of which, the application of the provisions of articles 14(6) / 16(5)(b)* / 23(1) / 24(2) and (2c) of the Visa Code is temporarily suspended.

1. With regard to Article 16(5)(b), this therefore means that, like Gambian nationals, Ethiopian nationals holding a diplomatic or service passport must now pay a handling fee of 90 EUR/ 81 GBP.
2. The Decision suspends the possibility of waiving, in individual cases, some of the requirements with regard to the documentary evidence to be submitted by visa applicants. This means that irrespective of a given applicant’s ‘visa history’ and correct use of previously granted visas, a full set of supporting documents proving fulfilment of the entry conditions as set out in the Schengen Borders Code should be submitted at every application.
3. The Decision suspends the general 15 calendar days processing period referred to in Article 23(1) of the Visa Code. Consequently, the standard processing time should be 45 days in all cases falling within the scope of the 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.

On 22 May 2024, the Official Journal of the European 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.

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.

Please be informed that starting from 8 April 2024, for any new visa application to Belgium from Edinburgh/Manchester, customers will be redirected automatically from the Belgian Visa On Web (VOW) website to the TLScontact website to make an appointment at our centre.

If you have already registered a TLScontact account on our website but have not yet submitted your application, please note that you have until 8 April 2024 to do so. After that date, your TLScontact account will automatically expire, and you will have to start a new visa application on the Visa On Web website.

Visa applications of Gambian passport holders are now subject to the fee of €120 (eq. in GBP). It applies immediately to Gambian nationals regardless of their place of residence in the world. There is also a waiting period of 45 days before the applications are processed.All types of passports and categories of Gambian applicants are covered, except:1. children under 12 (art.16(2)bis Visa Code);2. Gambian family members of an EU national to whom Directive 2004/38 applies and family members of a third-country national who enjoys a right of free movement under an agreement between the EU and one third country;3. without prejudice to cases in which the MS is linked to an international obligation (primarily when an international intergovernmental organization (NATO / EU for BE) has a headquarters agreement in the MS or when the MS hosts an international conference under the auspices of the United Nations);4. without prejudice to Article 16(6) of the Visa Code (< as a reminder: individual cases in which visa fees may be reduced or not collected to promote cultural, sporting, foreign policy, development, other areas of essential general interest, humanitarian considerations)