French MPs reject €50 visa surcharge that would have raised fees for Moroccan applicants to €140
Applicants for tourist visas to France have avoided a new €50 tax. Introduced as part of the 2027 budget, the measure would have affected Moroccan travelers in particular. French MPs rejected it on Tuesday, November 3, after a debate over its cost and compliance with European rules.
Nicolas Dragon, a member of the National Rally, proposed imposing an additional €50 stamp duty on each short-stay visa issued primarily for tourist travel. According to the official record of the National Assembly, Amendment No. 692 was rejected by 67 votes to 36 during the November 3 session.
For Moroccan applicants subject to the standard rate, the proposal would have raised the visa fee alone from €90 to €140, in addition to the fees charged by the service provider handling applications. In Morocco, TLScontact currently charges about 258 dirhams in basic service fees, according to France-Visas.
The surcharge would have been payable only if the visa was granted, when it was issued. It would have been collected once, regardless of the document’s validity period or the number of entries authorized. It was proposed to take effect on January 1, 2027.
A tax expected to raise €102 million
Nicolas Dragon defended the measure by citing the increase in the number of tourist visas issued by France. According to figures presented in his amendment, the number rose from 1.54 million in 2023 to 2.04 million in 2025, an increase of 32.5% in two years. The MP estimated the additional revenue at about €102 million a year.
The government opposed the measure. David Amiel, Minister for Public Action and Accounts, noted that short-stay visa fees are set at the European level under the Community Code on Visas. The Finance Committee had also issued an unfavorable opinion.
For Moroccan applicants, the cost of the process remains a sensitive issue. In addition to consular and service fees, they sometimes incur expenses to obtain an appointment through intermediaries. Application fees already paid are also non-refundable if a visa is refused.
On Bladi.net : No Free Appointments, Only Paid Slots: France Visa Problem Persists in Morocco
A second amendment, submitted by MP Christophe Blanchet, also proposed an additional €50 tax on tourist visas. It too was rejected during the same session, following unfavorable opinions from the committee and the government.
