New Schengen Visa Rules Benefit Indians: Get the Details Now

The European Commission recently introduced a new visa “cascade” regime designed to streamline the visa application process for Indian nationals residing in India who seek Schengen (short-stay) visas. This regime aims to provide easier access to visas with multi-year validity for travelers with an established travel history. The implementation of this regime is more favorable than the previous standard rules of the Visa Code, representing a significant development. Under the newly adopted visa “cascade” regime for India, Indian nationals can now be issued long-term, multi-entry Schengen visas valid for two years after having obtained and lawfully used two visas within the previous three years.

Additionally, the two-year visa can be followed by a five-year visa, provided that the passport has sufficient remaining validity. Holders of these visas enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals during the validity period. This decision is part of the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, which seeks to enhance cooperation on migration policy between the EU and India. Facilitation of people-to-people contacts is a key aspect of this agenda, given the importance of India as a partner for the EU.

It is important to note that Schengen visas allow the holder to travel freely in the Schengen area for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. However, these visas do not grant the right to work. The Schengen area comprises 29 European countries, including 25 EU states, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. Overall, the introduction of the new visa “cascade” regime represents a significant step towards enhancing travel and cooperation between the EU and India, with the aim of facilitating smoother and more accessible travel for Indian nationals.