New Visa Rules in Schengen Area Bring Good News for Indian Citizens. Get Details Here.

The European Commission has adopted specific rules for Indian nationals residing in India who apply for Schengen visas, creating a visa “cascade” regime. This new regime aims to provide easier access to visas with multi-year validity for travelers with an established travel history, if their passport allows. The rules are more favorable than the standard Visa Code and will allow Indian nationals to 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. Following the two-year visa, a five-year visa can be issued if the passport has sufficient validity remaining.

During the validity period of these visas, holders enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals. This decision is a part of the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, which seeks comprehensive cooperation on migration policy. Schengen visas allow the holder to travel freely in the Schengen area for short stays of a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. It should be noted, however, that the visas are not purpose-bound and do not grant the right to work.

The Schengen area consists of 29 European countries, of which 25 are EU states, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.