Indian nationals may now seek for longer-validity Schengen visa with multiple entries.
With improved ties under the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, the Schengen visa regulations have been amended.
Improved Schengen Visa Prospects for Indian Citizens Through EU-India Migration Collaboration
Indian citizens will now be eligible to apply for longer-validity Schengen visas with multiple entries thanks to changes made to the EU’s visa regulations.
29 European nations, including Croatia, the Netherlands, Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, and Germany, are accessible to holders of the Schengen visa. The legislation has been modified in view of the stronger links between the EU and India, according to the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility. This data is accessible on the European Union’s (EU) official website.
This plan of action seeks to enable full cooperation between the European Union and India on migration policy, with an emphasis on promoting people-to-people ties, given the importance of India as an EU partner.
Which regulations have changed?
The ‘cascade’ system, which was agreed by the European Commission on April 18, 2024, establishes new guidelines for Indian countries applying for Schengen visas.
According to reports, this new system will make it simpler for citizens of Indian countries living in India to obtain multi-year Schengen visas. As per the recently implemented “cascade” visa policy for India, citizens of India are eligible to apply for and be granted long-term, multiple-entry Schengen visas that are valid for a period of two years, provided they have legally secured and utilised two visas in the preceding three years. A five-year visa will typically follow the two-year visa if there is still sufficient validity on the passport. The validity period of these visas allows their holders to travel with the same freedoms as citizens of other countries.
What is a visa for Schengen?
A Schengen visa is an authorization to enter nations that are a part of the Schengen area for a brief, transitory stay. It gives the bearer unrestricted travel rights inside the region for a maximum of ninety days within a 180-day period.
Interestingly, Schengen visas are not purpose-limited, but they also do not confer employment rights.