European Union Revises Schengen Visa Guidelines for Frequent Indian Travelers
The European Union has taken a significant step to facilitate travel for Indian nationals by adopting new visa regulations. These rules enable frequent travelers from India to apply for multiple-entry Schengen visas with extended validity, allowing them to visit 29 European countries with greater ease.
The revised regulations, announced by EU Ambassador Hervé Delphin, provide for a ‘visa cascade’ system for Indian citizens residing in India who apply for short-stay Schengen visas. Under this system, those with an established travel history can obtain multi-year visas with increasing validity periods.
Initially, Indian nationals can receive a two-year, multi-entry Schengen visa after obtaining and utilizing two previous visas within three years. This is followed by a five-year visa if their passport remains valid. During these validity periods, visa holders enjoy travel privileges comparable to visa-free nationals.
The Schengen area encompasses 25 EU member states and four non-EU countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The new rules surpass the standard Schengen visa code provisions, reflecting the EU’s commitment to enhance people-to-people connections with India.
Schengen visas allow holders to travel freely within the Schengen zone for short stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. These visas are not tied to a specific purpose but do not confer the right to work.
