On 18 April 2024, the European Commission adopted specific rules on the issuing of multiple entry visas to Indian nationals, which are more favourable than the standard rules of the Visa Code that applied to date.
Key points
- This new visa ‘cascade’ regime for Indian nationals residing in India who apply for Schengen (short-stay) visas in India will provide easier access to visas with multi-year validity for travellers with an established travel history, if the passport validity allows.
- According to 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.
- While these Schengen visas grant freedom of travel across the Schengen area, they do not permit employment.
Schengen Visa Area
- The Schengen Area is one of the greatest achievements of the EU.
- It is an area without internal borders, an area within which citizens and many non-EU nationals staying legally in the EU can freely circulate without being subjected to border checks.
- Since 1985, it has gradually grown and encompasses almost all EU Member States and a few associated non-EU countries.
- The Schengen area consists of 29 European countries (of which 25 are EU states).
