Schengen Visa Scheme

Schengen Visa Latest News

Indian travellers with a clean visa history now have access to a fast-tracked, long-term Schengen visa under a new “cascade” system rolled out by the European Commission.

About Schengen Visa

• A Schengen visa is an entry permit that allows non-EU nationals to temporarily visit or transit through the Schengen Area, which comprises 29 European countries. 
• Within this area, there are no internal borders, allowing for unrestricted movement between the countries.
• The visa is valid for up to 90 days within a 180-day period, which begins the day you enter a Schengen country. 
• You can enter and leave the area multiple times, but the total stay must not exceed 90 days within the 180-day period.
• Schengen visas are issued for various purposes, such as tourism, business, visiting family, medical treatment, and participation in cultural or sporting events.
• The visas do not give the right to work.

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Which Countries Issue Schengen Visas?

• There are currently 29 European countries in the Schengen.
• Members of this area include 25 of the 27 EU member states (except for Cyprus and Ireland) and all members of the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland).
• Being part of this area means that countries:
  • Do not carry out checks at their internal borders, except in cases of specific threats;
  • Carry out harmonized controls at their external borders, based on clearly defined criteria.

The Cascade Visa Scheme

• The cascade visa scheme rewards “trusted travellers” with a documented travel record. 
• Indian citizens who have obtained two Schengen visas within the past three years are now eligible for a two-year multi-entry visa. 
• This can later be upgraded to a five-year visa, provided their passport is valid for the full term.
• During its validity, the visa allows holders to travel freely across the Schengen area, mirroring the travel rights of visa-free nationals. 
• However, the visa does not grant the right to work and still limits stays to 90 days within any 180-day period.
• It applies a tiered structure for visa validity based on prior usage:
  • 1-year visa if the traveller used three Schengen visas in the previous two years.
  • 2-year visa if they used a 1-year multiple-entry visa in the previous two years.
  • 5-year visa if they used a 2-year multiple-entry visa in the previous three years.

Source: BT