by The European Union has unveiled a fresh visa initiative dubbed “cascade” tailored for Indian residents in India applying for Schengen visas. This program enables Indian travelers to secure multiple-entry visas with extended validity, aiming to streamline visa access for individuals with a verified travel history, contingent upon their passport’s eligibility.
Approved by the European Commission on April 18th, this recent endeavor signifies a departure from conventional Visa Code regulations for Indian citizens. These revised guidelines offer more favorable conditions for obtaining multiple entry visas, showcasing the EU’s dedication to bolstering ties with India and fostering tourism and business interactions between the two regions.
Under the newly instituted visa “cascade” framework for India, Indian nationals can avail themselves of long-term, multi-entry Schengen visas with prolonged validity. To qualify for a two-year visa, applicants must have previously secured and utilized two visas within the preceding three years. Subsequently, provided their passport retains adequate validity, they are typically eligible for a five-year visa.
Throughout the tenure of these visas, holders enjoy travel privileges equivalent to those of visa-exempt nationals. This entitles them to traverse Schengen countries multiple times without the need for separate visa applications.
The EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility includes the implementation of this novel regime to bolster collaboration between the two regions. This initiative underscores the significance of nurturing people-to-people interactions to fortify EU-India relations across various domains.
Schengen visas afford holders unrestricted travel within the Schengen area, encompassing 29 European countries, comprising 25 EU member states and four non-EU nations (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland). These visas facilitate short stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
