The European Union has unveiled a new visa scheme, named ‘cascade’, tailored for Indian citizens residing in India who are applying for Schengen visas. This initiative allows Indian travelers to secure multiple-entry visas with extended validity, marking a significant departure from previous regulations. The primary objective of this move is to streamline visa acquisition for individuals with a documented travel history, provided their passport meets the necessary criteria.
Implemented by the European Commission and adopted on April 18, these revised regulations signify a departure from the conventional Visa Code rules applicable to Indian nationals. The new provisions aim to offer more favorable conditions for obtaining multiple-entry visas, reflecting the EU’s commitment to fostering closer ties with India and facilitating tourism and business exchanges between the two regions.
Under the newly established visa “cascade” system for Indian applicants, eligible individuals can acquire long-term, multi-entry Schengen visas with prolonged validity. To qualify for a two-year visa, applicants must have obtained and lawfully utilized two visas within the preceding three years. Subsequently, if their passport maintains sufficient validity, they may typically receive a five-year visa.
During the validity period of these visas, holders enjoy travel privileges equivalent to those of visa-free nationals, enabling them to enter and exit Schengen countries multiple times without the need for separate visas.
This decision to implement the visa regime aligns with the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, which seeks to enhance comprehensive cooperation on migration policy between the two entities. Facilitating people-to-people interactions stands as a pivotal aspect of this collaboration, considering India’s significance as a key partner for the EU across various domains.
Schengen visas afford holders the liberty to travel freely within the Schengen area, encompassing 29 European countries, including 25 EU member states and four non-EU nations (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland). These visas permit short stays of up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
It’s imperative to highlight that Schengen visas are not restricted to a specific purpose, allowing for tourism, business endeavors, or visits to friends and family. Nonetheless, they do not confer the right to work within the Schengen area.
This visa arrangement simplifies travel within Europe, as it obviates the need for travelers to obtain separate visas for each country within the Schengen area, thereby enhancing convenience and accessibility.