Nationals of India are now eligible for multiple-entry Schengen visas with longer validity as the European Union has adopted more favorable rules for them.
On April 18, 2024, the Commission of the European Union decided to facilitate the visa obtaining rules for Indians who have an established travel history as part of its move to make travel to the bloc easier and more convenient, VisaGuide.World reports.
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.
New Visa Rules Applicable Only to Indians With Previous Travel History
In line with the new rules that the EU has introduced, Indian passport holders will be able to obtain multiple-entry visas with a validity of up to two years, provided that they have previously obtained and lawfully used two Schengen visas within the last three years.
The two-year multiple entry visa will then, in most cases, be followed by a five-year visa if the applicant’s passport has sufficient validity remaining.
Indians who obtain a multiple-entry Schengen visa with a longer validity enjoy the same privileges as nationals of countries that have a visa-free regime with the EU.
On the basis of the multiple-entry visa, Indian nationals will be able to enter the Schengen Area multiple times a year, provided that their visa is valid. Nonetheless, they still need to follow the 90/180-day rule.
While the visa-obtaining rules have been eased for frequent travellers, the case is not the same for the others. Indian nationals who have not held two Schengen visas in the past and who do not have travel history in the bloc will be issued a single entry visa with shorter validity in the majority of cases.
Only when they establish travel history will they be eligible to obtain multiple-entry visas with longer validity.
How Does This Change Affect Indian Students?
The decision of the EU to start issuing multiple-entry visas with longer validity to Indians will not have an impact on Indians planning to pursue their studies in the EU.
While Indian students will be able to use the multiple-entry Schengen visa with a longer validity for study visits, cultural exploration or short internships, they will still need to obtain a national visa when planning to study and stay in the Schengen Area for more than three months within any six-month period during a year.
In case the visa rules are breached, Indian students and all the other holders of a multiple-entry Schengen visa risk being deported and banned from entering the Schengen Area for several years.