EU eases multiple-entry Schengen visa regime for frequent travellers in India
- In Reports
- 10:24 PM, Apr 22, 2024
- Myind Staff
The EU has introduced fresh visa regulations enabling regular visitors from India to seek multiple-entry Schengen visas valid for longer durations, easing travel to 29 European nations.
European Union's ambassador to India Herve Delphin described the new visa regime as another step towards enhancing people-to-people contact between the two sides.
"On April 18, 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," an EU readout said.
The new rules are more favourable than the standard rules of the Schengen visa code that applied to date, the EU delegation to India said in a statement.
The updated visa "cascade" system for Indian nationals residing in India applying for Schengen (short-stay) visas within India aims to offer simpler access to visas with multi-year validity for travellers with a proven travel record.
"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," the readout said.
"The two-year visa will normally be followed by a five-year visa, if the passport has sufficient validity remaining. During the validity period of these visas, holders enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals," it said.
The decision was made in the “context of strengthened relations under the EU-India Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility, which seeks comprehensive cooperation on migration policy between the EU and India”. The common agenda is also aimed at facilitating people-to-people contacts “due to the importance of India as a partner for the EU”.
Schengen visas enable holders to freely travel within the Schengen area for short stays, capped at a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period. These visas are not tied to a specific purpose, but they do not confer the right to work.
The Schengen area consists of 29 European countries of which 25 are EU states.
The countries are Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Spain, France, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Image source: AP
Comments