NEW DELHI: Frequent Indian travellers to Europe will no longer need to go through the hassle of repeatedly applying for Schengen visas. The European Union (EU) last week adopted a “more favourable” visa regime for Indians “with an established travel history, if (their) passport validity allows.” They will now get up to five-year validity Schengen visas.
Though less than America’s 10-year visitor visas and United Kingdom’s option of getting a visa valid for up to the same period by paying over 1lakh as fees, EU officials told TOI five years is also “a big step”.
“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 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,” the EU said in a statement.
The decision was taken on April 18, because 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, with facilitation of people-to-people contacts being of key aspect due to the importance of India as a partner for the EU.”
Before this change, Schengen countries mostly granted short term visas even to frequent travellers to Europe. Six-month, two and five-year visas have been a rarity in India.
And it’s not the visa fees that has to be paid time and again that frequent flyers frown at. The hassle of arranging paperwork for submission time and again is what they find most irksome.
“My clients are often nervous that their visa is expiring the day they have to fly back from Europe to India. The most common question is what happens if they miss the flight or it is cancelled,” said a leading travel agent who did not want to be named. For “established travel history” Indians, that should be a thing of the past now.
Schengen visas allow the holder to travel freely in the Schengen area for short stays of a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. The visas are not purpose-bound, but they do not grant the right to work.
Though less than America’s 10-year visitor visas and United Kingdom’s option of getting a visa valid for up to the same period by paying over 1lakh as fees, EU officials told TOI five years is also “a big step”.
“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 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,” the EU said in a statement.
The decision was taken on April 18, because 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, with facilitation of people-to-people contacts being of key aspect due to the importance of India as a partner for the EU.”
Before this change, Schengen countries mostly granted short term visas even to frequent travellers to Europe. Six-month, two and five-year visas have been a rarity in India.
And it’s not the visa fees that has to be paid time and again that frequent flyers frown at. The hassle of arranging paperwork for submission time and again is what they find most irksome.
“My clients are often nervous that their visa is expiring the day they have to fly back from Europe to India. The most common question is what happens if they miss the flight or it is cancelled,” said a leading travel agent who did not want to be named. For “established travel history” Indians, that should be a thing of the past now.
Schengen visas allow the holder to travel freely in the Schengen area for short stays of a maximum of 90 days in any 180-day period. The visas are not purpose-bound, but they do not grant the right to work.