"Prolonged Schengen Visas: Which individuals may reap the advantages?"
The Schengen Area is introducing a new visa system, known as the cascade system, designed to streamline and expedite the visa issuance process for frequent, trusted travelers. This tiered scheme rewards individuals with a consistent and lawful travel record to Schengen countries by offering them longer-term multiple-entry Schengen visas.
The cascade system, which was introduced in 2020 as part of the reform of the Schengen Visa Code, aims to reduce bureaucracy for both applicants and EU consulates. Under this system, travelers with at least three Schengen visas in the last two years can receive a 1-year multiple-entry visa. Those who have used a 1-year multiple-entry visa in the past two years can upgrade to a 2-year multiple-entry visa. After holding and properly using a 2-year visa in the last three years, they become eligible for a 5-year multiple-entry visa.
Indian nationals are among the beneficiaries of this new system. They can now apply for up to a five-year Schengen visa, based on their travel history and compliance with rules. Turkish nationals, excluding truck drivers, are also eligible for longer-validity visas (up to one year and potentially longer) under the cascade rules that came into effect recently.
To be eligible, applicants must meet standard visa requirements such as financial means, travel insurance, and a legitimate travel purpose. The system excludes transit or country-specific visas and disqualifies applicants who have misused previous visas, such as those who have overstayed or engaged in illegal activities.
Compliance with the 90-day Schengen rule is essential, as overstaying could undermine the possibility of getting future long-term visas. First-time travellers are typically granted short-term, single-entry visas.
The new EU policy is part of the new immigration policy, granting easier access to citizens from countries that cooperate with the EU on readmissions. The policy gives particular consideration to persons traveling for professional purposes such as business people, seafarers, artists, and athletes.
The Schengen visa, which allows holders to travel freely throughout the 29-country EU/Schengen area, does not grant the right to work. However, it is not tied to a specific purpose. Applicants who are found to have overstayed or worked illegally in the Schengen area will likely be denied access to the extended Schengen visas.
The cascade scheme initially applied to Indian nationals from April 18, 2024, who can obtain a two-year multi-entry Schengen visa after having obtained two visas within the previous three years. Turkish nationals have been eligible for the cascade scheme since July 15, 2025, with a one-year multi-entry Schengen visa, followed by a three-year and then a five-year visa, if the passport has sufficient remaining validity.
The new policy favors regular "trusted travellers" and aims to facilitate "people-to-people contacts." The cascade system is likely to be extended to other countries in the future.
- The cascade system, which was introduced in 2020, utilizes technology to expedite visa issuance and reduce bureaucracy for both applicants and EU consulates, offering longer-term multiple-entry visas to travelers with a consistent and lawful travel record.
- The Schengen Area's new visa policy, which favors trusted travelers, also grants easier access to citizens from countries that cooperate with the EU on readmissions, particularly those traveling for professional purposes such as businesspeople, seafarers, artists, and athletes.
- With the cascade system, those who have met standard visa requirements, including a legitimate travel purpose, financial means, and travel insurance, may obtain a 5-year multiple-entry Schengen visa if they have a clear travel history and have complied with rules, provided they do not engage in illegal activities or overstay their visas.
