New Delhi: Indian citizens will soon be able to get a five-year, multi-entry Schengen visa stamped on their passports, after the European Union (EU) adopted specific rules regarding travellers from the country on 18 April.
This will be a first for Indians.
Announced by the EU delegation to India and Bhutan Monday, the rules will make it easier for regular Indian travellers to get the visa under the “new cascade regime”.
The delegation’s statement read: “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.”
It added that during the validity period of these visas, holders will “enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals”.
EU ambassador to India Hervé Delphin lauded the new rules saying the EU had taken another step “towards enhancing people-to-people contact with India” His post on X further said: “New #Schengen #visa regime gives Indian frequent travellers access to multi-year visa (up to 5y.). Europe delivers on the partnership!”
Travel to Europe made easy! ✈️
⁰🇪🇺 takes another step towards enhancing people-to-people contact with 🇮🇳.⁰New #Schengen #visa regime gives 🇮🇳 frequent travellers access to multi-year visa (up to 5 y.) Europe delivers on the partnership!
Know More 👉 https://t.co/6EzlUF8jrR pic.twitter.com/ELhZdCfI83
— Hervé Delphin (@EUAmbIndia) April 22, 2024
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The new “favourable” visa regime for Indians comes as part of the India-EU Common Agenda on Migration and Mobility (CAMM) — first signed between the two partners on 29 March, 2016.
The joint declaration on CAMM was signed with a goal “to facilitate the mutually beneficial movement of persons between India and the European Union, while ensuring the better management of these migration flows and mobility”.
“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. The Schengen area consists of 29 European countries (of which 25 are EU states),” said the EU delegation in its statement.
The EU states covered by Schengen area 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.
Countries that are not members of the European Union, but members of the Schengen area include Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland (European Free Trade Association).
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
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