"Duration of Schengen Visas: Which Individuals May Profit from Long-Term Options?"
The European Union (EU) has introduced a new policy aimed at facilitating travel for regular "trusted travelers" and promoting "people-to-people contacts." Known as the cascade scheme for long-term Schengen visas, this initiative allows frequent travelers with a proven travel history to obtain multi-year multiple-entry visas more easily.
The cascade scheme is particularly beneficial for Indian citizens who have been granted at least two Schengen visas within the past three years. Eligible applicants can apply for a two-year multiple-entry Schengen visa. After using the two-year visa during a valid period, they can request an upgrade to a five-year multiple-entry visa, provided their passport is valid for the full visa duration.
The scheme favors business travellers, seafarers, artists, athletes, and others with trade or cultural mobility ties and is part of the EU’s broader policy to facilitate trusted travelers under agreements on migration and readmission. It's important to note that the visa does not permit employment in Schengen countries.
The cascade scheme operates under several key conditions:
- Only holders of regular Schengen visas count towards eligibility; airport transit visas and visas limited to a single Schengen country do not.
- Applications must be made from the applicant’s home country (e.g., Indians must apply within India).
- Visa officers have discretion to grant longer visas beyond two years once eligibility conditions are met and after evaluating the applicant’s travel record and purpose.
- The visa allows travel to all countries in the Schengen Area, but the 90/180 rule applies—stays cannot exceed 90 days within any 180-day period.
The Schengen visa (including under the cascade scheme) grants access to the entire Schengen Area, which currently includes 29 countries: 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, Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
As of July 15, 2025, Turkish nationals (except truck drivers) have been eligible for the cascade Schengen visa. Turkish nationals can apply for a one-year multi-entry Schengen visa after having obtained two visas for Schengen countries within the previous three years. The visa can be upgraded to a five-year multiple-entry visa if the passport has sufficient remaining validity.
Starting from April 18, 2024, Indian nationals have also been eligible for the cascade Schengen visa. Similarly, after having obtained two visas within the previous three years, Indian nationals can obtain a multi-entry Schengen visa valid for two years.
Under the cascade system, a multiple-entry visa valid for 5 years can be obtained by Indian nationals if their passport is valid long enough. The system also allows a multiple-entry visa valid for 1 year if the applicant has used three visas within the previous 2 years.
Applicants must apply in the country of their nationality and provide proof of their reasons for travel. The cascade system is a tiered visas regime that grants progressively a longer length of validity depending on the travel history of the applicant. First-time travellers are typically granted short-term, single-entry visas.
In summary, the cascade scheme rewards frequent travelers from countries that cooperate with the EU on migration (such as India and Turkey) by enabling easier access to valid, long-duration multi-entry Schengen visas covering all member countries, under the condition of a good travel record and compliance with visa rules.
The cascade scheme for long-term Schengen visas is a beneficial initiative for frequent Indian travelers, granting them the opportunity to apply for a two-year multiple-entry Schengen visa after obtaining at least two Schengen visas within the past three years. Eligible applicants can then request an upgrade to a five-year multiple-entry visa, given their passport remains valid for the full visa duration.
The visa allows travel to all countries in the Schengen Area, with the 90/180 rule applying, stipulating that stays cannot exceed 90 days within any 180-day period.
Starting from April 18, 2024, Indian nationals, like their Turkish counterparts as of July 15, 2025, have been eligible for the cascade Schengen visa, making it easier for them to access multi-year, multiple-entry visas, provided they satisfy the eligibility criteria and adhere to visa rules.
