Brussels: The European Union has announced new visa rules to facilitate easier travel for Indian citizens ahead of the summer vacations in the country. The 27-member European bloc has a new ‘cascade’ visa regime for Indian nationals applying for Schengen (short-stay) visas, which will provide them with long-term visas with multi-year validity, a big change from earlier visa requirements.
The European Commission had adopted specific rules on the issuing of multiple entry visas to Indian nationals on April 18, according to an official statement. Under the newly adopted ‘cascade’ regime, 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, as per the laws. During the validity period of these visas, holders…