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Be it Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol hanging out in the Alps of Switzerland, Kangana Ranaut’s time on her self-discovery trip in Amsterdam, or the time when Deepika Padukone and Ranbir Kapoor met and fell in love on a small French island called Corsica. , and many such Bollywood films have fueled the Euro travel dreams of Indians. And the coveted Schengen visa is the gateway to fulfilling dreams. However, the chances of getting rejected are also very high.
Travel website MakeMyTrip’s recent India Travel Trends report found that 25% of Indians have taken more than three trips per year since 2019, to some emerging international destinations including Tbilisi, Georgia. Other top destinations for long-haul flights include London as well as Toronto and New York.
schengen visa just got easier
Therefore, recently, in order to promote stronger relations with India, the European Union (EU) has introduced some welcome changes in its visa process. “Travel to Europe just got easier!” EU Ambassador Hervé Delfin announced in X on Monday (April 22).
Schengen visa (( 7,111 for adults, ₹3,555 (€40 for children aged 6 to 12 and while children under six are free) gives you access to the European Union which includes 29 European countries. They 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. , Sweden, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
With the new visa ‘cascade’ arrangement, Indians “with an established travel history, if passport validity permits”, will benefit. They can use long-term, multiple-entry visas, which will streamline travel plans for those venturing into the Schengen area.
According to the European Commission, the Schengen visa is an entry permit for a short visit. This may allow you temporary entry for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. This visa can be obtained in two forms – a single-entry visa, which allows a person to enter the Schengen area once, or a multiple-entry visa, which allows multiple visits to different areas until valid. Allows.
So what is the Cascade Visa?
Indians can be issued a Schengen visa valid for two to five years. Once a person applies for and uses two visas within the last three years, they can get a two-year visa, followed by a visa valid for five years, which is equivalent to the validity of the passport. Is subordinate. These visas are not purpose-bound and do not allow you to work in any EU country.
According to a statement from the European Commission (European Delegation to India and Bhutan), these visa holders can enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-exempt citizens i.e. citizens. Travel in the Schengen Area and enjoy short stays for a maximum of 90 days out of 180 days per year and up to 900 days over five years, although not continuously. The system is designed to reward repeat travelers with progressively longer visas. Another benefit is that Indians can visit more than 37 countries outside the Schengen area visa-free.
Previously, unlike US visas, Schengen visas were lengthy due to their shorter validity, with visitors getting one year. It also required many applications, which involved a lot of paperwork for those who traveled frequently. Moreover, earlier states had no standard policy for issuing long-term visas. Some followed a quick process, while others took one to two months.
How long does it take to get a visa?
Previously, the time taken to obtain a visa depended on where in the EU you wanted to visit. While some countries complete their process in around 15 days, other embassies may take up to 30 to 60 days to process the visa.
Travelers must submit their visa application to the Consulate at least 15 days before their travel. However, it cannot be deposited more than six months before your intended date of travel.
Travel agencies on new rules
Rajeev Kale – President and Country Head, Holidays, MICE, Visa – Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., says, “While the appeal of extraordinary/exclusive locations is undeniable, the fundamental change is the growing desire of the new age Indian consumers to invest in themselves. , against traditional options like gold, real estate and luxury goods. Therefore, we are seeing a rise in the Indian consumer’s consideration set in Europe. continues to remain and consumers are increasing their willingness to spend as our data shows an increase of over 60% for premium/luxe destinations.” According to their data, demand from Scandic countries like Finland along with Iceland is up by 35%. More hikes have increased and include husky safaris, glass igloos or staying in a traditional log cabin with spectacular views of the Northern Lights.
“The Indian traveler is discerning, looking for unusual destinations and keen to explore places in depth. Destinations like Bulgaria and Romania have emerged in the EU [as a new favourite for travellers] Following their entry into the Schengen visa,” explains Daniel D’Souza, President and Country Head – Holidays, SOTC Travel. He further adds that these areas have seen a 25-30% increase in searches.
Bulgaria and Romania are now part of the visa-free Schengen area
After 13 years of effort, Bulgaria and Romania are part of Europe’s Schengen area as of March 2024. This will facilitate seamless air and sea travel, eliminating the need for border checks within the Schengen area. With this move, tourists flying into these countries will not require separate visas and can use their Schengen visas. Those traveling by road will need additional documents.
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