Certain non-EU nationals, including Indian citizens, can benefit from a new type of Schengen visa, which rewards travellers with an established travel history, and allows multiple entries to the EU/Schengen area over a long period of time.
During the validity of these visas, holders enjoy travel rights equivalent to visa-free nationals throughout the 29-country EU/Schengen area, the European Commission says.
The visas are not tied to a purpose, but do not grant the right to work.
This specific type of Schengen visa has been dubbed the “cascade” scheme (more on this below) but how does it work and who can obtain it?
So far the scheme applies to citizens from just three countries, but it’s likely to be extended to others in the future.
Indian nationals
The first to benefit from the scheme were Indian nationals, who have been able to apply for a long-term Schengen visa since 18 April 2024. They can obtain a multi-entry Schengen visa valid for two years after having obtained two visas within the previous three years.
The two-year visa can then be followed by a five-year visa, if the passport is valid long enough.
Turkish nationals
Similar provisions have applied to Turkish nationals (except truck drivers) since July 15th 2025. 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 one-year visa can then be followed by a three-year and then a five-year one, if the passport has sufficient remaining validity.
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Indonesian nationals
As of July 23rd 2025, Indonesian nationals can be issued multi-entry Schengen visas valid for five years “after having obtained and lawfully used one Schengen visa within the previous three years”.
READ ALSO: What problems lie ahead for the EU’s ‘border-free’ Schengen zone
New policy
These long-term Schengen visas mark the start of a new EU policy that favours regular “trusted travellers” and aims to facilitate “people-to-people contacts”, according to the EU Commission press statements.
They also reflect diplomatic priorities and form part of the new EU immigration policy, which grants easier access to citizens from countries, whose governments cooperate with the EU on readmissions.
“Member States should have particular regard for persons travelling for the purpose of exercising their profession, such as business people, seafarers, artists and athletes,” says the regulation.
“More favourable approaches in issuing multiple-entry visas with a long period of validity should take into account, in particular, the existence of trade agreements covering the mobility of business persons,” it says.
The ‘cascade’ system and the 90-day rule
The so-called ‘cascade system’ is a tiered visas regime which grants progressively a longer length of validity depending on the travel history of the applicant.
It was introduced with the reform of the Schengen Visa Code in 2020. As a general rule, it allows a multiple-entry visa valid for 1 year, if the applicant has used three visas within the previous 2 years; 2 years, if the applicant has used a 1-year multiple-entry visa in the previous 2 years; 5 years, if the applicant has used a 2-year multiple-entry visa in the previous 3 years.
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Despite the extended visa validity periods, the 90 day Schengen rule still applies, meaning visa holders can only stay a maximum 90 days in any 180-day period. Compliance with this rule is essential, as overstaying could undermine the possibility to get future long-term visas. Applicants who are found to have overstayed or worked illegally in the Schengen area will likely be denied access to the extended Schengen visas.
First-time travellers are typically granted short-term, single-entry visas, upon which they can start building their travel history.
Airport transit visas and visas limited to a particular country are not taken into account.
Applicants also have to apply in the country of their nationality (for instance, Indonesian nationals have to reside and apply from Indonesia) and provide proof of their reasons for travel.
