Indian Traveller Receives 5-Year Multiple-Entry Schengen Visa In 4 days. Wait, How?
An Indian traveller on Reddit surprised everyone by claiming they received a Schengen Visa with a five-year multiple-entry benefit within just four working days.
A social media user has caught the attention of fellow travellers and visa applicants online after securing a five-year multiple-entry Schengen visa. The user surprised many by revealing they received the long-term visa from the French Consulate in Bengaluru, and shared a detailed account of how they achieved it.
The Reddit user, an Indian passport holder, shared that their five-year Schengen visa was processed within just four working days. They also mentioned having held three Schengen visas in the past two years, issued by Germany and Spain, with the most recent Spanish visa being valid for only 45 days.
The post instantly rolled the eyes of fellow travellers and visa applicants facing hurdles against their foreign travel plans.
What Was Their Strategy?
In response to a query about the application process, the user explained that they hadn't explicitly applied for a five-year visa. Instead, they requested a longer validity in their cover letter, which may have influenced the consulate's decision. As part of their documentation, they submitted both their original passport and scanned copies of all stamped pages from their current and expired passports.
When asked why scanned copies were necessary despite submitting original documents, the Reddit user clarified that photocopies of each stamped passport page were a mandatory requirement. They also emphasised the importance of selecting the 'multiple entry" option on the application form and requesting a longer validity period in the cover letter.
Travellers with a consistent travel history benefit significantly under the Schengen cascade visa scheme. For instance, Indian citizens who have held two Schengen visas within a three-year period may qualify for a two-year multiple-entry visa. This can be extended up to five years, provided the applicant's passport remains valid for the full duration. The visa allows travel to all 29 EU/Schengen countries, though it does not permit employment and limits stays to 90 days within any 180-day period.
'These long-term Schengen visas mark the start of a new EU policy that supports frequent travellers and aims to strengthen people-to-people contacts," the European Commission said in a statement.
What Exactly Is 'Cascade Visa Scheme"
Introduced as part of the 2020 Schengen Visa Code reform, the cascade system operates on a tier-based structure for visa validity depending on prior usage.
A one-year visa validity applies if the traveller has used three Schengen visas in the previous two years.
It is extended to two years in case the traveller used a 1-year multiple-entry visa within the last two years.
A full five-year visa validity stands in scenarios involving the usage of a 2-year multiple-entry visa in the previous three years.
Location :
Delhi, India, India
First Published:
July 31, 2025, 09:34 IST
News viral Indian Traveller Receives 5-Year Multiple-Entry Schengen Visa In 4 days. Wait, How?
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