Heads up, travelers! The stipulations for being granted a Schengen visa has now been made clearer.
An updated Visa Code was posted by the EU last February 2, where it introduced a specific set of rules and requirements applicants must attain if they’re vying for a multiple-entry visa. According to the official Schengen visa website, the new code applies to all 26 embassies, consulates, and visa centers.
Included in the updated requirements for a multiple-entry visa are the applicants’ travel history.
For a vailidity period of one year. “Provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used three visas within the previous two years.”
For a validity period of two years. “Provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for one year within the previous two years;
For a validity period of five years. “Provided that the applicant has obtained and lawfully used a previous multiple-entry visa valid for two years within the previous three years,” the updated Visa Code explains.
Aside from one’s travel history within the Schengen area, other requirements also include:
- "The traveler must have a reason why he/she needs to enter the Schengen Area multiple times in the following year(s)."
- "The traveler must have a clean visa history, which means he/she never overstayed the validity of a visa in the Schengen Area or worked illegally."
- "The traveler must have a clean criminal record back at home."
- "The traveler must present traveler’s insurance for their first trip to the Schengen Area under the multiple entry visa applied for."
A Schengen Visa holder can freely visit countries included in the Europeanan Union: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
