Home » VISA AND PASSPORT NEWS » More Indians Could Travel to Europe Easily Soon: EU Reveals New Policy Direction for Easier Entry in 2025
Monday, May 12, 2025
Big news in the global travel and tourism sector — especially for Indian travelers eyeing Europe. In a candid acknowledgement, the Deputy Head of the European Union (EU) Delegation to India, Ewa Suwara, has officially recognized the ongoing challenges Indian nationals face while applying for Schengen visas.
Despite recent reforms aimed at easing the process, Suwara noted that structural limitations—chiefly the lack of a centralized European Union visa system—continue to frustrate Indian applicants, whether for short-term tourism, business trips, or long-term work stays.
This comes at a time when Indian outbound tourism is surging, and Europe remains a top destination for leisure, study, and professional mobility. In response, the European Union is signaling renewed intent to streamline visa access and foster stronger EU–India travel ties under the umbrella of the EU-India Year of Partnership 2025.
🇪🇺 What the EU Is Saying: “We Need Each Other”
Speaking to Business Standard, Suwara emphasized that India and the EU are strategic partners with mutual benefits to gain — particularly in mobility, trade, and tourism.
“We need each other, and we can benefit from each other. Yes, we can work on simplifying processes, but that requires discussion. It is an ongoing process.”
– Ewa Suwara, Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation to India
Her comments underscore that despite diplomatic goodwill and improved frameworks, the Schengen visa journey remains cumbersome for many Indian applicants.
This is not just a bureaucratic issue — it’s also a significant obstacle for tourism operators, airline networks, study abroad agencies, and event planners, all of whom depend on predictable, efficient travel authorization systems.
🧳 The Current Schengen Visa Problem for Indians
- No centralized EU system: Indian travelers must apply individually to the country they plan to visit first or spend the most time in
- Inconsistent processing times: Wait times and approval speeds vary widely from country to country
- Appointment shortages: Due to high demand, appointment slots are limited, often exploited by illegal brokers charging high fees
- Black market booking: Reports have emerged of slots being sold illegally in India, especially for popular countries like France, Germany, Italy, and the Netherlands
📝 A Step in the Right Direction: The “Cascade” Visa Reform
In response to growing demand and applicant frustration, the EU adopted a “cascade regime” for Indian travelers in April 2024 — a policy designed to reward travel history and promote longer-term engagement.
What the cascade regime includes:
- Multiple-entry visas for two years to applicants who have lawfully used two Schengen visas within the past three years
- Follow-up five-year visas for those who continue to comply with visa regulations and whose passports have sufficient validity
- Goal: Build trust and reduce administrative redundancy for repeat travelers
This move was widely applauded by the Indian business and tourism community, but its benefits remain limited to frequent travelers. First-time applicants and those without recent Schengen history continue to face shorter-term visas and more paperwork.
📈 High Demand, Long Waits: Indian Travelers Want More
India is currently among the top five countries applying for Schengen visas. In fact, demand for Schengen visas among Indians surged by 29% in the first half of 2025, reflecting pent-up post-pandemic travel and increased business travel.
But with demand comes capacity issues, and delays at embassies and visa centers have sparked criticism from tour operators and education counselors.
Tourism experts say this bottleneck is not only damaging EU’s brand among Indian travelers but is also pushing some toward more accessible destinations like Southeast Asia, the UAE, or Central Asia.
🗺️ Why This Matters to Indian Tourists and the European Union
- Tourism Revenue at Risk: European tourism boards rely heavily on high-spending Indian tourists for summer and winter seasons
- Education and Business Mobility: Delayed visas affect students, conference attendees, and professional exchanges
- Strategic Global Shift: With India poised to become the world’s third-largest air travel market by 2030, smoother visa access is critical for future cooperation
💬 EU’s Strategic Signal: “India Is Welcome”
Suwara reiterated that 2025, as the Year of EU–India, is intended to promote better understanding, stronger engagement, and visible efforts to bridge administrative gaps.
The campaign includes:
- More cultural exchanges and travel summits
- Pilot discussions on digital visa platforms
- Calls for more visa centers and processing staff in India’s Tier-2 cities
While there is no commitment yet to centralize the Schengen visa system, EU officials have hinted that India is one of the few non-EU countries being prioritized for new mobility reforms.
🧠 Expert View: Simplification = Travel Surge
Travel leaders and mobility experts are unanimous: simplifying visa access for Indians could unlock billions in tourism and educational spending for EU states.
Key recommendations include:
- Implementing e-visa options or faster biometric verification
- Expanding consular capacity during peak tourist seasons
- Preventing slot scalping with secure appointment platforms
- Creating a unified tracking dashboard for applicants
🛂 Will the EU Act on Illegal Visa Brokers?
While visa demand is not in the EU’s direct control, it is increasingly being urged to combat the black market in appointments — a problem now prevalent in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru.
Applicants report being asked to pay between ₹5,000–₹30,000 (approx. €55–€330) just to get a slot, which undermines EU’s credibility and burdens honest travelers.
The Swedish Embassy in Bangladesh has already issued a warning stating fake documents and unauthorized intermediaries will result in immediate rejection. Indian missions may soon follow suit.
🔍 What’s Next?
While a fully centralized EU visa platform remains a long-term goal, the pressure to act is mounting. The next phase of the Schengen system — the Entry/Exit System (EES) and the ETIAS digital travel authorization — will add new layers of processing complexity.
Without a serious upgrade to how India–Schengen visa traffic is managed, both travelers and European Union stakeholders may suffer from delays, missed opportunities, and economic loss.
✈️ Final Takeaway for Indian Travelers
If you’re planning a trip to Europe in 2025, here’s what you should do:
- Start early: Apply at least 8–10 weeks in advance
- Use official channels: Avoid intermediaries who offer “guaranteed slots”
- Build a travel history: Lawful use of prior visas may qualify you for long-term access
- Stay updated: Follow embassy websites and the EU delegation in India for real-time changes
🔹 QUICK BULLET WRAP-UP
- European Union acknowledges visa process for Indians is complicated and fragmented
- Cascade visa system gives longer visas to frequent Indian travelers
- Appointment delays, black-market slots hurting tourism and study travel
- EU-India 2025 aims to strengthen ties and streamline processes
- High visa demand makes system reform urgent and economically vital
Tags: air india, EU tourism, EU-India Year 2025, Europe, europe tourism news, european union, India, Indian air travel, Indian international tourism, Indian Tourism, IndiGo Airlines, international visa policy, schengen area, Schengen visa, South asia tourism news, Tourism news, Travel, travel industry
