Schengen Visa Rules: New Cascade System Explained

EU Prioritizes Business and Student Schengen Visa Applications

Germany's Consul General in Izmir, Ralf Schröer, confirmed that Turkish business professionals and students now receive priority processing for Schengen visas. Tourists, however, may face wait times of several months due to high demand.

Understanding the Cascade Rule for Schengen Visas

The European Commission's updated Visa Code Handbook, published June 26, 2024, formalizes the Cascade Rule for Schengen visa validity:

• First-time applicants typically receive single-entry or short-term multiple-entry visas
• After 2 years with 3 properly used visas: eligibility for 1-year multiple-entry visas
• After proper use of 1-year visa: potential for 2-year validity
• After 3 years with properly used 2-year visa: possible 5-year visa

Exceptions and Implementation

The Cascade Rule isn't absolute - consulates may issue shorter validity when:

• There's reasonable doubt about applicant intentions
• For fixed-duration contracts (e.g., construction projects)

Turkey's Schengen Visa Statistics

Recent EU data shows:

• 1,173,917 applications from Turkey in 2024 (2nd highest after China)
• 993,875 approvals (84.5% approval rate, up from 83.9% in 2023)
• 645,583 multiple-entry visas issued

Ongoing Visa Challenges

Despite improving statistics, practical issues remain:

• Appointment wait times persist for Turkish applicants
• Visa liberalization talks stalled over 6 unmet criteria
• EU Parliament calls for increased processing capacity