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A Reddit user from India has gone viral after revealing how they secured a five-year multiple-entry Schengen visa from the French consulate in Bengaluru in just four working days — without using an agent or prior international travel experience.
How they did it: No agent, clear documents
In a detailed post on the r/schengenvisa subreddit, the user credited his success to submitting clear, well-labelled documents, and using Reddit templates for his cover letter and itinerary. He applied under the European Commission’s “cascade” regime, which grants longer-term visas to frequent travellers.
Though the user initially made Italy the primary stay instead of France in his itinerary, he fixed the issue quickly with free printouts and updated hotel bookings via VFS.
What helped? Strong travel history and attention to detail
The applicant had visited 32 countries and held three recent Schengen visas from Germany and Spain. His latest, from Spain, was valid for just 45 days.
He said clearly labelled documents documents allowed visa officers to process the file quickly. The post triggered a wave of comments, with users eager to know exactly what he submitted.
What worked in his favour:
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Travel history to 32 countries
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3 Schengen visas from Germany and Spain in the last 2 years
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Recent Schengen visa from Spain valid for just 45 days
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No agent, just a self-prepared application using Reddit templates
Here’s what he submitted:
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Detailed travel itinerary
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Proof of accommodation
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Travel insurance
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Financial documents
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Strong travel history and old visas
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Personalised cover letter (via Reddit template)
Applying for a Schengen visa from India?
These smart, proven steps can boost your chances—especially if you’re eyeing a long-term, multiple-entry visa. One traveller’s 5-year visa success in just four days has sparked major interest online. Here’s what worked:
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Use pay-at-property hotel bookings on booking.com
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Book refundable flights instead of dummy tickets
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Get bank statements stamped and signed at your bank
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Submit a cover letter requesting longer visa validity
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Provide previous passport pages to show travel history
What is the Schengen ‘cascade’ visa regime?
The EU’s cascade regime lets frequent travellers get longer Schengen visas. With at least two visas used in the past three years, applicants can apply for a two-year visa. Using that successfully may qualify them for a five-year visa, valid for tourism and business (not work).
Which countries accept this visa?
The multiple-entry Schengen visa grants access to all 29 Schengen zone countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Digital Schengen visas and future EU travel permits
By 2026, the EU aims to launch a fully digital visa system, replacing physical stickers with secure barcodes. France has already piloted this during the 2024 Olympics.
Additional systems like the Entry/Exit System (EES) and ETIAS will introduce biometric checks and online travel authorisations, enhancing security and convenience.
Meanwhile, countries like Italy, Greece, and France are discussing a pan-European flexible tourist visa, which could simplify multi-country travel for tourists from India and the Gulf in the coming years.
What this means for UAE travellers
Soon, Schengen visa applications will be fully online with faster processing and no more passport stickers. Biometric checks will become standard at EU borders.
While the flexible tourist visa is still a concept, these changes promise easier and more secure travel for residents planning European trips in 2026 and beyond.
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