Get a Long Term (2+ Years) Multiple Entry Tourist Schengen Visa

Some of the most frequently asked questions here on the EvaMtalii blog and through DMs from readers is whether it is possible to get a  long term multiple entry Schengen visa for tourism or business.

Other similar questions I get asked include:

• Can non-European Union (EU) passport holders apply for Type D long term multiple entry Schengen visa?
• Can Kenyan passport holders with U.K. residence permit apply for long term multiple entry Schengen visa?
• Which Schengen country easily gives a long-term multiple-entry Schengen tourist visa?
• Can a person with long term Type D- multiple entry visa travel to other Schengen Countries different than the one that issued the visa?
• Can I be qualified for a long term multiple entry visa for Schengen without strong justifications just like how I was qualified for 10 year US B1/B2 visa?
• Can tourists get a multiple entry Schengen visa?
• Is it possible to get a multiple tourist Schengen visa valid for 5 years?
• Does Italy France Germany Switzerland (insert your destination country here 🙂 ) give multiple Schengen entry visas?
• As a Kenyan citizen on a valid multiple entry Schengen visa, which countries can I travel to for tourism without needing a visa for that country? VISA Not Required for a Kenyan Schengen visa holders:

According to REGULATION (EC) No 810/2009 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 13 July 2009 /9 establishing a Community Code on Visas) – (Visa Code): A Schengen visa may be issued for one, two or multiple entries. The period of validity shall not exceed five years.

So, technically, the answer to the above questions is YES, as long as you can provide documented evidence with regard to meeting the requirements above and that is what today’s article aims to address: Tips for getting a long term multiple entry Schengen visa for tourism or business purposes.  

Based on your individual circumstance, you can apply and be granted any one of the following Schengen visas:

• 6 months multiple entry Schengen visa
• 1 year multiple entry Schengen visa
• 2 year multiple entry Schengen visa
• 3 year multiple entry Schengen visa
• 4 year multiple entry Schengen visa or a
• 5 year multiple entry Schengen visa

One thing to note is that though granted these multiple entry visas, you can only stay in the European Union for a maximum of 90 days within the year (for the 1 year multiple entry Schengen visa) and a maximum of 90 days within a 180-day period (for the 1+ years multiple entry Schengen visa).

Similarly, kindly note that with your valid multiple entry Schengen visa, you can travel to all 26 Schengen member states unless of course you’re on the the Limited territorial validity visa which allows you to travel only in the Schengen State that issued you with the visa.

Flouting this rule could lead to denial of future visa applications and even total cancellation of your visa and being banned from visiting the territory again.

Other similar questions we shall look at include:

• Which Schengen country is most likely to offer a long term (6+ months) multiple entry visa and what does this depend on?
• Which countries offer multiple-entry tourist visas with long validity periods?
• Which is the best country to apply for multiple Schengen visas?

But first, a DISCLAIMER:

The period of validity of a Schengen visa and the length of the authorized stay shall is at the sole discretion of the visa officer who will examine your case. This is just a guide based on my personal experience and those of people who’ve shared their experiences with me.

How to increase your chances of getting a long – term (6+ months) multiple entry Schengen tourist / business visa 

In addition to meeting the requirements for a regular short-term (less than 6 months) Schengen visa, you need to give evidence as to why you should be granted a longer – term multiple entry Schengen tourist / business visa.

Below I share some tips as to how:

1. Prove your need and justify your intention to travel frequently and/or regularly

So as much as according to the Visa Code above long term multiple-entry Schengen visas for tourism or business purposes can be issued with a period of validity between six months and five years, to qualify you MUST justify and prove why you need to travel to the Schengen territory countries.

Family reasons

If you have close family members who are citizens of any one of the Schengen territory countries, or family members who are non-citizens of any one of the Schengen territory countries are legal residents there, then you can use your family relationship as proof of your need to travel frequently or regularly. Hence prove your need for a long – term (6+ months) multiple entry Schengen visa.

Work reasons

Another way to prove your need for a long – term (6+ months) multiple entry Schengen visa is for work purposes.

Some most common ones are:

• Business persons with business partners in any one of the Schengen territory countries
• Government workers regularly engaged (for official reasons) with Schengen Member States and/or EU institutions, or
• Employees of civil society organisations visiting any one of the Schengen Member States and/or EU for educational training, seminars and/or conferences
• Seafarers i.e. persons who work on board a ship at sea, etc

Personal reasons

This is the one that applies to those who would like a long – term (6+ months) multiple entry Schengen visa but for non-work and non-family purposes.

Some cases where this applies is when:

• you would like to experience the various Schengen territory states during different seasons e.g. winter, spring, summer, fall,
• you would like to tour different Schengen territory cities/countries and over a period of time e.g. 2 years,
• have it in your bucket list to visit all 193 UN recognized countries + evidence of the same, and/or
• will be visiting and then departing the Schengen zone to an onward destination (e.g. to visit the United States, Canada UK, etc) and then re-entering again, etc.

A classic example that comes top of mind is travel bloggers or frequent travelers for non-business purposes.

In my case for instance, I presented my request as a travel blogger and also travel enthusiast on a mission to visit all 193 UN-recognized countries as one of my bucketlist items, and was granted a 2 year multiple entry Schengen visa issued by the French embassy of France in Kenya.

Fortunately for me I had, among other factors, this travel blog to back my claims.

So be prepared to give evidence of claims for your need to travel frequently on a personal level. As I’ve mentioned above, starting a travel blog is one way to.

2. Prove your integrity and reliability if granted the long term visa

Apart from proving that you are a regular traveler to the Schengen territory states and justifying why you need a visa for future visits, you must also prove that given that visa, you will not abuse or misuse it.

Basically, the point here is to convince the visa officer handling your application of your intention to return.

Some easy ways to prove to the visa officer that you will not abuse or misuse your long term visa include:

Show rooted-ness / strong ties to your home country for visa application

What you want to prove here is that you have strong economic /financial ties to your home country and thus have no intentions to overstay or illegally immigrate but have genuine intentions to leave the Schengen territory without violating your given visa’s terms and conditions.

Please watch this YouTube video for tips on how to show strong economic ties, social ties, and family ties when applying for a Schengen visa application.

You can also read an article on this topic by clicking here.

Show evidence of lawful use of previous visas granted

This is an easy one.

• Carry copies of previous passports with visas and entry stamps for countries that you’ve traveled to and never violated their visa policies – especially if they are Schengen visas.
• Also, in your Schengen visa application letter, mention the fact that: “you have never overstayed on your previous visas as evident from attached passport/documents and intend to leave the country at the end of your trip”

3. Purchase travel insurance valid for entire visa period requested

One of the mandatory requirements when submitting a Schengen visa application is valid travel medical insurance that covers your entire duration of stay in the Schengen area including entry and exit dates.

To increase the chances of having your long – term (6+ months) multiple entry Schengen visa approved, make sure to purchase travel medical insurance for the entire period requested.

So let’s say you’re requesting for a 1 year multiple entry, make sure you purchase and submit a travel medical insurance certificate clearly outline proof of coverage for the 1 year you have requested and with a minimum coverage sum of EUR 30’000 / USD 50’000 – to cover expenses for personal accident, urgent medical treatment, urgent admission in a hospital or urgent repatriation on medical grounds; with coverage including ALL Schengen member states.

My personal advise is that you purchase your Schengen visa application travel medical insurance with a provider that offers a free refund in case your Schengen visa application is unsuccessful or is denied.

4. Ask and you shall recieve

You’ve probably also heard of the old adage that says: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”

In other words, your long – term (6+ months) multiple entry Schengen visa application can’t be successful unless you try. And that means you have to take action by asking.

In very rare instances will you be granted a visa for a period significantly longer than you have requested. So the best shot you have is requesting for the period you’d like to have.

So let’s say you’re requesting for a 2 year multiple entry, there are 3 main ways I have personally gone about this and you too can try:

• Fill in your request for long-term multiple entry in the Schengen visa application form

On Line 24 of the Schengen visa application, under number of entries requested, select ‘multiple’. Then on Line 25 of the visa application under ‘duration of the intended stay or travel’, enter 2 years on and off.

• Include your request in the Schengen visa cover letter

Most Schengen country embassies require that you include a cover letter with your visa application.

My personal advise is that you include one even if an embassy doesn’t ask for one especially in cases where your visa application doesn’t have an opportunity for a personal interview with a visa officer.

Take advantage of the cover letter. Clearly outline your need and justification for a long-term multiple entry Schengen visa, mentioning all the other points already covered above.

• Verbally ask at interview

If you’re fortunate to personally get an interview with a Schengen country visa officer, politely and respectfully explain your need and justification for a long-term multiple entry in the Schengen.

Visa officers are human and as long as you can convince them beyond any reasonable doubt of your non-immigrant intent and that you will return back to your home country or onward destination after your trip, I don’t see why your visa should be denied especially if you meet all the other standard requirements.

Conclusion

I hope that  you find that this post very useful whether you’re a first applicant or a returning applicant.

Sure, this process sounds pretty daunting but believe you me it’s doable.

My 2 year multiple entry Schengen visa issued by the French embassy of France in Kenya. is testimony that indeed you can get the visa. You just have to give it a shot and you never know 🙂

Stay positive and it shall all be well.

If you have other questions that I didn’t cover in this post, lets continue the conversation in the comments below and I’ll try my level best to help.

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