The announcement of the Visa Cascade by the European Commission has become a hot topic among Thai travelers enchanted by Europe's charm. Many may wonder what this system is and whether it allows travel to Europe without a visa. Thairath Online delves into the details in an easy-to-understand way to prepare you for your next European trip.
To ensure clear and accurate understanding, it must be emphasized that Visa Cascade is not a visa waiver or what is commonly called a free visa. Thai travelers still need to prepare documents, financial proofs, and apply for a Schengen visa following the usual procedures.
The special feature of Visa Cascade is that it changes the visa issuance system to a tiered model for travelers with good records who have used visas legally. This system allows you to receive multiple-entry short-term visas with longer validity than before, eliminating the hassle of reapplying every trip, reducing paperwork, and saving significant fees. It covers all 29 Schengen countries.
The EU has clearly set stepwise criteria for approving longer visas. The first step grants a 1-year visa to travelers who have previously received a Schengen visa once and used it lawfully within the past 2 years.
After establishing a good record at the first level, travelers can advance to the second step: a 2-year visa for those who have held a 1-year visa and maintained lawful use within the last 3 years.
The highest tier is the 5-year visa, awarded to experienced travelers who have held a 2-year visa and have an impeccable lawful usage record within the past 4 years.
Thailand being among only 7 countries worldwide and the second in ASEAN to receive this privilege is no coincidence. It is based on solid evidence that Thai travelers are high spenders generating substantial revenue for Europe annually.
Moreover, the quality of Thai tourists is excellent, with low visa rejection rates and a very low illegal overstay rate in the Schengen area of just 0.1 percent. Combined with the security of the Thai passport made with advanced technology and proactive negotiations by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the PCA framework, Thailand successfully secured this privilege.
Unlocking Visa Cascade is a very important first step. Although the EU currently has no clear timeline for full visa waiver consideration for Thailand, this success reflects positive credit from the EU toward us.
The crucial role now lies with all Thai travelers to maintain good standards and travel records, obey laws, and avoid illegal work or overstays. Every compliant trip you make is valuable data supporting government negotiators to push for free Schengen visa rights in the near future.
If you plan to travel to Europe, start building an excellent travel record now, because your future trips will be much more convenient and visa costs more worthwhile.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs