A LONG-TERM SCHENGEN VISA

How does one go about getting a Schengen visa for a longer period of time than only for the period one is in a Schengen country? I have an air ticket, travel insurance and all the necessary documentation for a trip at the end of October — for which I plan to apply for the requisite visa — but can I get a visa that is valid for longer than the period I am away? Two years would be ideal. Is this possible and should I request it with my application? — Miri

The short answer is no — tourist visas to Schengen area countries are limited to a maximum of 90 days. While you could apply for an extension, it won’t be very long and certainly not two years. If you are working or studying in the EU, you can apply for a one-year “D” visa but you would be better off trying to get a multipleentry visa. Valid for five years, it allows you to freely enter and leave the Schengen area as many times as you like within the period of validity, subject to the 180/90 rule — stays may not be longer than 90 days and visits must be at least six months apart.

Being issued with a multiple-entry visa is, however, not as simple as just asking for it. Frequent visitors to the EU seem to have a better chance of getting these coveted visas on subsequent visa applications. See schengenvisainfo.com.