Indonesia Becomes The First In Southeast Asia To Receive A Five-year Multi-entry Schengen Visa Under New Eu Scheme

Published on August 7, 2025 |

By: TTW News Desk

Indonesia is nan first Southeast Asian state to beryllium granted entree to nan European Union’s caller Visa Cascade system. Under nan caller policy, qualified Indonesian citizens tin now use for a five-year multiple-entry Schengen visa pinch eased requirements complete nan aged system. The inaugural is simply a awesome improvement successful bolstering recreation and business state of activity betwixt Indonesia and nan EU.

What is nan Visa Cascade Scheme?

The European Union’s Visa Cascade initiative, formally approved by nan European Commission connected 23 July 2025, intends to make recreation to Europe easier for trusted travelers from circumstantial countries. Under nan caller system, Indonesian nationals who person held a Schengen visa wrong nan past 3 years and person traveled to nan EU astatine slightest erstwhile are now eligible for a five-year multiple-entry visa. This caller argumentation replaces nan aged system, which required travelers to reapply for visas each clip they wished to sojourn nan EU.

Strengthening EU-Indonesian Relations

This caller visa agreement, which emerged aft a gathering betwixt Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen successful Brussels earlier this year, reflects nan increasing ties betwixt nan EU and Indonesia. The Visa Cascade programme is designed to reward frequent travelers, improving their entree to Europe for business, leisure, and academic purposes.

Indonesia’s Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs, Airlangga Hartarto, hailed nan caller visa argumentation arsenic a breakthrough that will boost international engagement, peculiarly successful areas specified arsenic export growth and business mobility. By simplifying travel, nan Visa Cascade strategy will promote much predominant visits to Europe, strengthening Indonesia’s domiciled successful global trade and diplomacy.

Potential for ASEAN Expansion

While Indonesia is nan first state successful Southeast Asia to use from nan Visa Cascade system, different ASEAN nations are expected to prosecute akin agreements pinch nan European Union. Countries for illustration Thailand, Vietnam, and nan Philippines person shown liking successful negotiating their ain versions of nan visa facilitation deal.

• Thailand has already engaged successful discussions pinch EU officials, signaling its liking successful securing a akin woody successful nan future.
• Vietnam, pinch its expanding trade and educational relationships pinch Europe, is reportedly looking to found its ain visa facilitation arrangement.
• The Philippines has publically backed broader ASEAN-EU practice and whitethorn activity a Visa Cascade-style statement to easiness travel restrictions for its citizens.

Meanwhile, countries for illustration Singapore and Malaysia, which bask visa-free short-term travel to nan Schengen area, are not straight affected by nan Visa Cascade scheme. This inaugural chiefly targets countries that require visas to participate nan EU but person robust trade and travel histories pinch Europe.

What Does nan Visa Cascade Scheme Mean for Indonesian Travelers?

For Indonesian nationals, nan caller five-year Schengen visa offers a scope of benefits that importantly easiness travel planning. Some of nan cardinal advantages include:

• Attending waste and acquisition shows and conferences successful nan EU without nan request for repeated visa applications.
• Conducting business meetings successful Europe, making it easier for companies and entrepreneurs to support international relationships.
• Visiting family members aliases studying successful nan EU connected short trips without facing lengthy visa procedures each time.
• Traveling freely crossed nan 27 Schengen Area countries, enjoying greater elasticity and convenience successful exploring Europe.

With these caller opportunities, nan Visa Cascade strategy is group to fortify Indonesia’s tourism and business sectors by simplifying entree to 1 of nan world’s astir important economic regions.

EU’s Broader Strategy pinch ASEAN

The inclusion of Indonesia successful nan Visa Cascade programme is viewed arsenic a trial lawsuit for nan EU’s broader engagement strategy pinch ASEAN nations. The EU has described this move arsenic a nickname of trust, signaling its committedness to enhancing relationships pinch Southeast Asian countries. As much ASEAN nations prosecute akin agreements, nan EU intends to deepen its political, trade, and cultural ties pinch nan region.

At nan aforesaid time, ASEAN tourism authorities proceed to advocator for a “Schengen-style” unified tourist visa for Southeast Asia. This connection could further complement immoderate early EU-ASEAN visa liberalization efforts, making travel moreover much accessible crossed nan region.

A Step Forward successful Regional Travel Facilitation