Visa Shopping: A Growing Trend in India

October 23, 2023

In various Indian states, especially Punjab, the practice of “visa shopping” has been gaining popularity, often facilitated by travel companies.

What is Visa Shopping?

Visa shopping entails obtaining visas for countries that individuals may or may not visit during the visa’s validity period.
The key idea behind this practice is to create a pathway for entry into preferred countries, particularly in Europe, even if travelers already possess a visa for another European nation.
Moreover, some individuals acquire visas for countries they don’t currently intend to visit. They do this to enhance their chances of obtaining visas for their desired destinations in the future.
This strategy accounts for the lengthy application processes and the possibility of visa rejection. Additionally, visas often remain valid for several years after issuance.

The Schengen Visa and Its Significance

One prominent example of visa shopping is the “Schengen Visa,” which offers a remarkable opportunity for travelers. It allows them to explore multiple European countries without the need for separate visas.
The Schengen system was established in 1985 through an agreement among European countries.
Under this system, member countries create the Schengen Area, where travelers can move freely without undergoing border controls. This freedom extends to more than 24 countries within the Schengen Area, making it a highly sought-after visa option.

How It Works

The core concept is simple: obtain a visa for a single Schengen region country, such as Germany, France, Italy, Latvia, Malta, Iceland, Slovenia, Luxembourg, Hungary, Poland, and others, and use it to gain entry into another Schengen region country.
Many individuals opt to apply for a Schengen Visa from a country with a more streamlined application process. Once granted, travelers can traverse the Schengen region and ultimately reach their intended destination.
This unique feature makes the Schengen Visa particularly attractive in the “Visa Shopping” trend.

Real-Life Examples

To illustrate, consider a scenario where an individual’s Spanish visa was rejected twice when they wanted to visit a family member. In response, they opted for a visa from another country, allowing them to visit Spain without a direct Spanish visa. Similarly, a student initially seeking a German visa but facing rejection obtained a Luxembourg visa and then traveled to Germany.

Additionally, some individuals engage in visa shopping for the Schengen region with the goal of entering Portugal. The presence of local agents makes it easier for them to obtain documents for a work visa, facilitating their eventual settlement in Portugal.

Legal Implications

It’s important to note that visa shopping is not inherently illegal if travelers adhere to the established norms and guidelines of the visa process and use their visas for their intended purposes. Legal concerns arise when a person seeks a visa for a specific country but uses it to stay in another or demonstrates that their intentions were never to remain in the initially applied-for country but only to use it as an entry point.

The Embassy of Estonia in New Delhi issued a statement in May, advising against visa shopping. According to Schengen Visa rules, if a traveler plans to visit multiple countries, they should apply for a visa from the country where they intend to spend the most time. Embassies now conduct thorough checks of travel plans, and there can be severe consequences, including visa refusal or even being denied entry at EU borders, for those who engage in visa shopping.

Repeated engagement in visa shopping may raise suspicion among officials. Occasionally, countries may raise objections at the airport if a person’s visa is from one European nation, but their entry is to another, as reported by a Schengen Visa consultant.

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