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Multiple entry visa

Please tell me if it's possible to get a 10 year multiple entry tourist Visa for the EU. I travel with a US passport and my wife an Israeli passport. We are retired with a home address in Portland, Oregon.

Posted by
8889 posts

I do not think there is such a thing as a "10 year multiple entry tourist Visa for the EU".
For a start, the EU does not have a common visa system. The Schengen Area countries do have a common visa system for tourists, but the Schengen Area is not the same as the EU, for example the UK is in the EU but not in Schengen, Switzerland is in Schengen but not the EU.

If you have US and Israeli passports, you do not need a visa to enter the Schengen area so long as you are coming as a tourist (working not allowed), and are staying in the Schengen area for less than 90 days in any 180 days. Non-Schengen countries each have their own individual rules.

If you want to stay over the 90-days-in-180 limit then you do need a visa. You need to apply for the visa to whichever country you plan to stay in for the most time. Over 90 days you count as a resident and each country has its own rules. You will have to go through a lot of paperwork (different for each country) and prove you have enough funds to support yourself. You will still not be able to work, that requires a work visa which is even harder to get.

Posted by
23177 posts

Unless you can reference a 10 year multi entry tourist visa, they don't exist. It might help if you would explained what you want to accomplish.

Posted by
19052 posts

The tourist visa that Americans receive on arrival in a Schengen country with out having submitted a formal application is a "multi-entry" visa, but it is only valid for 90 calendar days in any 180 day period. I think that certain people, like athletes competing in World Cup ski races, get an extended time, multi entry visa, but I doubt that it is for ten years; I don't know how it works for members of our armed forces stationed in Europe, but they are obviously not held to the 90 out of 180 day limit. To get anything other than the 90/180 day multi-entry Schengen visa, contact the embassy of the country you will be entering first or in which you will be spending the most time and ask them what is available.

Posted by
2 posts

My plan is to buy a new motorhome in Germany and use it 6 months of the year touring the continent for the next few years. I was hoping there is a way to stay longer than 90 days without haveing to reapply for an extention every year.
My wife and I are continuous traveler. I haven't lived full time in the US for the last 19 yrs. My wife has an Israeli passport and a 10 year multiple entry tourist Visa for the USA that let's her stay in the USA 6 months at a time without additional hassel and paperwork.
I've checked the French & German embassy websites and it seems they really don't want us there or more than 90 days at a time. Is there somthing I'm overlooking? Is there a Schengen country that would make it easier for us to do what we want to do?

Posted by
5311 posts

Keep in mind that on a 90 day tourist entry you may be monitored for frequent repeat visits etc as you are in effect seeking to live for prolonged periods within the Schengen area without obtaining a proper residency visa.

Where are you going to live for the other 6 months?

Posted by
8889 posts

If you want to be based in Germany for 6 months a year (or more), that would make you a resident, not a tourist. So you need to apply for a permanent resident visa (residence permit). As you will be living there but not working, you do not need a work visa, which makes things a bit easier.
You will need to prove you have enough funds to live on, have adequate medical insurance etc. As a resident you can leave and re-enter the Schengen area as many times as you like, and also visit other Schengen countries as much as you like, but not live or work in other Schengen countries. As a resident you will also be paying German tax.
I suggest you contact the nearest German embassy or consulate and put your plan to them.

It would also be difficult to register a vehicle in your name and get insurance if you did not have an address in Germany. You will be allowed to continue using your US driving licence for a short time (6 months or 1 year, I am not sure). After that you need to get a German licence and probably pass a test first.

P.S. my guess is your wife got her visa as a result of being married to a US citizen.

Posted by
11247 posts

I would add that what Chris said about Germany applies to Italy. You can get something called an Elective Residence Visa that is multiple-entry for one year. Within 8 days of arriving, you have to apply for a Permesso di soggiorno or residence permit. In the case of Italy,y ou must have a lease on a flat or house where you intend to live or proof of someone who is hosting you, and you will be subject to taxes in the country if you stay for more than 180/185 (not exactly sure of day count) in a year, although you will not be taxed by the U.S. for your time in Italy, nor in Italy for your time in the U.S. Once you have the permesso you can travel freely all over the EU as Chris indicated.

Frankly, you need to see a tax attorney before you make such a commitment. Someone who is versed in both U.S. law and the law of the country you would claim residence in.

We went through this process last year in Italy, receiving our permessi in November and by September we have to reapply, and that is for a maximum of two years.

BTW - we call Portland "home" too. We'll return there eventually.

Posted by
32519 posts

efg,

if you haven't lived steadily in the US for 19 years, you must have gone through all this wherever it is that you do live. Where are you at the moment?

Your current residence will dictate which consulate or embassy location you need to speak to. You can't do it from inside Europe, it has to be where you have been for the majority of the last year or last several years, depending.

Posted by
32171 posts

efg,

For the type of trip you mentioned, you'd likely need a Category "D" National Visa, as shown on this website......

http://www.schengenvisainfo.com/schengen-visa-types/

The best place to start would probably be to contact the German Consulate for information on their requirements for long stay Visas. The San Francisco office appears to be the closest to Portland....

http://www.germany.info/Vertretung/usa/en/03__Consulates/San__Francisco/00/__Home.html

I doubt that you'll be able to get a 10-year version, but the Consulate will be able to clarify that.