«Provided that copies of previously used visas are submitted (at least one single-entry short-term visa issued by any Schengen country), the applicant can apply for a multiple-entry short-term Schengen visa valid for one year,» the letter says. It is also reported that an already used one-year multiple-entry visa makes it possible to apply for a visa valid for two years, and the validity of the next visa can already be five years.
Based on the practice of the Consular Department of the Czech Embassy in Kyiv, when deciding on granting multiple-entry visas, in most such cases (up to 90%) citizens are issued multiple visas with a minimum validity of one year, and often with a longer validity (up to five years). The Consular Department practically does not use the practice of issuing short-term multiple-entry visas with a reduced validity period.
Neighboring Slovakia also pursues a similar policy. Consulates in Kyiv and Uzhhorod issue five-year visas much more often than Polish consulates to Ukrainian citizens with a positive visa history. After the first trip to the country that issued the five-year visa (the Czech Republic or Slovakia), the holder of this multiple visa can visit all Schengen countries during its validity, including Poland.