Schengen Visa from Australia – 5 Easy Steps to Apply For Europe Visa

There are 26 countries in the Schengen area, all with their own unique character and all with exciting things to see and do. You’ve got Sweden, Norway and Iceland to experience magical landscapes. Spain, Italy and Greece to spend lazy days on idyllic beaches, and France, Germany and Poland to enjoy traditional food and fabulous architecture. Whichever country you’re planning to visit, you’re in for the treat of your life! In this article learn more about how to apply for Schengen visa from Australia for Australians , permanent residents, Australian citizens, Australian passport holders, visa appointment booking, Processing time at the Australia visa application center, flight itinerary for Schengen visa, hotel bookings for Schengen visa, Schengen travel medical insurance and Schengen Visa Application Process in the Sydney, Melbourne and Australia.

Schengen Visas

In 2017, there were 15,336 Schengen visa applications received by the embassies and consulates in Australia. 437 (2.8%) were rejected.

Applying for a Schengen Visa from Australia         

If you currently live in Australia and you wish to travel to a country in the Schengen area, you may or may not need to apply for a visa. If you are from any of the following countries, you do NOT need to apply for a visa:

As you can see, Australian citizens do NOT need to apply for a Schengen visa for stays of up to 90 days. However, if you are not from Australia, but you live there on a permanent or temporary basis, you DO need to apply for a visa. In order to do this, you must be able to prove that you have a legal right to remain in Australia. Please note, if you are living in Australia temporarily, your residence permit must be valid for at least 6 months.

Where to Apply for a Schengen Visa in Australia

Where you apply depends on which Schengen country/countries you plan to visit and the duration of your trip:

1. Visiting just 1 country – you will apply at the embassy or consulate of the Schengen country you are going to
2. Visiting more than 1 country – you will apply at the embassy or consulate of the country where you will spend the most number of days
3. Visiting more than 1 Schengen country and you are spending the same amount of time in each – you would apply at the embassy or consulate of the country you will enter first

Schengen visas are valid for a maximum of 90 days, so if you are planning on going to a Schengen country for more than 90 days, you will need to apply for a National visa and a residence permit (Long stay visa), not a Schengen visa. For more information, refer to the respective embassy or consulate’s website

Please note, each embassy/consulate deals with applications from within its jurisdiction, so you should check to make sure you are applying at the correct office based on where you live.

Some embassies and consulates have passed the dealing of visa applications to third-party companies, so you should spend a bit of time looking at their websites to find out the correct procedure for submitting a visa application.

To help you find the correct embassy or consulate in order to apply for your Schengen visa, here is a list of the 26 countries within the Schengen area and the visa office that you need to submit your visa application to:

Austria

Embassy of Austria
12 Talbot Street Forrest ACT 2603, Tel: (612) 9252 1152,

E-mail: ausau@vfshelpline.com
Website: www.vfsglobal.com

Belgium

Royal Belgian Embassy
19 Arkana Street Yarralumla ACT 2600, Tel: (612) 6273 2501

Czech Republic

Consulate-General of the Czech Republic
169 Military Road Dover Heights NSW 2030, Tel: (612) 9581 0111,

Email: sydney_visa@mzv.cz

Denmark

VFS Offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney
Website: http://www.vfsglobal.com/denmark/australia/

Estonia

Embassy of the Republic of Estonia
12 Darwin Avenue Yarralumla ACT 2600, Tel: (61) 409 798 474,

Email: canberra@mfa.ee

Finland

Embassy of Finland
12 Darwin Avenue Yarralumla ACT 260, Tel: (612) 6273 3800,

Email: can@formin.fi

France (Refer to Greece if you are in Melbourne, Adelaide or Perth)

Consulate-General of France (Sydney)
Level 26/31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000,

Email: sydney-fslt@diplomatie.gouv.fr

Germany (Refer to Austria)

Greece

Canberra – Embassy of Greece
9 Turrana Street Yarralumla ACT 2600, Tel: (612) 6271 0100,

Email: can@mfa.gr

Sydney – Consulate-General of Greece
Level 2/219-223 Castlereagh Street Sydney NSW 2000 Tel: (612) 9284 5504

Email: sid@mfa.gr

Melbourne –  Consulate-General of Greece
37-39 Albert Road Melbourne VIC 3004 Tel: (613) 9866 1966

Email: mel@mfa.gr

Perth – Consulate of Greece
Level 8/16 St Georges Terrace Perth WA 6000 Tel: (618) 9325 6608

Email: per@mfa.gr

Adelaide – Consulate-General of Greece
Level 4/32 Grenfell Street Adelaide SA 5000 Tel: (618) 8212 4366

Email: ade@mfa.gr

Hungary (Refer to Switzerland)

Iceland (Refer to Norway)

Italy

Canberra – Embassy of Italy
12 Grey Street Deakin ACT 2600, Tel: (612) 6273 3333,

Email: canberra@esteri.it

Sydney – Consulate-General of Italy
Level 19/44 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 Tel: (612) 9392 7900

Email: sydney@esteri.it

Melbourne – Consulate-General of Italy
509 St Kilda Road Melbourne VIC 3004 Tel: (613) 3986 7544

Email: melbourne@esteri.it

Brisbane – Consulate of Italy
Level 8/199 George Street Brisbane QLD 4000 Tel: (617) 3229 8944

Email: brisbane@esteri.it

Adelaide – Consulate of Italy
398 Payneham Road Glynde SA 5070 Tel: (618) 8337 0777

Email: adelaide@esteri.it

Perth – Consulate of Italy
Level 2/1292 Hay Street West Perth WA 6005 Tel: (618) 9322 4500

Email: perth@esteri.it

Latvia (Refer to Austria)

Liechtenstein (Refer to Switzerland)

Lithuania (Refer to Estonia)

Luxembourg (Refer to Belgium)

Malta

Canberra – Commission of Malta
38 Culgoa Circuit O’Malley ACT 2606, Tel: (612) 6290 1724,

Email: canberra@gov.mt

Sydney – Consulate-General of Malta
Level 10/31 Market Street Sydney NSW 2000 Tel: (612) 9262 9500

Email: sydney@gov.mt

Melbourne – Consulate-General of Malta
Level 6/343 Little Collins Street Melbourne VIC 3000 Tel: (613) 9670 8427

Email: melbourne@gov.mt

The Netherlands

Consulate-General of the Netherlands
Level 23/101 Grafton Street Bondi Junction NSW 2022, Tel: (612) 9387 6644,

Email: syd-ca@minbuza.nl

Norway

VFS Offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney
Website: http://www.vfsglobal.comnorway/australia/

Poland

Consulate-General of the Republic of Poland
10 Trelawney Street Woollahra NSW 2025, Tel: (612) 9363 9816,

Email: visa.passport@msz.gov.pl

Portugal

Embassy of Portugal
Stephen House 32 Thesiger Court Deakin ACT 2600, Tel: (612) 6260 4970 or M: 0484 624 860,

Email: camberra@mne.pt

Slovak Republic

Embassy of the Slovak Republic
47 Culgoa Circuit O’Malley ACT 2606, Tel: (61) 0417 253 805

Slovenia

Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia
26 Akame Circuit O’Malley ACT 2606, Tel: (612) 6290 0000,

Email: canberra@gov.si

Spain

Canberra – Embassy of Spain
15 Arkana Street Yarralumla ACT 2600 Tel: (612) 6273 3555

Email: canberra@maec.es

Sydney – Consulate-General of Spain
Level 24/31 Market Street NSW 2000 Tel: (612) 9261 2433

Email: sydney@maec.es

Melbourne – Consulate-General of Spain
146A Elgin Street Carlton VIC 3053 Tel: (613) 9347 1966 or 9347 1997

Email: melbourne@maec.es

Sweden (Refer to Norway)

Switzerland

Consulate-General of Switzerland
Tower 2, Level 23/101 Grafton Street Bondi Junction NSW 2022

E-mail: visa@eda.admin.ch

Types of Schengen Visas Offered

Depending on the duration of your trip and your reason for traveling to the Schengen area, you may apply for the following types of visas:

1. Schengen visa type A: Airport Transit visa – if you are transiting through the international zone of the airport en route to a different country
2. Schengen visa type C: Short-stay visa – for stays up to a maximum of 90 days for the purposes of tourism, business, or visiting family/friends. This visa is issued for one, two or multiple entries
3. National visa type D: Long-stay visa – for stays over 90 days for the purposes of employment, business, study, research, family unification, residence etc. This visa is issued for one or multiple entries

How to Apply for a Schengen Visa from Australia

You may apply for your Schengen visa up to 90 days ahead of your departure date, but not any earlier. The processing time for your visa is usually within 2 weeks, but some applications will take longer. It’s advisable to apply well in advance to allow enough time for your application to be processed, so don’t leave it too late.

Here are a few steps to help you apply for your Schengen visa:

Step 1: Complete your application

Step 1 is to complete your application. Some embassies/consulates/third-parties have application forms which you can complete online and submit electronically. If this service is not available, you can usually find the application form on the respective website where you can download it and complete it manually.

Please note, even if you are able to submit it electronically, you may still need to print the form and submit it in person at the visa office.

Step 2: Make an appointment 

Making appointments with the embassy or visa application center is generally free and can be done yourself. However, If you are running short of time or not sure which consulate to apply to or have no idea on how to get this done yourself then not to worry, we will make the appointment for you for a small service fee!

Booking a visa appointment using our services is pretty simple! All you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the link to schedule the visa appointment
2. Submit the appointment details, visa you are applying for, consulate you need the appointment for, the country you need the appointment IN and make the payment
3. Receive appointment confirmation in email

Step 2 is to make an appointment in order to submit your application to the visa office. Check the website of the embassy/consulate/third-party you are dealing with because they each have different procedures for making appointments. You will be able to:

1. Make your appointment by using an online booking system
2. Make your appointment by contacting the visa office by phone or email

Step 3: Prepare your documents

It’s a good idea to spend time looking at the website of the visa office you will be dealing with to learn about the documents you need to prepare BEFORE you start. If you submit an application with missing documents, it may be rejected. You need to prepare original documents AND photocopies of everything, so don’t forget to do that.

Common documents include:

1. Visa application form – fully completed and signed (you will need 2 copies)
2. Valid passport – no older than 10 years, valid for at least 3 months beyond the date you have planned to exit the Schengen zone. It must also have 2 blank pages
3. Australian Residence Card – whether temporary or permanent, you will need to present this document in order to prove that you are legally allowed to live in Australia. Remember that the validity of your residency must be at least for 3 months beyond the date you have planned to exit the Schengen zone
4. One photo – no older than 3 months
5. A cover letter – stating why you wish to visit Europe, the Schengen states you wish to visit and why, and the number of days you wish to spend in each country
6. Travel itinerary – confirming your travel plans, your accommodation and the places you plan to visit
7. Flight itinerary – confirming flights to and from the Schengen area, plus, internal flights (if applicable)
8. Proof of accommodation – hotel booking stating the name of the hotel where you will be staying, contact details and the number of days you will be there OR rent agreement
9. Letter of invitation – by a host who is a family member or a friend to include details about the host, address, ID etc
10. Means of subsistence – bank statement (no older than 3 months) OR letter of sponsorship confirming that your expenses will be covered by someone else
11. Europe Travel Insurance – must cover the whole Schengen territory in case of medical emergencies such as accidents and illnesses, as well as repatriation in case of death, with a minimum cover of €30,000
12. Evidence of employment status – employment contract, leave permission from your employer, payslips/income tax return OR business license, 6 x business bank statements, income tax return (self-employed) OR proof of enrollment, no objection letter from school/university (students) OR pension statement for the last 6 months (retirees)
13. Birth/marriage certificate

If you’re planning to obtain your flight reservation for visa without paying for the ticket, all you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
2. Submit the travel details and make the payment online
3. Receive flight itinerary in email

Step 4: Attend your appointment

When you attend your appointment, take note of the following things:

1. Don’t be late – it’s advisable to arrive early. Not only will this enable you to compose yourself before the interview starts, but you won’t risk having to reschedule your appointment which could delay things for you
2. Remember to take all your prepared documents – if you forget anything, your visa application will not be processed and/or it will be rejected, so check before you attend your appointment that you have everything you need – this includes photocopies
3. Dress smartly – if you want to make a good impression, don’t turn up in shorts and t-shirt

The visa officer will start to review your application and if he/she wants to clarify anything, they may ask you more questions about the information you have provided. Don’t react in a negative way, they are only trying to obtain all the facts in order to make a decision about your visa. Just answer politely and it’s very important to be totally honest.

Typical questions include:

1. What do you know about the EU?
2. Have you ever been to the Schengen area before?
3. Are you planning on meeting anyone there?
4. I don’t think you will return to Australia. What do you say to that?
5. Do you have any children?

Don’t jeopardize your Schengen visa interview at the last minute. Use this comprehensive and thorough visa interview guide to crack the visa interview!

You will also pay the fee for your visa. You can usually pay by cash, credit/debit card etc., but you should check the website of the visa office to confirm what payment options there are. If you are applying through a third-party there is an additional service fee that you will need to pay as well. Please note, these fees are non-refundable regardless of the outcome of your application.

You may also have to provide biometric data which is a scan of your fingerprints and a digital photograph. However, if you have provided this data within the last 5 years, you may not have to do this.

Step 5: Receive your visa

Once you have submitted your application to the embassy/consulate/third-party, the next stages are:

1. Track the progress of the application (only if the visa office has this service)
2. Receive notification that your passport is ready for collection
3. Collect your passport from the visa office OR have it mailed back to you (usually for an additional fee)

The decision will be either:

1. Approved – you will find your Schengen visa inside your passport
2. Rejected – your visa application has been refused for a reason. You can usually appeal the decision

Common rejection reasons include:

1. Past criminal actions – if you have been involved in past criminal actions, the likelihood of you obtaining a visa is low. If you are considered a threat in any way, the visa officer will not approve your visa
2. Evidence of employment not included – you must prove your employment status whether you are employed, self-employed, a student, or retired. This is partly because the visa officer wants to know you have ties to your home country and that you will return home before the visa expires
3. You applied at the wrong visa office – each embassy/consulate has its own jurisdiction that it deals with, so you must reside within this area in order to apply at a particular office. You can find this information on the website of each visa office
4. Invalid travel insurance – your travel insurance must be for a specific amount and cover the necessary risks (see above). It should also be valid for the entire Schengen area, not just the country you plan to visit (if you are visiting just 1 country)

Conclusion

Once you have found the correct embassy/consulate/third-party to deal with, there are just 5 easy steps to apply for your Schengen visa from Australia:

1. Complete your application online or download it
2. Make an appointment
3. Prepare your documents
4. Attend your appointment
5. Receive your visa

Then, you’ll be on your way to experience the wonderful Schengen area!

At Visa Reservation, we strive to simplify the visa process by providing free visa consultations, cover letter templates and no objection letter templates for our clients from US, UK, Canada, Philippines, India, China, UAE, Europe, Nigeria and globally. We also offer flight itinerary for visa, travel medical insurance, hotel reservations for visa , Book Visa Appointment, Travel Guides, Visa Interview Guides and many more. To learn more about how we can help you with our visa services, please feel free to contact us today.