SCHENGEN VISA

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General information 

The Schengen visa is issued to third-country nationals listed in Annex I of Regulation (EU) 2018/1806. This visa allows the holder to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days (in any 180-day period) for the purposes of tourism, business, visiting family, medical treatment, studies, training placements or volunteer activities that last under 3 months, or for other non-gainful activities. It also allows transit through the territory and airports. 

The Schengen area en compasses 26 European countries without border controls between them: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. 

The Schengen visa allows the holder to travel to any of the Schengen States and to transit through their territory, but it does not automatically entitle them to enter the Schengen area. The border authorities can refuse entry if the visa holder does not provide proof of the purpose and specifics of the trip, or if any of the other entry requirements are not met (please refer to the section “Conditions for entry into Spain"). Visa applications will be processed allowing a minimum period of 6 WEEKS; please allow sufficient time for processing of visas as we do not have a priority service. Only legal and permanent residents in Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia or South Australia are entitled to apply for Schengen visa in this Consulate.

Required documents 

1. Schengen visa application form. Each applicant must complete and sign an official application form, filling in each of its sections. If the applicant is a minor, one of their parents must sign the application. 

2. Photograph. A recent, passport-size, colour photograph, taken against a light background, facing forward, without dark or reflective glasses, or any garments concealing the oval of the face. Photographs of minors must not show any part of the adult holding them.  

3. Valid, unexpired passport. Original and a photocopy of the page or pages of the passport that contain biometric data. The passport must be valid for at least 3 months beyond the planned departure date from the Schengen territory. It must also contain at least two blank pages. Passports issued more than 10 years ago will not be accepted as damaged passport. 

4. Travel medical insurance. A Local Australian Travel Insurance " non refundable"  must cover the costs of repatriation for medical reasons or death, as well as for urgent healthcare and/or emergency hospital treatment for the entire stay and throughout the Schengen area. Coverage must be of at least €30,000 or its equivalent in local currency. If the application is for a multiple entry visa, the medical insurance must be valid for the first planned entry. The applicant must undertake to purchase insurance for future trips. 

5. Payment of the visa fee. The amount of the visa fee ( AU$147 for people aged over 12 and AU$73 for children of 6 to 11) should be in advance and is not RETURNED in case of visa denial. Payable by money order to Consulate General of Spain. Children aged 5 and under are exempt from the fee. Different fees are applied for nationals of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Cabo Verde and Russia, pursuant to the respective Visa Facilitation Agreements formalized with these countries. Applicants must be aware of the new fee from 24th of September 2024 still pending of confirmation.

6. Documents corroborating the purpose of travel and the specifics of the stay, that the visa applicant has sufficient financial means, as well as the intention of the visa applicant to leave the Schengen area before the visa expires. Proof of financial means including recent bank statements showing movement of means over a certain period ( MINIMUM LAST THREE MONTHS). Reservation of return or round ticket, including confirmation of the booking of an organized trip including a detailed itinerary. In the case of TRANSIT, visa or other entry permit for the third country of destination must be provided ( eg: tickets for onward journey). Proof of sponsorship and/or private accommodation ( such as invitation from host). Some Member States may require that proof of sponsorship and/or private accommodation is provided by means of  specific form.

If a minor travels without their legal guardian(s): 1.- consent of parental authority (both parents) or legal guardian (s) either through a notarized certificate or a form signed at the consulate or at the external service provider; 2.- photocopy of passport of parental authority or legal guardian (s), 3.-Copy of original birth certificate of the minor issued by the responsible authority. 

If a minor travels with one of their legal guardian (s): 1.- Consent of the parental authority or legal guardian not travelling with the minor must be provided through a notarized certificate or a form signed at the consulate or at the external service provider; if only one parent has legal guardianship of the minor, the relevant court documents must be provided. 2.-Photocopy of passport of the authorizing parental authority or legal guardian (s), 3.- Copy of original birth certificate of the minor issued by the responsible authority.

7. Proof of residence in the consular district. 

When necessary to assess the application, the Consular Office may request additional documents or data and may also ask the applicant to come in for a personal interview. Proof of effective residence in Australia ( only Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia or South Australia) and proof of visa status -current VEVO. ( Visa Entitlement Verification Online).

Only those applications meeting the requirements specified in sections 1, 2, 3 and 5 will be accepted.

8.-Documents to be submitted by applicants depending on the purpose of travel.

a).- Tourism or visiting family/friends: A document from the establishment providing the accommodation or any other appropriate document indicating the accommodation envisaged. 

b).- Business, conference, cultural, religious or political event: 1) Official invitation letter from a firm, host, organization, educational establishment or an authority to attend meetings, conferences or evens, containing detailed information concerning: * address and contacts of the inviting entity, *name and position of the countersigning person, *purpose and duration of stay, * person or entity who will bear the travel and living cost ( if applicable). 2) Documents providing the applicants employment status in the company ( for example: contract, proof of social security contribution..).

c).- Medical Treatment: 1) A certificate from a medical doctor and/or medical institution advising that the treatment is necessary, 2) An official document from the receiving medical institution confirming that it can perform the specific medical treatment, an estimation of costs and an indication that the patient will be accepted accordingly, 3) Proof of prepayment or sufficient financial means to pay for the medical treatment and related expenses. 

Procedure​ 

This Consular Office is competent to accept visa applications from third-country nationals residing in the consular district who are travelling to Spain as their only or main destination. All relevant information regarding visas can be found on our official website, please note that no information will be provided at the counter or via email.

• Who can apply for a visa: Applicants who reside in our jurisdiction ( Victoria, Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia) must request an application by sending the application by post ( Registered Post). If the applicant is a minor, the application must be submitted by their legal representatives. 
  

• Place of submission: Submission of the visa application exclusively by registered post to the following address: General Consulate of Spain ( Visa Department ) P.O Box 6202, Melbourne ( Vic ) 3004.  Once the application is submitted, this General Consulate will provide an appointment exclusively by email if required once applications are received and assessed. Please note that appointments will be given for Tuesdays and Thursdays for Schengen Visas, and Fridays for National Visas, between 10:30 am and 13:00 pm hours. 
   
• Visa application period: Visa applications must be submitted between 6 months and 15 days before the scheduled date of travel. Seafarers may apply for the visa up to 9 months before the date of travel. 
   
• Proof of receipt: When a visa application is submitted and biometrics collected, the Consular Office will provide the applicant with proof of receipt of the application with a code that enables them to check the status of the dossier through the following link: https://sutramiteconsular.maec.es/Ho​me.aspx 

• Biometric data capturing: The applicant's facial image and fingerprints will be captured during the visa application procedure. Applicants under 12 and applicants whose fingerprints have been taken in the last 59 months are exempt from fingerprint taking. However, in the latter case, if the applicant's prints are of poor quality, the Consular Office will request that they come back in to have their fingerprints retaken. 

• Rectifying the application: The Consular Office may ask the applicant to submit any missing documents, or to provide additional documents or data that are necessary for a decision regarding the application. The applicant may also be called in for a personal interview if is required.
  

• Decision period:  Visa aplications will be processed with a minimum ​processing time period of 6 WEEKS; this processing time may be extended for National Visas, as they will only be issued once approval has been granted by the relevant spanish authorities. Please ensure to allow sufficient time for processing, as we do not offer a priority service. Incomplete applications or received with less than 6 weeks prior to travel, will be returned.
  
  Visa applications submitted by nationals of certain States require consultation with the central authorities that could affect the duration of the visa procedure. 
  

• Permission granted by the visa: A visa does not automatically entitle someone to enter the Schengen area. The traveler must meet all legal entry requirements (see section "Conditions for entry into Spain"). 

• Visa refusal: Visa refusals will always be notified in writing, setting forth the grounds on which the decision adopted was based. 

• Appeals: If a visa is refused, the applicant may submit an appeal for reconsideration to this Consular Office within 1 month of the day following the date on which notification of the refusal is received. An application for judicial review may also be filed with the High Court Justice of Madrid within the 2-month period beginning the day after the date on which the applicant receives notification of the visa refusal or of the dismissal of the reconsideration appeal. 

Complaints or suggestions about the service received or about the visa application procedure can be submitted online through this website. They may also be submitted in writing at this Consular Office.

Data protection​ 

The processing of personal data of visa applicants is done in accordance with the General Data Pr​otection Regulation. 

Persons wishing to exercise their rights of access, rectification and erasure of their personal data in the Visa Information System (VIS) may do so by addressing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation: 

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation
Inspección General de Servicios
Postal address: Plaza de la Provincia, 1, Madrid, España
Email: dpd@maec.es​ 

The following forms may be used to do so: 

• Right of access (Spanish-English version)​
• Right to rectification (Spanish-English version)
• Right to erasure (Spanish-English version) 

Persons whose visa application has been refused because they are banned from entering the Schengen area may exercise their rights of access, rectification and erasure of their personal data in the Schengen Information System (SIS) by addressing the Ministry of the Interior.   

To obtain more information on your rights and duties and on how to exercise your rights of access, rectification and erasure of data included in the SIS, please refer to the website of the Spanish Data Protection Agency.

Basic legislation 

 Community Code on Visas 

• Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 July 2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code). 
  
• Regulation (EU) 2019/1155 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 amending Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 establishing a Community Code on Visas (Visa Code).
  

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