A: All requirements are listed on our website (visa section) and checklists can be downloaded from each visa page. All documents must be produced in hard copy.

Q4: How can I pay for my visa’s fee?

A: All visa fees are payable with credit card (2% surcharge applied), EFTPOS (AUD 2 fee applied), in Australian dollars cash or Australia Post Money Order made payable to this Consulate General.

Q5: How long will it take to get my visa?

A: Processing time may vary from few hours to 15 days, depending on each case. No fast track is available. It is strongly recommended to apply at least 2 weeks before scheduled departure. Applications cannot be processed earlier than 90 days before departure date.

Q6: Once I get my visa, am I guaranteed entry in the country?

A: No visa can be regarded as a guarantee of entry. Further checks by Immigration Officers at the border may lead to a refusal. Travellers are advised to carry copies of documents submitted with their visa applications so they can immediately produce them, if requested by Immigration Officers.

Q7: To apply for a visa how long should my passport be valid for?

A: All passports need to be valid for at least 3 months beyond the expiry of the visa requested.

Q8. What is the difference between a short-stay Schengen visa and a long-stay national visa?

A: A short-stay Schengen visa allows applicants to stay in the Schengen area between 1 and 90 days. It cannot be issued to Australians, but only to passport holders of certain nationalities. Australians do not need this kind of visa for staying in the Schengen between 1 and 90 days as tourists or students.

A national visa is issued by a specific Schengen country only to allow applicants to stay in that specific country between 91 and 365 days for long-term employment, study or residency purposes.

Q9. Can I obtain a Schengen visa valid to stay in Schengen or in Europe for more than 90 days?

A: Europe is not a Federal entity. Each Member State of the EU has its own rules on visa and residency. There is no such visa that allows applicants to stay in the Schengen area for longer than 90 days.

Q10. Can I get a visa to stay ONLY IN ONE European country for more than 90 days?

Long-stay national visas can be obtained from one specific country and only for reasons of employment, study or residency. Applicants must have a specific reason to stay in the issuing country for longer than 90 days. Days spent on a national visa are not counted as Schengen days. For this reason, Australian citizens holding a long-stay national visa may spend a further 90 days in any of the Schengen country in any 6 month period as tourists ONLY prior, during or after the validity of their national visa.

Q11. Can I overstay my Schengen / national visa or arrive before the visa starting date?

A: Overstaying or arriving before the starting date of a short-stay Schengen visa is not allowed. As already mentioned, Australian citizens holding a long-stay national visa may spend a further 90 days in any of the Schengen country in any 6 month period as tourists ONLY prior, during or after the validity of their national visa.

Q12. Do I have any obligations if I enter Italy on a long-stay national visa?

A: Within 8 days from entering Italy on a national visa, all holders need to apply for a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) from the local Police (Questura). For further information click here.

Q13. Can I renew / extend my long-stay national visa after it has been issued?

A: NO. Once a visa has been issued, it can neither be renewed nor extended. If you are planning to stay in Italy longer than originally planned, you will need to enquire whether it is possible to extend your residence permit (see Q12) from the Police station that has issued it before the permit’s expiry date.

Q14. I am Australian and I am studying in Italy for less than 90 days but I want to stay in Italy or other Schengen countries for more than 90 days. Can I apply for a study visa?

A: If you are Australian and your study period in Italy is shorter than 90 days, you cannot apply for a study visa. For further details, see questions Q9 and Q10.

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