VISA
Short stay visas - Schengen visa (find more information below)
Long term visas (find more information below)
SHORT STAY VISAS – Schengen visa
These visas allow the holder to transit through or remain in Spanish territory and all other Schengen States for a maximum period of three months (90 days) within a period of six months (180 days) from the entry date into the Schengen Area.
Who needs a Schengen visa
Australian citizens may enter and remain in Spain without a visa for up to 90 days within a period of six months, on tourist, private business or family visiting purposes, or on purposes taken as similar, which do not require any previous authorisation.
Lodging your application
If the travel destination is Spain, applications must be lodged in the diplomatic mission or Spanish consular office in the applicant´s country of residence.
If the travel destination includes more than one Schengen State, the application must be presented in the consulate of the main destination.
“Main destination” is understood to be the destination where the applicant intends to spend the longest time or where the main purpose of the intended journey is carried out.
The consular jurisdiction of the Spanish Consulate in Canberra covers the ACT and Queanbeyan only. You must show proof of residence in this jurisdiction.
When to lodge your application
A Schengen tourist visa application should, be presented at least 15 calendar days before the intended date of departure. It will take longer for a student visa (up to a month) or a resident visa (up to 3 months or even longer) and cannot be presented earlier than three months before the start of the intended visit.
Requirements
Visa applications must be lodged and collected in person at the diplomatic mission or consular office closest to the applicant´s place of residence.
Consular fees must be paid at the time of lodging the application. This fee is non-refundable if the visa application is unsuccessful. All other necessary requirements may vary according to the reason for the visit.
Visa application
The short stay visa application must be submitted in duplicate. Applications forms can be downloaded from this webpage or collected from Spanish embassies or consular offices.
The application form must be accompanied by an Australian passport size, recent, full-face photograph, in colour, on a light, plain and uniform background.
Prepare your documents
- Passport with a validity of more than 3 months from the date you leave the Schengen space after your visit.
- Proof of financial funds: bank statements, letter from the bank, title deeds or any other proof of income.
- Proof of accommodation: hotel reservation or a letter of invitation issued at a police station in Spain.
- Letters of support if you are invited to participate in an event.
- Return ticket or flight reservations, and travel itinerary, indicating the countries to be visited and the number of days in each country.
- Medical insurance with overseas cover including hospital and repatriation cover (minimum 30.000€).
- Proof of residence in Australia (permanent residence card, work permit, study permit, etc.
- Letter of employment or confirmation of school registration
Visa validity and collection
The visa issued will normally be valid for all Schengen countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Greece, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
If the visa is issued, it must be collected in person from the diplomatic mission or consular office, or collected by a duly authorised representative within a period of one month from the date of notification that the visa has been issued.
Refusal and appeals
If the visa application is refused, the applicant will be notified in writing stating the reason for the refusal. In this case, the applicant can file a judicial review appeal before the Supreme Court in Madrid within a period of two months from the notification date or alternatively, an appeal for review before the Consular Section in Canberra within one month from the notification date.
LONG TERM VISAS - Most common long term visas
All foreigners who are not citizens of a European Union member state, including Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, have to apply for a long-term visa if they wish to remain in Spain for more than ninety days out of every six months. These long-term visas can be:
- Residence visa: allows the holder to live in Spain without undertaking any type of work or professional activity.
- Work visa: allows the holder to undertake work or any professional activity, either as an employee or self employed.
- Student visa: allows the holder to remain in Spain in order to pursue courses, studies, and research or training programs.
- Property investment visa: provides the holder with a residence visa provided they can prove the purchase of a property (or properties) in Spain with a total value of at least 500,000 euros.
In the case of spouses, parents or descendants of a E.U. citizen, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, they will need to only apply for a visitor’s visa if they wish to live in Spain and is subject to this requirement. Otherwise they will not require any type of visa to live in Spain.
Where to lodge your application
The visa is lodged and issued in the Spanish Embassies or Consulates where the applicant is currently living.
Requirements
The visa must be lodged and collected in person. This can also be done via a duly authorized proxy in the case of a resident’s visa for reasons of family reunification.
The required fee must be paid at the time of lodging the application, and will not be refunded in the event of the application being refused.
Visa collection
Applicants must collect their visa within two months of being notified that it has been granted and issued. In the case of a resident, work, or student visa, the holder must obtain a NIE (foreign national’s ID number) within one month of their entry into Spain. The NIE may also be obtained at the consular office prior to entry into Spain.
Refusal and appeals
Should the diplomatic missions and consular offices decide to refuse a visa application, the applicant will be notified. However the diplomatic mission or consular office is under no obligation to provide reasons for the refusal, except in the case of applications for visas for family reunification or for work for third parties.
Applicants may appeal the decision requesting a review of said decision, within one month or by requesting a judicial review before the Supreme Court in Madrid within two months.