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 180 days before departure date.

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

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.

Overstaying or arriving before the starting date of a short-stay Schengen visa is not allowed. 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.

Upon presentation of the documentation certifying their legal residence in Italy, must present a visa to enter the Schengen Area, regardless of the length of stay and regardless of travel documents, with the exception of holders of a residence permit valid in the following days which authorizes the stay in Italy or in another state of the Schengen area where you will stay longer. If you wish to travel to multiple Schengen countries for equivalent periods of stay, you must submit your visa application to the embassy or consulate of the country which is your entry point into the Schengen area.

A Schengen visa (type C) is issued by one of the member countries of the Schengen area, valid for a short stay (limited to 90 days in a period of 180 days) only in the countries of the Schengen area. European competence to receive and issue these visas rests with the consular representation of the country of destination (in the case of a single destination) or that of the main destination (in the case of multiple destinations) due to the length of stay (the longer) or according to the reason for stay (professional reasons in a Schengen State take precedence over tourist, family or private visit reasons in another State). A national Long-stay visa (Type D) is only valid for an establishment or a stay of more than 90 days in the country which issued this visa