Hi,
We are planning an overseas trip to Italy, Greece, France and Switzerland. We do not have Aussie Passports yet but we hold a Permanent Residency status. Having a Pakistani passport means we will have to go through the visa process but not sure if we have to apply it just for the first country or all of them.
You can get a direct train between them though but it will take you 8h49m.
Italy is part of the Schengen Zone, which basically means a visa into any of the countries in the Zone is valid for entry into every other country in the Zone. Have a read here:
https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/
But the relevant part is:
The Schengen visa is the most common visa for Europe. It enables its holder to enter, freely travel within, and leave the Schengen zone from any of the Schengen member countries. There are no border controls within the Schengen Zone.
You'll also need to apply for a Shengen visa via the country you wish to spend the most time in.
True (I think), but they literally don't track where you go inside the zone so for all intents and purposes, anyone applying should always apply to the country with the easiest/fastest process.
Incorrect. Apply to the country where you will spend the most time:
https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/border…
@Dc80: I didn't say you were wrong, but this is arguably more important:
If you intend to visit several Schengen States and the stays will be of equal length, you must apply at the Consulate of the country whose external borders you will cross first when entering the Schengen area.
The whole point of the Schengen Zone is that your travel between member nations isn't tracked. There's no way for them to know where you actually spend the most time.
@HighAndDry: Fair point, as OP mentioned they will be visiting four countries, unlikely they will spend exactly the same amount of time in each of the four. Best for OP to refer to the info online I guess.
@Dc80: Yeah. Also you're right - even if the risk is minimal, probably best for OP to make sure they're abiding strictly by the requirements. Not to generalize, but having a Pakistani passport might invite more scrutiny.
Are you asking a question - it's not quite clear.
But google is your friend…
https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/pakistan_en/1329/Travel%2…
Your permanent resident visa status is not relevant to your trip to Europe, other than it will allow you enter Australia upon return.
Just remember - Bratislava is nowhere near Berlin.