European roulette

[Chirimoya]

We are setting off for Europe in a few week's time, with an odd sort of itinerary.

Santo Domingo - Madrid - Rome (10 days in Italy) Rome - Madrid - Gibraltar (where we will spend the rest of the summer). Now that there are direct Madrid-Gibraltar flights it saves us the hassle of driving from and to Málaga after a long trip. Thing is, it's a bit of an anomaly because Iberia classifies it as an internal flight for political reasons, but it does mean that we are only transiting through Spain.

Mr C, a Dominican national, has his UK/Gibraltar visa sorted, so that's no problem. The question is - the Schengen visa. Should he get it from the Spanish or Italian embassy? He has had countless visas from Spain, so the former would be the ideal option.

However, if he is technically just transiting through Spain and the main Schengen destination is Italy, should he apply for an Italian visa? He tried phoning the Italian embassy this morning to ask their advice but they were incredibly rude, slamming down the phone after saying "refer to the website" without giving him a chance to ask his question - problem is, website does not cover cases like this. That combined with other people's less than pleasant experiences at the Italian embassy in Santo Domingo makes me hope that the Spanish option is valid.

Anyone have any informed advice?

[Matilda]

As far as I know it makes no difference where you get Schengen visa from - it is valid for all countries in Schengen. So go for Spain. Especially if you are transiting through Madrid, as there is no transit as such there now - new rules - so you have to go through immigration and it would be easier for you there if you have Spanish issued visa.

[qgrande]

As you wrote, you have to apply for the visa at the embassy of your main destination. Because you would not leave Barajas and Dominicans don't even need transit visa in Schengen countries, this would really be a case where you'd have to apply at the Italian embassy. According to the rules.

But then, they are valid for all countries, and even if you'd get one for Italy, you could for instance just drive to Paris, and spend all your time there, and nobody would know. Nobody can check whether it is really in practice you 'main destination'. Only if you have to register with the police in Italy or Spain, or something like that (I think that is a requierement in The Netherlands). But if not, you could just apply at the Spanish embassy and hope the Italian immigration doesnt give you a hard time when you enter on the same day you went through immigration in Spain on a Spanish visa.

[Chirimoya]

Originally Posted by qgrande

But if not, you could just apply at the Spanish embassy and hope the Italian immigration doesnt give you a hard time when you enter on the same day you went through immigration in Spain on a Spanish visa.

I suppose Italian immigration could be fobbed off with us pointing to our return flight to Madrid, explaining that we are spending the rest of the summer "in Spain" - I would hope that they are not that likely to be au fait with or interested in the precise status of Gibilterra anyway.

[Pib]

Having done that trip before this is what I found out:
You get the visa for the country where you are going to spend the most time, if you are spending the same amount of time in all of them then it should be in the Schengen country where you will clear immigration (that is, the first one you land in).

I was going to Italy via Spain, I had to clear immigration in Spain, but had to get a visa from Italy. (I actually ended up getting a visa from the French Embassy, even though I would only fly over France... but that is a long story).

[Pib]

BTW, on the way back from Italy we did spend some time in Spain (although it was never our main destination) as the Schengen visa was still valid, we had to clear immigration again though because we came via Zürich. So, minus the Zürich detour our trip pretty much followed the same path as yours.

PS, service at the Italian consulate sucks. Same for the Spanish consulate. Go France!

[Chirimoya]

Can we classify Spain as the main destination though?

[dv8]

chiri - minovio has travelled all over italy, france and spain and i believe he has applied for his schengen visa in spanish embassy.
i'd say to put spain as your main destination and don't worry, after all you are going to be mostly OUT of italy, not IN there.... that shoud satisty pizza-eaters!

[Pib]

Originally Posted by Chirimoya

Can we classify Spain as the main destination though?

The Spanish consulate informed me that since we would be spending several weeks in Italy I should go to the Italian consulate (you can make an appointment by fax at the Italian consulate). Maybe the Spaniards just wanted to get rid of me though. Give it a try.

[swake]

Originally Posted by Pib

The Spanish consulate informed me that since we would be spending several weeks in Italy I should go to the Italian consulate (you can make an appointment by fax at the Italian consulate). Maybe the Spaniards just wanted to get rid of me though. Give it a try.

Seems that more embassies of Schengen states try and fob applicants off whenever they see fit.
I go with ggrande & Pib and advise you to apply at the Spanish embassy (since your hubby obtained Sp visas in the past). Show them a flight reservation SDQ-MAD (will cost you peanuts) and tell 'em main purpose is visit to family/friends in Spain. As already said, once the visa issued, it doesn't matter where you go in the Schengen zone as there are hardly any border checks.
*forget the Italian consulate in SD. I heard from more than one Dominican AND Italian that they are real perro....