A guide to applying for a Schengen visa in Toronto, Canada. If you are a resident of Canada planning to visit one or more countries in Europe, and you need to apply for a Schengen visa from Canada, then you may apply at one of the Schengen embassies located in Toronto (the capital of Ontario), if you fall within the jurisdiction of one of the embassies.
As a Canadian, you are subject to the visa-free regime that the EU applies to some world countries, so you must first check if you need a Schengen visa. Travelers who are visiting Europe for tourism or business purposes can enter Europe without a visa for stays less than 90 days.
Foreigners who live in Canada but do not hold a Canadian passport will, however, need to apply for a Schengen visa in order to enter the country. In addition, Canadians who have been denied visa-free entry to Europe, for one or another reason, must also apply for a regular Schengen Visa.
Follow these steps to obtain a Schengen visa in Toronto:
- Make sure your case falls under one of the Schengen visa types
- Obtain the required documents for your visa type
- You must obtain Schengen Insurance, which is a crucial requirement
- Visit the Toronto consulate of the country you wish to visit for a visa interview
- If you want your Schengen visa application to be processed, you must pay the Schengen visa fee and attend the visa interview at the Schengen country’s consulate
In Toronto, most Schengen member states have their consulates that accept visa applications from Canadians who wish to visit Europe. They also have an area of jurisdiction, for which residents need to apply at the Toronto consulate.
The Schengen Area has its own rules on where one should apply to get the visa, depending on how many countries you wish to visit and the number of days you wish to spend there, as follows:
The embassy of the country you are visiting will have to process your visa application.
Visiting two or more countries – apply for the country where you will be landing first if you will be spending the same amount of time in each.
When visiting two or more countries to spend a different number of days in each – on the other hand, if you will be spending an unequal number of days in each, you should apply at the embassy of the country where you will be spending the most time. With the same visa, you can visit all Schengen countries.
If you wish to stay in the Schengen Area for more than 90 days – You need to apply for a national long-stay visa (D-Visa) if you plan to stay more than 90 days in a Schengen country. You can find instructions on the homepage of the embassy or consulate.
You need to keep in mind the following when applying for a Schengen visa in Toronto:
- The Consulate in Toronto has jurisdiction over your residence address
- Check whether the consulate accepts visa applications, or if it outsources visa application submission to VFS Global, another consulate, or another Schengen embassy
- Find out when the consulate accepts applications (if they do) and whether walk-in applications are accepted or appointments are required
The following is a list of all Schengen Consulates in Toronto, their work hours, their addresses and contact details, as well as whether they have outsourced visa application submission to another company.
Apply for a visa to Austria
You cannot apply for a Schengen visa at the Austrian Consulate in Toronto as it does not offer visa services. Instead, you must apply for it at the German Consulate in Toronto.
In order to obtain an Austrian visa, you must be a resident of the area under the jurisdiction of Toronto, including Manitoba, Ontario (except residents of the National Capital Region of Ottawa or its counties (Lanark, Leeds, and Grenville, Prescott and Russell, Renfrew, Stormont, Dundas, and Glengary).
Filing a visa application at the German Consulate in Toronto
Please note that the German consulate in Toronto doesn’t allow walk-in. To apply for a visa at the General Consulate of Germany in Toronto, you must book an appointment online.
Contact details and address
2 Bloor Street East, 25th Floor
Toronto, ON M4W 1A8
Canada
Phone: (+1) (416) 925 2813
Fax: (+1) (416) 925 2818
Email: info@toronto.diplo.de
Apply for a visa to BelgiumÂ
Since the Belgian Consulate in Toronto does not offer visa services, you will have to apply for a Schengen visa at either the Consulate General in Montreal or the Consulate General in Brussels.
Belgium’ Consulate General in Montreal is the only place in Canada to obtain visas for:
- The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and Belgium issue short-stay visas
- Belgian visas for long stays
Please do not contact the Embassy of Belgium in Ottawa or honorary consulates regarding visa issues.
Applying for a visa at the Belgian Consulate in Montreal
Please note that the Belgium consulate in Toronto doesn’t allow walk-in. To apply for a visa at the General Consulate of Belgium in Montreal, you must make an appointment online via this link.
Contact details and address Bd de Maisonneuve Ouest, 999 Suite 1600, Montreal, QC – H3A 3L4 Montreal Canada
Phone: +1 514 849 73 94
Fax: +1 514 844 31 70
Email:Â montreal.visa@diplobel.fed.be
Apply for a visa to the Czech Republic
Residents of Ontario (except those districts under the jurisdiction of the Embassy in Ottawa), Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan can apply for a Schengen Visa at the Czech Consulate in Toronto.
Filing a visa application at the Czech Consulate in Toronto
It is necessary for visa applicants to schedule an appointment with the consular section of the Czech Consulate in Toronto between 9am and 11am, Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
You can request an appointment by emailing toronto.appointment@gmail.com
The email address is strictly for requesting an appointment; questions sent to this address will not be acknowledged. Appointments cannot be booked over the phone.
Book an appointment for each applicant. For example, if you and a family member(s) are applying, you must schedule TWO appointments.
The following information should be provided when requesting an appointment:
First Name:
Middle Name/s:
Last Name:
Type of Visa you are applying for: Schengen Visa, Long Term Visa, Long Term Residence Permit, Employee Card, EU Blue Card, Permanent Residence Permit
I will reply to your email within 24 hours; therefore, please request your appointment accordingly.
Contact details and address are 2 Bloor Street West, Suite 1500, Toronto, ON M4W 3E2
Phone: +1 416 972 1476
Fax: +1 416 972 6991
Email: toronto@embassy.mzv.cz
Apply for a visa to DenmarkÂ
As the Danish Consulate in Toronto does not offer visa services, you cannot apply for a visa there. Instead, you will have to apply for a Schengen visa at one of the VFS Global centers in Toronto, to which Denmark outsources the submission of visa applications and the collection of fingerprints.
Filing a visa application at VFS Global in Toronto
To schedule an appointment with VFS Global in Toronto, please click here.
Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B4 Contact details and address VFS Visa Application Center 208 Bloor St W, unit 402
Opening hours: Monday to Friday – 9:00 am to 1:00 pm EST From May through August, the center is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm EST.
Apply for a visa to EstoniaÂ
You cannot apply for a visa at the Estonian Consulate in Toronto because it does not offer visa services.
As a result, you must apply for a Schengen visa at the Estonian Embassy in Ottawa, which is the only one in Canada that processes visa applications for Estonia.
Filing a visa application at the Estonian Embassy in Ottawa
Applications and fingerprints must be submitted in person, unless the fingerprints were collected in the previous 59 months and are on file.
If you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact the Embassy by phone or e-mail.
Contact details and address are: 260 Dalhousie Street, Suite 210, Ottawa
Phone: +1Â 613 789 42 22
Email:Â embassy.ottawa@mfa.ee
Apply for a visa to FinlandÂ
In Toronto, the Finnish Consulate does not provide visa services; therefore, you can’t apply for a Finnish visa there. Instead, the Finnish Embassy has outsourced visa services to the Consulate General of Switzerland in Montreal and Vancouver.
Filing a visa application at the Consulate General of Switzerland in Montreal
The Consulate General of Switzerland in Montreal will accept applications from Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Québec, and Nunavut residents for Schengen visas to Finland.
Your application can be filed on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between 10:00 a.m. and 13:00 p.m., and on Fridays between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
Contact details and address 1572 Avenue you Doctor Penfield, Montreal, QC, H3G 1C4, Canada
Phone: +1 514 932 71 81
Fax: +1 514 932 90 28
Email:montreal@eda.admin.ch & mon.visa@eda.admin.ch
Applying for a visa at the Swiss Consulate General in Vancouver
To get a Schengen visa to Finland, residents of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon and Northwest Territories must apply at the Swiss Consulate General in Vancouver.
From Monday through Friday, between 9:00 and 13:00, you can file your application.
Contact Details and Address 790-999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC V6C 3E1, Canada
Phone: +1 604 684 2231
Fax: +1 604 684 28 06
Email: vancouver@eda.admin.ch & van.visa@eda.admin.ch
Apply for a visa to FranceÂ
Consequently, you cannot apply for a French visa at the French Consulate in Toronto. You will have to apply for a French Schengen visa instead at one of the VFS Global centers in Toronto, to which France outsources the collection of visa applications and biometric data.
Filing a visa application at VFS Global in Toronto
The France visa website allows applicants to make an appointment with VFS Global in Toronto. To book an appointment, click here.
Contact Details and Address VFS Visa Application Center, 208 Bloor St West, unit 402, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B4
Phone: +16139279266
Email:Info.FranceCanada@vfsglobal.com
Apply for a visa to GermanyÂ
If you live in the area under the jurisdiction of the German consulate, which includes Manitoba and Ontario, except in the National Capital Region of Ottawa or its counties (Lanark, Leeds, Grenville, Prescott and Russell, Renfrew, Toromont, Dundas and Glengarry), you can apply for a German Schengen Visa at the German consulate.
Filing a visa application at the German Consulate in Toronto
To submit an application, you will need to schedule an appointment at the German consulate in Toronto. Applications can be filed Monday through Thursday between 8:00 and 16:45, and on Friday between 8:00 and 14:00.
In the event that you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment, cancel it immediately. This Consulate-General reserves the right to deny you further appointments if you do not cancel your appointment.
Contact Details and Address 25 Bloor Street East, Toronto, ON M4W 1A8
Phone: (+1) (416) 925 2813
Fax: (+1) (416) 925 2818
Email: info@toronto.diplo.de
Website: www.canada.diplo.de
Apply for a visa to GreeceÂ
If you live in Ontario (except Ottawa and Kingston) or Manitoba, you can apply for a Greek Schengen Visa at the Greek Consulate.
Applying for a visa at the Greece Consulate in Toronto
To file an application, you will need to make an appointment via email at the Greek Consulate in Toronto.
By email, the applicant should provide the following information to the Consulate General of Greece in Toronto:
- First/Last name,
- Citizenship
- Passport number
- Date of first entry into the Schengen area
- Contact number
Third-party or agency applications are not processed by the Consulate General.
Contact Details and Address It’s located at 1075 Bay Street, suite 600, Toronto, ON, M5S 2B1
Phone: +1 416 515 0132-4
Fax: +1 416 515 0209
Email: toronto@mfa.gr
Apply for a visa to HungaryÂ
In spite of the fact that there is a Hungarian Consulate in Toronto, you cannot apply there for a visa. Instead, you must go to the Hungarian Embassy in Ottawa, which also processes visas to Hungary.
Hungarian Embassy Ottawa visa application
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m., you can apply for a Hungarian Schengen visa online, as the embassy does not accept walk-ins.
Please send an email if there are no available dates:
- The name of your company,
- If you could provide your telephone number and e-mail address, please do so
- Choose your preferred city or cities,
- Please provide a brief description of your case.
Contact Details and Address for 302 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa, ON K2P 1S2
Phone: +1 (613) 230-8215
Fax: +1 (613) 230-7550
Email: consulate.ott@mfa.gov.hu
Apply for a visa to IcelandÂ
There is no visa service at the Icelandic Consulate in Toronto; therefore, you cannot apply there for a visa. Iceland outsources visa submission to Denmark, while the latter outsources visa submission to VFS Global. Therefore, you will need to apply for a Schengen visa at a VFS Global centre in Toronto.
VFS Global visa application
Click here to book an appointment at VFS Global after starting your visa application online through the Visa Self Service Portal.
If you have previously had your biometrics recorded for a Schengen visa, you are able to courier your application to VFS Global.
During peak season (May, June, July, and August), the Visa Center will be open from 9:00 to 17:00 Monday through Friday.
Contact Details and Address
208 Bloor St W, unit 402,
Toronto, Ontario, M5S 3B4
Phone: 1-866-978-5904
Email:info.dkca@vfshelpline.com
Apply for a visa to ItalyÂ
If you live in Ontario (except for the counties within the jurisdiction of the Italian Embassy in Ottawa), Manitoba, or the Northwest Territories, which are under the jurisdiction of this consulate, you may apply for a Schengen Visa at the Italian consulate in Toronto.
The Italian consulate in Toronto accepts applications
To file an application at the Italian consulate in Toronto, you must make an appointment since walk-in applications are not accepted.
This appointment can be booked through the Prenota Online website, which is managed by the Italian Consulate.
Details and Address
136 Beverley Street, Toronto, ON M5T 1Y5
Phone: (+1) 416 977 1566
Fax: (+1) 416 977 1119
Email: con.toronto@cert.esteri.it & visti.toronto@esteri.it
Apply for a visa to Liechtenstein
Lichtenstein visitors must submit their applications at the Embassy of Switzerland (or its consulates) in Ottawa, which is responsible for diplomatic relations with Canada and the Bahamas.
ConclusionÂ
The process of applying for a Schengen visa in Toronto requires careful consideration of your travel plans and the specific requirements of each Schengen member state. This guide provides essential information on visa types, required documents, and the application process for various countries. Remember to check the jurisdiction, appointment procedures, and outsourcing details for each consulate. Whether you’re planning to explore the rich cultural heritage of Europe or embark on a business trip, this guide serves as a valuable resource for Canadian residents seeking a seamless Schengen visa application experience.