Italy Visa
Italy is famous for its delicious cuisine, trendy fashions, luxury sports cars and motorcycles, diverse regional cultures and dialects, as well as for its various landscapes. With 52.4 million tourists a year (2016), Italy is the fifth most visited country in international tourism arrivals.
Italy is one of the Schengen countries of Europe which means that you can apply to the Italian embassy for a Schengen visa if your port of entry into Europe is Italy or if you are going to spend the most number of days there during a multi-country trip in Europe. However, each types of visa has different requirements of documents for visa application.
ITALY VISA EXEMPTION
Nationals of the following countries do not require a visa for visits up to a maximum of 90 days, for tourism, on missions, business, invitations, ought to take part in sports events, study:
Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominica, El Salvador, Emirati Arabi Uniti, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Georgia, Guatemala, Grenada, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Macao, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Northern Marianas, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, Santa Lucia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, St, Vincent e Granadine, Taiwan, Timor Est, Trinidad e Tobago, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay, Vanatu, Venezuela.
Citizens of Taiwan exemption from visa obligation is applied exclusively to holders of passports with identity card number included.
Citizens of Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia are exempt from visa obligation only if the passport contains biometric data.
This does not apply to citizens of Serbia holding passports issued by the Serbian Coordination Directorate (“Koordinaciona uprava”).
Nationals of San Marino, the Holy See and Switzerland do not require a visas in any case.
TYPES OF ITALY VISA
Depending on the purpose of visit, Italy has many different types of visa. Each types is issued for specific purpose of the applicants.
One of the most famous purposes for traveling to the Schengen Zone. People who are planning to visit any of the countries in this territory for sightseeing and experiencing their culture, architecture, foods and much more, should select this purpose of traveling in their application form.
A lot of people travel often to and from the Schengen countries for business purposes.
If you are traveling to any of the member states of the Schengen territory to seek medical treatment, you should select ‘medical reasons’ in your application form.
You will have to tick “Official Visit” in your application form, if you are traveling to the Schengen Area on an official duty.
Pupils and students that wish to attend any type of educational institutions, as university courses, language courses and other, for a period shorter than three months, can apply for a Schengen study visa.
This purpose of entry is for people who need to travel through the international zone of a Schengen Country Airport without entering the Schengen Country.
ITALY VISA REQUIREMENTS
General required documents for Italy Visa Application:
- Correct application form duly filled out
- Valid passport
- 2 passport-sized photographs
- Travel insurance with a minimum coverage of EUR 30,000
- Round-trip flight reservations or a complete travel itinerary
- Hotel reservation or proof of accommodation
- Letter of no objection from employer
- Bank statements from the previous 3 months
Additional documents required for the different purposes of Italy Visa Application:
Italy Tourist Schengen Visa additional requirements:
- Invitation letter with the address and phone number from family member or sponsor in Italy – if applicable,
- Bank statement of the last 6 months,
- Passport copies.
Italy Visa for Business Purposes:
- Invitation letter from the Italian company you will be visiting and their detailed address in Italy accompanied with the dates of your visit,
- A certificate from your employer stating/allowing your business travel,
- If there were previous trade relations between the two companies, proof of such events must be provided,
- Business bank statement of the latest 6 months,
- Memorandum and Article of Association in original certified copy (registered with joint stock companies) Trade License (first issued and present renewal), Proprietorship/Partnership documents,
- Regarding the applicant’s expenses during stay in the Schengen zone, either the employer or the partner company must state coverage of expenses on the letter or invitation.
Italy Visa for Medical Purposes:
- A local medical report,
- A medical attestation from the hospital or doctor in Italy, confirming the date of your appointment as well as your medical situation,
- Payment receipt of medical fees.
Italy Visa for Cultural, Sports, Film Crew or Religious Purposes:
- Invitation letter from the above-mentioned authorities with details upon the nature of events or activities – purpose of visit , expense coverage,
- Names of the applicants (crew members),
- Duration of stay in Italy,
- Travel itinerary.
Italy Visa for Members of Official Delegations:
- The official invitation copy,
- Identity of applicant,
- Purpose of journey (negotiations, meetings, event by intergovernmental organizations, consultations) in Italy,
- Duration of stay in Italy,
- Place of accommodation in Italy.
Italy Visa for Study, Training, Research, or other type of Internship Purposes:
- An enrollment certificate allowing attendance of courses,
- Certificate of completion or courses attended,
- Financial sustenance.
Italy Visa For The Wife/Husband of an Italian citizen:
- Proof of Italian citizenship (ID card or consular card or certification of Italian nationality or naturalization order)
- Italian marriage certificate
- Italian family record book
Italy Airport Transit Visa:
- Visa or other type of entry permit in the transit country,
- Copy of your valid visa for your final destination.
Italy Visa for Underage Children:
-
- Proof of parent’s regular income (work contract with specified monthly income or a bank statement or business license)
- Notarized travel permission from parent (parental travel consent)
- If one parent lives in another country – their notarized parental travel consent
HOW TO APPLY ITALY VISA APPLICATION
Italy consulates in some countries do not accept walk-in application so you have to book an online appointments for your visa application.
Here are steps that you should take to apply for a Italy visa:
Download and fill up the visa application form. Gather all required documents and keep them ready for submission.
Book an appointment at the Visa Application Centre for submitting your application.
Reach your visa application centre on time. Carry all the necessary documents along with your visa application form. Remember that you must carry original documents for the purpose of verification and submit the photocopies along with the application form.
Pay your visa application fee and submit your completed application form to the concerned authorities. After completely submit your visa application form, you will be issued acknowledgement receipt for your application submission and fee payment.
COST OF ITALY VISA
There are differences from Italy short term visa fees and long term visa fees, all are listed as following:
|
Schengen Visa (Short Term) / Fees |
National Visa (Long Term) |
|
Tourism / Euro 60.00 |
Employment / Euro 116.00 |
|
Business/ Euro 60.00 |
Reentry Visa/ Euro 116.00 |
|
Mission / Euro 60.00 |
Family Reunion / Euro 116.00 |
|
Student / Euro 00.00 |
Family Reunion / Euro 116.00 |
|
Religious / Euro 60.00 |
Religious Long / Euro 116.00 |
|
Sport / Euro 60.00 |
Study Long / Euro 50.00 |
|
Tirocinio Formazione / Euro 50.00 |
ITALY VISA PROCESSING TIME
The processing time for an Italy short-stay visa may take up to 15 days. Still, according to your specific situation this period may be extended up to 30 days. Exceptional cases may take up to 60 days, since the Italian embassies may have to consult with other Schengen consulates.
ITALY VISA VALIDITY
Short term visa ( Schengen visa) allow holder to stay 90 days in a period of 180 days
Long term visa ( National visa) allow holders to stay in Italy from 91 to 365 days only for purposes of study, work or permanent residency.
ITALY VISA APPLICATION FORM
All applicants must download the visa application form, fill in the required details and submit it with mandatory documents to start the process for an Italy visa.
You can download Italy visa application form from internet or get directly from the embassy or consulate. It is recommended to contact nearest Italian embassy or consulate before starting prepare all required documents for application process.