Important Travel Document Information – Please Read
A Schengen Visa enables you to travel to Italy and any country within the Schengen area. A valid Italian Schengen visa allows you to remain there for a maximum of 90 days within six months. For stays longer than 90 days, you will need to hold a Long-Stay Schengen D-Visa.
Whether you need to apply for a visa to Italy depends on what country you are from, as you may be entitled to travel with your passport simply.
You should apply as soon as possible to ensure that you are approved for your Italian visa in time for your trip. You will not be allowed to board your flight without a valid Schengen visa.
Italian Schengen Visa Types
The ‘type’ of visa you have will affect how many times you can enter and leave Italy.
Do I need to apply for an Italy Schengen visa?
The visa policy of Italy decides who requires a visa to enter the country and who belongs to the list of visa-exempt nations. The visa requirements for Italy vary according to nationality, the purpose of the visit, and length of stay.
To visit Italy for short stays, visa-exempt individuals from outside the Schengen Area will be needed to pre-register for an ETIAS authorization in 2024. All foreign nationals wishing to visit Italy for extended stays of over 90 days or other purposes need to apply for a long-Stay visa which is also known as a National Visa or D Visa.
To enter Italy, all non-Schengen Area foreign nationals must have a valid passport, regardless of whether they require a visa.
What is the process for applying for an Italy Visa?
To start the application procedure for a visa for a short stay in Italy, you must do the following steps:
- Submit your application on our website and pay the service fee
- Wait for your details to be received and await further correspondence
- Receive your processed documentation
- Book your appointment as advised
- Attend your interview and pay the visa fees
- Wait for the result of your application
What Documents Are Required for an Italy Visa Application?
The following papers are necessary to apply for a Schengen / Italy Visa:
Completed visa application documentation. Printed & Signed
One passport-size image. The photograph must have been shot within the last six months and adhere to Italy's photo visa standards.
Valid passport. You must send your passport and other documents necessary for a visa. Ensure that your passport contains at least two blank visa pages
Your residency permission card and a duplicate of it (if you are not a citizen of the country from which you are applying).
Proof of accomodation in Italy
Round-trip reservation, itinerary, or ticket.
Documentation demonstrating sufficient funds for the duration of stay in Italy. The Italian government requires you to demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to maint
Schengen visa travel insurance. Insurance coverage for the entirety of Italy and the Schengen Area. The minimum coverage for health insurance in the Schengen Area is €30,
Visa Processing Time For Italy
The processing period for an Italian Schengen visa for a short trip can take up to fifteen days. However, depending on your circumstances, this period may be extended by up to 30 days. In certain circumstances, the Italian embassies may need to confer with other Schengen consulates, which might take up to sixty days.
To avoid any potential delays in issuing your Italian Schengen Visa you should submit your application as soon as possible, but no earlier than three months before your trip to Italy.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Italy will have the latest information regarding processing times.
Entry Requirements For Italy
With Italy being a member of the Schengen Area all European Union / EEA nationals will simply need to provide their passport document to enter Italy.
Non-EU/EEA travelers who desire to visit Italy, San Marino, or the Vatican must provide the following documents at the Italian port of entry to be granted entrance:
- A passport or travel document which is valid for at least three months after their intended Schengen departure date and issued during the past ten years.
- A visa if they fall within the Italian visa rules.
Italy Tourist Visa Policy
The Italian Visa Policy states that tourists from more than ninety countries and territories are exempt from visa requirements for short-term visits to Italy.
Citizens of Schengen Area member states who desire to visit Italy for tourism purposes do not need a visa, as they are entitled to travel freely inside the passport-free zone.
All other visa-exempt nations do not require a tourist visa for Italy as long as their stay does not exceed 90 days, but they must produce a valid passport to enter the country.
An Italian Schengen tourist visa application can be submitted up to six months before entry.
For detailed information on specific parts of the Italy visa process, you can refer to the links in the table to the right to find the answer to your query. If you are unable to find any particular information, please contact us via email.
Sport Events in Italy
If you are travelling to attend a sport event such as the Ryder Cup, then you should apply for an Italian Schengen visa to gain entry to the country for the duration of the event. Proof of your tickets would count as supporting documentation for your visa.
Other Schengen Visa Countries
A Visa is required for any third national wishing to enter Italy or any other Schengen country. It could be a short-stay Schengen C-visa for stays of up to 90 days or a national D-visa / residence permit for longer stays in the country.
Do I need a seperate visa to visit San Marino or Vatican City?
Despite not having signed the Schengen Agreement, San Marino and Vatican City are considered members of the Schengen region. If you have an Italian Schengen visa, you do not need a separate visa to enter San Marino or the Vatican. When entering Italy, there is no border check.
People Also Asked...
This depends on a number of things such as whether or not you have had a Schengen visa in the past or how many countries you intend to visit. Generally your first Schengen visa will be issued for the duration of your stay.
There are 27 Schengen members states in Europe with Italy included. You can see the full list of countries in the Schengen zone in the table on this page.
You can expect an update on your application within 3 days of submission. You can choose express processing at checkout for a response within 24 hours.
Once you attend your appointment, your visa can take up to 15 working days to be processed by the Embassy.
Your inability to cover your lodging and travel expenses is a major factor in the denial of your Italy visa. The Embassy wishes to verify that you have adequate cash to cover your whole stay in Italy, including airfare and lodging for the days of travel.
If your vacation will last between 11 and 20 days, you must have an initial fixed sum of € 51,64 regardless of the number of days you will remain. In addition, you must have € 36.67 per day for every day spent in Italy.
Italy requires tourist visas for visitors from countries outside the EU and EEE. These must be obtained through the Italian Embassy or Consulate in their native countries, although the process is neither hard nor time-consuming.
This covers Americans who will work or do business in Italy as well as those who simply wish to reside there. Before entering Italy, U.S. citizens must get an entry visa from an Italian consulate in order to stay longer than three months and acquire resident status.