Italian visa resources
Appointments and biometrics for an Italy application
How to book the consular visa appointment abroad and complete the fingerprint step at the Questura after you arrive.
Important
Italy's national process involves an appointment abroad to lodge the visa application, and a separate biometric (fingerprint) step in Italy for the residence permit. The two are handled by different authorities and happen at different stages.
Visa appointments are booked directly with the consulate, in many countries through the Foreign Ministry's Prenot@mi booking system; the in-country fingerprinting is carried out by the Polizia di Stato at the Questura.
The visa appointment (abroad)
- Book with the Italian consulate covering your residence — often via the Prenot@mi system (prenotami.esteri.it)
- Bring the full document set for your visa category to the appointment
- Some posts use an external visa centre to collect applications; check your consulate's instructions
The residence permit and biometrics (in Italy)
- Most permits are requested by submitting the postal “kit” at a Post Office with a Sportello Amico counter; some permit types are lodged only at the Questura
- After submission you receive a receipt with an appointment at the Questura's Ufficio Immigrazione
- At the Questura you attend for photographs and fingerprinting (rilievi fotodattiloscopici) before the electronic permit is produced
Next steps
Official sources
For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.
Verified against official sources · last reviewed 2026-08-21. Information only — not legal advice.