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Do I Need a Visa to Travel to Italy?
Italy is a member state of the European Union included in the Schengen zone, in which states have jointly agreed their visa requirements towards third country nationals. Nevertheless, each state may apply specific regulations concerning the travel documents it requires from foreigners intending to visit Italy. You can discover whether you need an entry visa to travel to Italy online.
Italy Visa Types
There are different visa types including single-entry, double-entry, multiple-entry and airport transit visas that enable holders to visit Italy for stays up to 90 days in periods of 180 days. Single-entry visa grants one-time entrance whereas double-entry visa holders may travel twice over pre-defined periods and the multiple-entry visa allows for consecutive visits not exceeding the time constraints. Short-term and long-term visas are issued depending on the nature of the visit.
What is Schengen Visa?
Schengen visa allows its holder to move freely within the Schengen area for a short period. The Schengen area comprises of 26 European countries, namely the Schengen States, among which border controls are abolished. Therefore, passengers who wish to travel in the Schengen area either for business-related or touristic visits are obliged to obtain Schengen visa for stays up to 90 days within a period of 180 days. The complete list of Schengen States include Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Italy Schengen Visa (Category C visa- For Short Stay Visits)
Italy Schengen Visa Types:
- Italy Airport Transit Visa: enables the transit at the airport for changing flights from the international zone of the airport.
- Italy Business Visa: is issued to third country citizens who would like to apply for the Schengen visa with the purpose of conducting business or engaging in commercial activities in the Schengen area. It is usually valid for stays up to a maximum of 90 days.
- Italy Tourist Visa: is granted to third country citizens who seek to visit the Schengen states for entertainment purposes and for a period not exceeding 90 days.
- Italy Visitor Visa: is required for third country citizens who would like to travel to the Schengen area in order to visit family members, relatives or friends for stays not exceeding 90 days within 180 days. A letter of invitation by the person you’ll be visiting is among the required supporting documents.
- Italy Cultural Visa: is obtained for short term cultural visits and it enables the holder to take part in cultural, sports or religious events. Event information with the entry tickets or an invitation letter may be required to have a cultural visa. The terms of stay are restricted to 90 days within 6 months period.
- Italy Medical Treatment Visa: enables the patients from third country citizens to receive medical treatment for healthcare reasons in one of the Italian medical centers. This type of visa allows the holder to stay in Italy for up to 90 days. Patients are asked to submit supporting documents on their medical needs or approval from the aforementioned healthcare center.
Italy Category D visa- For Long Stay Visits
Italy National Visa Types:
- Italy Student Visa: is issued to third country citizens who seek to study in Italy a period longer than 90 days. Admission to a recognized study program is among the main prerequisites of the student visa. Moreover, student visa holders are obliged to submit their residence permit applications for stays exceeding 90 days.
- Italy Employment Visa: is granted to third country citizens who are eligible to work in Italy under an official employment contract or binding offer.
- Italy Job Seeker Visa: is given to previous students who have completed their degrees in Italy and would like to return to Italy for seeking employment.
- Italy Family Reunion Visa: is the type of visa that can be obtained by third country citizens who would like to visit their Italian family members residing in Italy. Applicants are required to prove their relation to the family members. However, the terms of application vary under specific circumstances such as the applicant’s nationality and place of residence. Therefore, people who seek to apply for a family reunion visa are strongly advised to consult the official authorities in advance.
- Italy Researcher Visa: refers to the visa issued to guest scientist or visiting scholars from third countries who wish to engage in research activities in a university or established research institution. An official invitation letter from the research organization with the details of prospective research project is requested in this case.
- Italy Freelancer Visa: is granted to third country nationals who seek to go to Italy for self-employment purposes. The applicant is requested to provide a certificate relating to the identification of the necessary resources to undertake the entrepreneurial, commercial or artisan activity. Economic availability to guarantee the amount of necessary resources in Italy is mandatory.
- Italy Language Course Visa: is an educational visa given to foreign nationals who intend to take part in an Italian language course for a period extending 90 days. Confirmed registration to the course along with other documents is required to obtain this type of visa.
- Italy Student Internship Visa: are requested from third country citizens who would like to conduct an internship in an Italian public or private institute. An approval letter/training agreement from your prospective employer and a work-permit covering the intended timeframe are included among the required documents. Internship practices exceeding 90 days shall apply for a residence permit.
- Italy Partnership Visa: spouse of an Italian citizen holding his/her own country’s passport which is not in the EU or European Economic Area are entitled to apply for an entry visa of such kind. Spouse of an Italian citizen can be granted a short-term visa upon proof of his/her marital status through a marriage certificate and the nationality of the spouse along with the supporting documents. He/she must apply for a residence permit for permanent stays.
- Italy Work Permit Visa: is given to third country nationals who are found eligible to work in Italy. However, Italy applies some quotes to the number of work permit visas issued per nationality and issues a call during certain periods. “Decreto flussi” which translates into a flow decree is open for a few months each year.
- Italy Relative Visa: relatives of an Italian citizen who is coming from a third country may apply for an entry visa to travel to Italy.
General Requirements to Apply for Italy Visa
Below, tourist visa requirements and application procedures to visit Italy are categorized in detail. In general, applicants must submit their applications comprising of the requested documents to the Diplomatic Mission or authorized visa application centers in due time. Please bear in mind that the necessary documents may differ depending on the term and purpose of your stay, hence the category of your visa. Therefore, make sure to get in touch with the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your country of residence.
Italy Visa Applications
- A passport with at minimum two blank pages and is valid for at least 90 days after the end of travel. Copy of the first page including personal data and previous Schengen visas if obtained.
- Completed and signed visa application form along with two biometric photos that are not older than 6 months.
- Proof of travel with confirmed both-way tickets.
- Bank account details or documentation of sufficient means of subsistence proving that the passenger can sufficiently fund his/her travel.
- Evidence of occupation in the form of certified documents through employer letter, student certificate, document of registration or demonstration of pension funds.
- Accommodation details through an invitation letter or proof of your hotel reservation throughout your stay.
- Documentation of travel health insurance that will cover up to 30.000 euros throughout the period of travel and is valid within the entire Schengen area.
- Documents demonstrating the applicant’s social and professional status.
You can find below the specific documents identified depending on your employment status.
Employed:
- Employment contract (original certificate of employment indicating the position in the company and the salary)
- Bank account statement of the past 6 months
- Approval letter of leave from employer
- Income Tax Return (ITR)
Self-employed:
- Proof of business license (company registration)
- Company’s bank account statement of the past 6 months
- Income Tax Return (ITR)
Student:
- Documentation of University enrollment
- No-objection certificate from school management
Retired:
- Pension statement documenting the past 6 months
Unemployed:
- Proof of financial resources is nevertheless required
- If the person is not able to finance his/her own expenses, proof of a sponsor is mandatory.
What is Visa Sponsorship for Italy?
Students or unemployed/retired people who are not in a position to cover their own travel expenses will need to provide the proof of a sponsorship. The sponsor is entitled to certain requirements and is asked to submit the necessary information to support the applicant’s request. Sponsorship can be granted by a close family member of the applicant or a host institution who will be responsible throughout the traveler’s stay. You can check our website for further details.
Italy Visa Rules
- San Marino and Vatican City are independent microstates within the borders of Italy. Even though they didn’t take part in the Schengen agreement they are treated within the Schengen area. Therefore, holders of Italian visa can travel to those places freely.
- As a rule, applicants shall personally submit their visa applications in due time, with all the necessary documents, at the Italian Diplomatic Mission authorized in their place of residence.
Italy Visa Requirements
In addition to above mentioned application documents, general requirements include:
Italy Visa requirements for Non-Europeans
The general requirements for non-Europeans wishing to enter the EU conform to above mentioned procedures. In case of an invitation to support the documentation process, contact details of the host organisation or private host such as name, address, relation to the guest, purpose and length of visit shall be included in the application. However, a formal invitation does not secure positive result of the application.
Italy visa for European countries
Citizens of EU member states are entitled to visa-free travel opportunities within the borders of the European Union. Therefore, they can travel to Italy with an ID or valid travel document without any visa requirements.
Italy Visa requirement for US, UK, and Canadian citizens
- US citizens holding US passports valid for at least 3 months from intended return date from Italy are not obliged to obtain a visa for tourist or business purposes as well as airport transits for stays up to 90 days.
- UK is not included in the Schengen area. Moreover, the UK citizens won’t have the right to freedom of movement in the European Union since the UK officially leaves the EU as of 31 January 2020. However, the UK citizens has not been asked for entry visas for France up until now and they can continue to travel within the borders of the EU until the transition period ends. The details will be formalized following the post-Brexit transition period.
- Canadian citizens are not required to obtain an entry visa to travel to the Schengen zone for stays up to 90 days within a period of 180 days
Italy Visa Fees
You can find below fixed fees for different types of visas determined by authorities as of March 2020. The visa fees include consultation, submission and processing of your application. The applications can be made directly to the Consulate or from the authorized visa application centers. The visa fee is non-refundable which means reimbursements are not available if the outcome of your visa application will not be positive.
| Short-Stay Visa (Adults) | 80€ |
| Long-Stay/National Visa | 99€ |
| Airport Transit Visa ; | 80€ |
| Children Between 6-12 Years of Age | 40€ |
| Children Younger Than 6 Years of Age | Free of Charge |
| Nationals of Countries which signed the Visa Fee Facilitation Agreement with the EU | 35€ |
NOTE: This article was prepared in March 2020. Please check up-to-date information published by official sources.
