Tourist Visa In Italy

Italy is a popular tourist destination, but the country doesn’t have the best reputation. People traveling to Italy need to ensure that they’ve completed all of the formalities beforehand and are aware of their rights. This will help them avoid any potential problems when in Italy.

Tourist visa, also known as tourist permit, is a visa for non-EU citizens who want to visit Italy for a holiday or other similar reason. In this article you can find all the information about the tourist visa in Italy but also information on travel insurance, hotel rooms reservation and English schools in Italy.

Tourist visas are issued to people who want to visit Italy for a short period of time. The purpose of your trip must be to take vacations and sightseeing.

Tourist visas are issued for up to 90 days, and can be extended once for another 90 days. You will need to apply for an extension at the Polizia di Stato or Carabinieri in Italy.

You should have a valid passport with at least 6 months validity left on it. You will also need a round-trip ticket or itinerary, proof of funds that can support your stay in Italy and show financial resources to cover health care costs, flight tickets (if applicable), hotel reservations, etc. You’ll need a birth certificate translated into Italian or English by an official translator (certified by the local consulate) and an HIV test with results less than 12 months old showing negative results (you can get this done at a clinic near where you live).

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

1. 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.
2. Completed and signed visa application form along with two biometric photos that are not older than 6 months.
3. Proof of travel with confirmed both-way tickets.
4. Bank account details or documentation of sufficient means of subsistence proving that the passenger can sufficiently fund his/her travel.
5. Evidence of occupation in the form of certified documents through employer letter, student certificate, document of registration or demonstration of pension funds.
6. Accommodation details through an invitation letter or proof of your hotel reservation throughout your stay.
7. 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.
8. 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.

Where Should I Submit the Italy Tourist Visa Application?

If you are from a country whose nationals need a visa for Italy, you must apply for an Italy Tourist visa at the appropriate location for applying for Italian visas in your country. This could be one of the following:

• The Italian Representation in your country (such as an Italian embassy or consulate).
• A Visa Application Center, such as VFS Global, COX and Kings, or TLS International, to which the Italian government has outsourced visa applications to.
• The Representation of another Schengen country to which the Italian government has outsourced visa applications to (if there is no Italian Representation in your country).

Before you apply however, you must book an appointment. You cannot submit the application for an Italy visa without prior appointment.

Conclusion

It is definitely possible to visit Italy as a tourist and to spend most of your time in the country exploring cities, food, wine and wine regions, and the great outdoors. But be aware that day trips and weekend getaways are the easiest ways to visit Italy and still remain on a tourist visa. If you choose to pursue longer visits, be sure to check all details of your stay with a consulate or embassy prior to arriving in Italy.