How to Apply for an Italy Visa

The beautiful country of Italy is one of the dream travel destinations for many. Be its opulent palaces, world-class museums, quaint little towns, breathtaking landscapes or its delicious food, there are numerous places to visit in Italy. If you are an EU or EEA national, you can visit Italy by showing your identification document. On the other hand, if you are a non-EU or EAA national, you would have to get a Schengen or Italy visa if you want to visit the country. In this article, we will guide you on how to apply for an Italy visa.

Different Types of Italy Visas

Before you check out the requirements for applying for Italy visa, it is important to know about the different types available:

• Italy Transit Visa: You would need to apply for the Italy transit visa if you are travelling to a non-Schengen country via one of the airports in Italy.
• Italy Tourist Visa: If you want to visit Italy for a holiday, this is the visa you need to apply for. The Italy tourist visa is perfect for those who want to visit the country for sightseeing, vacation or recreation.
• Italy Visitor Visa: An Italy visitor visa is for those who are visiting the country through the invitation of a family member or friend living in Italy. This visa is valid for 90 days.
• Italy Business Visa: if the purpose of your Italian visit is to make business deals or attend business related meetings or interviews, you need to apply for a business visa.
• Italy Study Visa: People who want to attend courses or take part in internships or training anywhere in Italy, Vatican City or San Marino have to apply for a study visa.
• Italy Medical Visa: A medical visa is right for those who are visiting Italy to undergo treatment for a health problem.
• Italy Visa for Sports, Cultural, Religious and Film Crew Purposes: People who have to visit Italy for cultural, sports and religious purposes need to have this visa. It is also applicable for members of a film crew wanting to visit Italy for shooting movie scenes.
• Italy Visa for Official Visit: Officials visiting Italy for official delegations like negotiations, meetings, consultations, etc. need to have this visa.
• Italy Visa for Spouse of Italian Citizen: Husband or wife of Italian citizens can apply for this visa when planning to travel to Italy.

Italy Visa Requirements

It is extremely crucial to decide the type of visa you want to apply for before starting the process. It could be a tourist visa, visit visa, student visa or business visa, depending on your requirements. While each of these visas would require you to submit certain specific documents, there are some generic documents that are applicable for all types of visas.

Application Form: One of the most important documents that you need for your Italy visa is the visa application form. Make sure to fill the form completely and correctly. Once this is done, print the form and sign it. Ensure that there are no factual or spelling errors on the form. The information provided on the form should match with those given on the supporting documents you would be submitting with the application form.

Valid Passport: Your passport should have at least three months validity from the date of travelling to Italy and other Schengen countries. The passport should not be more than 10 years old. Moreover, there should be at least two blank pages on your passport, to affix the Italy or Schengen visa. You would also have to submit the copies of your previous visas, in case you have travelled to Italy or other Schengen areas in the past.

Travel Insurance: It is mandatory to have travel insurance before you travel to Italy. Travel insurance should cover all kinds of medical emergencies not just in Italy but in all Schengen areas that you are planning to travel to.

Proof of Accommodation: You need to submit the proof of your hotel reservation in Italy along with your visa application form. In case you are staying with a friend or a relative, an invitation letter from the host also has to be submitted.

Proof of Travel: It is important to submit the copy of your return flight tickets while applying for visa. The document should have all the travel details like flight numbers, dates of travelling, etc.

Cover Letter: You need to submit a cover letter that states the purpose of your visit, the number of days you are planning to stay and such other details.

Proof of Financial Means: You need to provide proof of the fact that you have enough bank balance to support yourself during your holiday in Italy. You would have to submit your bank statements for the same. If your host is going to sponsor your Italy trip, a sponsorship letter should be submitted.

Proof of Civil Status: Proof of civil status would include a birth certificate of children, marriage certificate, death certificate of spouse, etc.

After submitting the visa application form and documents, you would also make an appointment for a visa interview at the Italian Embassy in your city. Once the interview is done, you would have to pay the visa fee. It would take anywhere between 7-15 days for you to receive your Italian visa. If you find the Italy visa process daunting, you can consult a visa expert who would take care of the entire process for you, right from start to end.