Italy Schengen Visa Requirements

The Republic of Italy is the world’s seventh-largest economy, located in the heart of the Mediterranean Sea. It has an area of 301,340km2 and a population of 60,483,973. It emerged from the Roman Empire, one of the greatest European empires ever.

The country is one of the Schengen countries, which is why Schengen countries need to know their Italy visa requirements.

Italy Schengen Visa Requirements

Required Documents for Italy Schengen Visa
Documents for an Italian Schengen visa application must be completed or translated into English or Italian.

1) Valid passport

• At least 2 blank pages
• With the applicant’s signature
• Not more than 10 years old
• Valid for at least three months after the expiration of the requested visa
• the Previous passport, if applicable

2) Passport-sized photos

• Size 3.5 x 4.5 cm
• Plain white background
• Taken within the past 6 months
• Forward-facing with facial features visible and clear

3) Completed application form

Please make sure you go through your application in order to complete the Application with all its requirements.

4) Biometric data (Fingerprints)

5) Italy Visa fee

6) Documents pertinent to your trip

• Travel Itinerary or plan
• Proof of return to the country of residence or forward ticket to another country
• Reason for travel to Italy
• Flight reservations
• Proof of financial means (bank statements over the last 3-month period, personal properties, and other assets)
• Proof of accommodations (with booking reference number, location, and contact number of the hotel)

7) Travel medical insurance

• Valid through the entire visa period
• Valid in all Schengen countries
• Applicants are to purchase a minimum coverage of 30,000 EUR.
• Insurance conditions such as validity, duration, and extent of your coverage to be clearly stated on the confirmation letter or insurance document

Employment letter with the following information:

• Name and address of employer
• Nature of employment
• Starting date of employment
• Salary
• Purpose of travel
• Duration of time off from work for travel

Scans (copies) of:

•  Personal ID page of the passport.
• Older Schengen visas (if relevant).
• Residence permits (if relevant).

Applicants below the age of 18 are required to submit the following additional requirements:

1) Copy of birth certificate

• If the minor applicant is adopted, adoption documents are required
• when the minor applicant's parents are divorced, divorce papers are required
• If the minor applicant's parents are deceased, death certificates are required

2) Letter of consent from both parents and legal guardians

Getting a letter from your parents will help for more verification and authenticity, making your Application approval very easy. 

3) Passport copies of both parents and legal guardians

It may also be necessary to submit supplementary documents about your travel visa application.

Italy Schengen Visa Fees

The standard fee for an Italian Schengen visa application is 80 EUR. However, particular applicants are exempted from fees, such as most student visas and visas for children below the age of 6. Applicants will probably have to pay a separate, non-refundable service payment with their application.

Italy Visa Application Steps

1) Prepare all the required documents.

2) Select “Tourism” as the reason for travel on the visa application form.

3) Decide the number of entries needed to Italy or the Schengen area.

4) Fill out the application form.

• Application procedures for an Italian Schengen visa may vary, depending on where you are applying from.
• Applicants may be able to apply online through the E-application system. Complete the form and print it.
• Applicants can also download, complete, and print the standard Schengen visa online form.
• In both cases, the completed application form must be submitted to the Italian Consulate or visa processing center.
• For more information on the application process for an Italian Schengen visa, please check this link. Select your nationality and other information regarding your access.

5) Schedule a visa appointment, if applicable.

Most applications require an in-person appointment at the nearest Italian Consulate or visa center to apply. Alternatively, applications may be submitted without prior work during regular operating hours. Contact the Italian Consulate or visa center to determine if there is a need to schedule an appointment.

6) Submit your Italy Schengen visa application.

• Note: Applicants are to submit their application at least 15 days before the date of travel but not earlier than 6 months before the date of travel.
• Generally, applications must be submitted to the Italian Consulate or visa processing center. However, there may be a few differences in the submission procedures.
• Applicants will likely be required to submit their fingerprints (biometric data). Children below the age of 12 are exempted from biometric data collection.
• Applicants who submitted their fingerprints within the last 59 months will likely not be asked to resubmit.
• Applicants may also be asked to come back on another date for an interview regarding their trip.
• Pay the visa application fee.

When to Apply for Italy Schengen Visa

The applicants must submit their Visa application form at least 15 days before the travel date but not earlier than 6 months before the travel date.

Where to Apply

Applicants must submit their applications through the Italian Consulate or a visa application center with a link with Italy.

In countries without any Italian consulate, applicants are to submit their applications through a Schengen state consulate representing the interests of an Italian consulate.

Applications should be submitted only in the country of citizenship or residence.

Italy Visa Processing Time

Generally, it takes approximately15 days to process Italy Schengen visa applications. However, in some cases, it might take longer.

For approved visa applications

Applicants must ensure that the information on the visa is complete and valid upon collection.

Applicants who have received their Schengen Visa for Italy should remember the following things:
Inform the Italian Consulate or visa application center of any change to your itinerary after submitting applications.
The approval of a Schengen visa does not guarantee entry upon arrival to Italy or other countries in the Schengen area.
Applicants are to come with additional documents concerning financial means or accommodation to gain entry to Italy or other Schengen areas.

For denied Italy visa applications

• If the consulate rejects your Italian Schengen visa application, you have the right to appeal the decision within 60 days.
• The appeal process begins by picking up the standard-issued visa refusal, which also has the details of the reason for the rejection and the procedures of the appeal process.
• Appeals are considered by the Tribunale Amministrativo Regionale or T.A.R. of Lazio.
• A non-refundable fee must be paid for the appeal to be processed.

Some Likely Questions from Applicants

Get all You Need to know today:

How much does a Schengen visa for Italy cost?

Starting January 2020, Schengen visa application fees are €80 and €40 for children between 6 to 12 years old. For citizens of Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia – Herzegovina, Georgia, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, and Ukraine, application fees are 40€.
Note that the service provided by VFS incurs an extra cost.

What are the financial subsistence requirements when applying for an Italy Schengen Visa?

According to Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, for stays of up to five days, you need to prove you have access to €269.60 for your overall trip, with more extended stays requiring you to prove you have funds amounting to between €27.89 and €51.64 per person per day, depending on the length of your trip, amount of travelers and plans.

What is the processing time to obtain my visa to Italy?

Processing time depends on the country in which you are applying as well as your situation:

It may take 7 to 15 days after your US and UK appointment.
Processing is more extended, from May to September as well as in December.
It is strongly advised to apply a minimum of 2 or 3 weeks in advance, but applications can not be processed earlier than six months before your planned departure date.

What is Schengen travel insurance?

Travel insurance is mandatory to obtain an Italy visa when traveling in the Schengen area. This insurance must cover a minimum of €30.000 for emergency medical expenses (such as injury, illness, hospitalization, and repatriation).
You will need to enclose a travel insurance certificate with your application file.

Why choose AXA Schengen Insurance?

AXA’s Schengen travel insurance is certified by embassies and consulates and meets all the requirements to obtain a Schengen visa.

When you subscribe to AXA Schengen insurance, your certificate will be sent to you by email immediately after your online subscription. All you need to do is print the certificate and enclose it with your application file.

Under certain conditions, it can be refunded if your visa application is denied.

AXA’s Low-Cost Travel Insurance only costs 0.99€ a day and will cover the possible expenses linked to you or your loved ones’ emergency medical needs.

Do I need a Schengen visa to travel to Italy?

As part of the Schengen area, Italy requires its visitors to apply for an Italy Schengen visa for stays shorter than 90 days. This does not apply to all countries.
Some, such as the US, Canada, Brazil, Australia, and Mexico, have visa-free arrangements with the European Union. Therefore, citizens of these countries do not need a Schengen visa to visit Italy. Starting in 2021, they must apply for an ETIAS visa waiver to travel.

Citizens of countries that do not have a visa waiver deal with the EU, such as China, India, Russia, and all African nations, need a Schengen visa to visit Italy, even if they are permanent residents of countries enjoying visa waiver arrangements. If you are an Indian citizen but a UK resident, you will need a Schengen visa. You will also need a Schengen visa if you are a Nigerian citizen but a US resident. Whether you need a Schengen visa depends on your nationality, not your place of residence.

A Schengen visa covers travel in all countries within the Schengen Area of Europe (countries that have abolished border controls between each other).

Conclusion

Italy Schengen Visa Requirements is an article detailing the requirements for an Italy Schengen visa.

However, the post gives the requirements, travel insurance, visa fees, where to apply, where to apply, some likely questions, etc.

Do I need a Schengen visa to travel to Italy?

Since Italy is part of the Schengen area, you can also enter Italy with a Schengen visa. For stays longer than 90 days, you have to apply for an Italy National visa instead. However, depending on the country, not everyone needs to use an Italian Visa for short stays.