Italy Visa Information for International Applicants

Italy is part of the Schengen area; all other Schengen countries are free to travel without a visa and live in the neighboring country for up to 90 days. The same applies to citizens of EU/EEA or Switzerland, as well as select countries that are exempt from this visa.

In this article, we are going to discuss some of these visas and what there are main fore.

Italy Students Visa

The student visa is issued to third-country citizens who seek to study in Italy for longer than 90 days. Admission to a recognized study program is among the main prerequisites of the student visa. Moreover, student visa holders must submit residence permit applications for stays exceeding 90 days.

Italy Employment Visa

is granted to third-country citizens 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 to seek 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

Italy research visa is the visa for guest scientists or visiting scholars from third countries who wish to engage in research activities in a university or established research institution. You are also to come with an official invitation letter from the research organization with the details of the prospective research project.

Italy Freelancer Visa

Italy freelancer visa is for 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 number 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 is to apply for an entry visa of such kind. The spouse of an Italian citizen has permission for 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.

Italy Visa General Requirements

Foreign nationals have to provide several documents when they submit their Italy visa application. A lot of the required documents depend on the purpose of travel. For example, if you apply for a business visa you may need a few different documents than if you were applying for a tourist visa.

The requirements may also vary from country to country, and Italian authorities reserve the right to ask for any additional documents as they see fit. However, there are still a standard set of documents everyone has to come with.

The General Requirements for an Italy visa are as follows:

• Italian visa application form.
• Valid passport/travel document.
• Pictures.
• Civil status documents.
• Copies of previous visas.
• Travel insurance.
• Proof of travel.
•  Accommodation, where you will live while in Italy.
•  Sufficient finances to sustain you while in Italy.
• Cover letter.
• Documents based on employment status.
• Visa fees.
• Any additional documents for minors.
• Any additional documents based on the purpose of entry.

Italy Visa Applications

1.  A passport with at minimum two blank pages that are 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 six 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, a 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 travel and is valid within the entire Schengen area.
8. Documents demonstrate the applicant’s social and professional status.

Some Frequently Asked Questions

Get all you need to know today; 

Can I get a multiple entry tourist visa for Italy?

You can indicate your request for a multiple entry visa on the application form which will be evaluated based on the frequency and relevance of your travel to the Schengen area. However, you will be asked to prove your reasons and provide evidence of your frequent travels.

Can my Italy visa be rejected?

Yes, your application may be rejected on certain grounds if the Italian authorities find your application ineligible. In that case, you will be notified of the reasons for rejection and deadlines for submission of an appeal.

How long does it take to get an Italy visa?

Generally, processing of a visa application by the Consulate takes approximately 15 days. However, it may take a long period of time, up to 30 days and/or exceptionally 60 days for individual cases whereby more information about the examination is necessary.

Does my previous nationality matter for getting an Italy visa?

Different visa rules and regulations apply to citizens coming from different countries. However, your nationality of origin shall not be a prior condition for the issuing of your visa, provided that you will have submitted all the required documents

What is Schengen Visa?

The 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. Therefore, passengers who wish to travel in the Schengen area either for business ideal or touristic visits are to obtain a Schengen visa for stays up to 90 days within a period of 180 days. The complete list of Schengen States includes 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.

Do I Need a Visa to Travel to Italy?

Italy is a member state of the European Union which follows in the Schengen zone, in which states have jointly agreed on their visa requirements for third-country nationals. Nevertheless, each state may apply specific regulations concerning the travel documents it requires from foreigners intending to visit Italy.

There are also some Interview Questions and Answers here:

Who is sponsoring you, and what is his/her source of income?

A sponsor means the person financing your education in a foreign country. A sponsor can be your father, mother, any relative, or anyone who is willing to bear your expenses. Embassy officials have the documents and bank statements but they will still ask you about them and observe how you respond. You have to convince them that your sponsor has enough money to afford your educational and living expenses easily. You should also know the complete cost of studying in Italy is also one of the most frequent questions applicants usually try to find out.

Answer:

My parents will be the ones sponsoring my education and funding my cost of living in Italy, for the duration of my studies. My mother is a nurse with a public health organization in my state, and my father is a police officer. Both of my parents earn up to 3 million annually. The living expenses and accommodation fees which you are to allocate for the duration of your stay in Italy are all in the bank statement, they are the same amount that is advised for a student to have to live comfortably in the country. Also, anything else I need, my parents who are sponsoring my education, will provide for me.

Why Italy and not another country?

You must not say anything bad or political about other countries. Say that you love all the countries but their educational standards are not as good as their country. You can add that you also want to experience the culture and life of an international student.

Answer:

Top universities in Italy are very popular for their quality education and well-structured programs. Also, they provide ample research opportunities as well. Italian Universities offer a strong foundation of theoretical knowledge as well as emphasize building practical skills. The global exposure provided by these universities will help me find better career prospects.

Why this particular university?

They may ask why you chose the university that you are going in for. You should say some good things about the university and tell them about the program you’ve chosen. Just be truthful here but show that you did proper research before selecting that particular institute.

Answer:

I have an interest in the field of Social Informatics and, more specifically, Social Media Mining. This university offers me courses and a wide range of electives that perfectly aligns with my interests. Other universities do not offer me separate courses related to this field. Also, I want to work with Dr. XYZ, who is pursuing his research on how to detect fake news on social media sites such as FB. Considering all these factors, I chose this university over the other ones.

Summary

The article visa information explains the general visa information for Italy
The article further gives information about study visas, employment visas, job-seeker visas, family reunion visas, Italy research visas, freelancers, language course visas, internship visas, partnership visas, and some frequently asked questions from applicants.