Tourist Visa In Italy: A Simple Guide

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Introduction

Ah, Italy—the land of endless pasta, art that’ll make you weep, and tourist visa paperwork. Yes, you heard that last part right.

Before you traipse through Tuscan vineyards or strike a pose with the Leaning Tower, there’s some red tape to cut. Fear not, we’re making this as painless as an Italian espresso shot.

What Is A Tourist/Visitor Visa To Italy?

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A Schengan visa allows the individual to travel to all 27 countries associated with the Schengen area. Even if you only want to travel to Italy, you’ll still be allowed to go to the other 26 countries for as long as you possess a Schenegen visa.

A Schengen visa is purely for the purpose of tourism and sightseeing and is issued in the form of a sticker on the individual’s passport.

The visa, under any circumstances, cannot be used for purposes other than that of tourism. You cannot study on the basis of a Schengen visa and can also not apply for jobs. For these purposes, you can either apply for a student or work visa.

Do I Need To Apply For A Schengen Visa To Visit Italy?

Depending on your citizenship/nationality, the individual might not have to apply for a visa if he/she meets certain demands established by the Schengen states. 

There’s a list of above 60 countries which are exempted from applying for a visa to visit a Schengen state.

If an individual does or does not require a visa depends on certain factors:

Visitors who don’t need a visa to visit ItalyVisitors who need a visa
Travellers from other Schengen countriesA national of a third country that hasn’t reached a visa liberalisation agreement with the Schengen states 
You’re a holder of a national visa given by one of the member statesAn individual who signed a visa liberalisation agreement but was previously denied entry from Italy.
A citizen of a Schengen area
Individuals possessing permanent residence permits issued to them by one of the Schengen countries
Citizens of countries who have established a visa free regime with the Schengen states

Starting from 2024, all individuals from visa exempt countries will be required to have travel authorization for the purposes of entering the Schengen countries. The ETIAS is valid for up to 3 years.

How To Obtain An Italy Tourist/Visitor Visa

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The following steps summarise the steps you need to go through to apply for a tourist visa for Italy:

  • Check if you’re eligible to apply for a Schengen visa or not.
  • Plan the trip. In some cases, you might have to verify where you’re staying or who your host is in Italy.
  • Gather the correct documents required for you to apply for a visa.
  • Complete the visa application form.
  • Schedule an appointment for the interview.
  • If you’re successful in passing the interview, submit the visa fee and wait for it to be processed.
  • After the processing period, you’ll receive a Shengene visa sticker in your passport and will be allowed to travel to Italy.

Italy Tourist/Visitor Visa Application Requirements

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The documents required for applying for a Schengen visa are as listed down below:

  • Italy visa application form. Completed with all the details required with the individual’s signature at the end.
  • The Schengen visa photo criteria required two recent photos of the individual, preferably no older than 3 months.
  • A valid passport. It shouldn’t be older than 10 years and should have a 3 month validity period after that of your trip. It should also include at least 2 blank pages for attaching the Schengen visa sticker.
  • A document of the itinerary which includes the dates of the flights and flight numbers so that the government can track when you enter and exit the Schengen area.
  • Evidence regarding having purchased health insurance up to at least £30000 for the duration of your stay in Italy. 
  • Proof of accommodation. Documents showing where you’ll be staying in Italy or showing rent agreement as evidence in case of renting out a place.
  • Bank statements are required as proof of your financial stability to demonstrate that you can support yourself. A sponsorship letter will be required in case of the individual being sponsored by a host.
  • Evidence of Civil status. This includes your marriage status, birth certificate of your children or death certificate of spouse etc.
  • Employment status
    1. If Employed:
      • Employer contract
      • A signed leave permission slip from the employer
      • Income tax return
    2. Self Employed:
      • Provide a duplicate of your business licence 
      • Latest bank statements of the company 
    3. Student
      • Enrollment proof
      • Proof that the university has no problem with the student travelling.
  • In case of minors:
    • Letter of consent from the individuals legal guardians 
    • Passport copies of parents/guardians.
    • Proof of adoption in case of the individual being adopted.

The Italian government is rather strict when it comes to handing out travel visas so it can be a bit of a hassle to collect all the documentation required. You can visit the visa application centre or the embassy if you need any help.

Where To Apply For An Italy Tourist/Visit Visa?

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The place where you’ll be submitting your Schengen visa application depends on where you plan on staying the most. If you only want to visit Italy, then you may have to apply at:

  • Their embassy
  • One of their consulates
  • A visa centre
  • The embassy or consulate of any other Schengen state which accepts visa applications for your preferred destination

If you plan on spending all your days in one of the Schengen countries then you’ll have to apply to their respective centres.

If you want to spend an unequal amount of days in multiple Schengen countries then you’ll submit all your forms to the embassy/consulate of the country that you’ll be spending most of your time in.

In case of spending an equal amount of days in each country, submit your application to the visa centre of the country you step in first

When To Apply For A Tourist/Visitor Visa In Italy?

Schengen visa applications take time to be processed by the embassy/consulates. The forms must be submitted as per the proper time allocations:

  • Earliest you can apply is six months prior to the trip.
  • Latest you can apply is 15 days before the trip.
  • It is recommended that you file your application 3 weeks before your trip.

Visa Fees For A Tourist/Visitor Visa

The cost for applying for a Schengan visa are as follows:

Age GroupVisa Cost In Euro
Adult£80
Children between 6-12 years of age£40
Children younger than 6 yearsFree

How Long Does It Take To Process An Italy Short Stay Visa For Tourism?

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Under ideal circumstances, the process should take no longer than 15 working days, although under certain circumstances it may take anywhere between 15-45 business days for your application to be fully processed.

How Long Can You Stay In Italy With A Schengen Visa?

A Schengen visa allows the individual to stay in Italy for a maximum of 90 days within a 6 month time duration.

If you plan on staying there for more than 90 days, then you’ll have to apply for an Italian national visa instead.

Can An Italy Schengen Visa Be Converted Into A Residence Permit?

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The Schengen visa only allows for a temporary stay in Italy for up to 90 days and cannot be converted into a residence permit.

Conclusion

And there you have it: your quick and (mostly) pain-free guide to snagging a tourist visa for Italy. The Colosseum and Amalfi Coast are practically calling your name.

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