Destinations / Visit visa
Italy visit visa
Italy is part of the Schengen area, so an Italian visit visa follows the Schengen rules: up to 90 days in any 180, and it lets you travel on to the other member countries. Apply to Italy when Italy is where you will spend most of your trip.
Visas10
Italy
Schengen short-stay visa, issued by Italy
- Stay
- 90 days in any 180
- Type
- Schengen, type C
- Apply
- 6 months to 15 days before
Who it is for
- A holiday in Italy
- Visiting family settled in Italy
- Business meetings and trade fairs such as those in Milan
- Events, conferences and short courses
Documents for the file
This is the usual list. Yours is written for your case after the first assessment.
- Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid for at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen area, with two blank pages
- Completed application form and recent photos to the Schengen size
- Travel medical insurance covering at least €30,000, valid in every Schengen country for the whole trip
- Flight reservation and a day-by-day plan of the trip
- Hotel bookings, or an invitation from your host in Italy with a copy of their ID or residence permit
- Bank statements, salary slips or business papers showing you can pay for the trip
- Leave letter from your employer, or your business registration and tax papers
- A short cover letter explaining the purpose of the trip
How the application goes
Plan the trip
We set out your days in Italy first. The consulate wants a trip that hangs together: flights, cities, nights and budget.
Build the file
Personal checklist, then we check each paper. For family visits we tell your host in Italy exactly what to send.
Appointment and biometrics
We book your slot at Italy's visa centre. You submit the file and give fingerprints in person.
Decision
Your passport comes back with the decision. A refusal comes with a reason, and we work from that.
How long it takes
Italy follows the Schengen timetable: normally 15 calendar days for a decision, up to 45 when the consulate needs more. Appointment slots run short before summer, so start early.
Good to know
- If family in Italy is hosting you, their invitation and proof of address are central to the file.
- For a business trip you need an invitation from the Italian company as well as a letter from your own.
- A visa issued by Italy lets you visit the rest of the Schengen area during the same trip.
Questions about the Italy visit visa
Do I need a separate visa for France or Spain if I have an Italian visa?
No. A Schengen visa issued by Italy is valid across the Schengen area. Italy should still be your main destination, because that is what you told the consulate.
Start your Italy visit visa
Send us the basics and we will tell you what your application will involve.
