- VISA NUMBER: A unique 9-digit number in red at the top right.
- TYPE OF VISA (TYPE OF VISA / TYPE DE VISA): Usually “C” for short-stay (up to 90 days), “D” for long-stay (over 90 days).
- VALID FOR: Shows the countries you can enter (e.g., “Schengen states” means all Schengen countries or specific country codes like “I” for Italy).
- FROM – UNTIL: The start and end dates when the visa is valid.
- DURATION OF STAY: Maximum number of days you can stay per visit (e.g., 90 days).
- NUMBER OF ENTRIES: How many times you can enter (single, double, or multiple entries).
- ISSUED IN: The city or consulate that issued the visa.
- PASSPORT NUMBER: Your passport’s number.
- SURNAME, NAME: Your family name and given name.
- REMARKS: Extra notes like the purpose of travel (e.g., Tourism, Work, Study).
Check carefully to make sure all your details and dates are correct before traveling.
3. I have an Italian residence permit. Do I need a visa?
If you have a valid residence permit authorising you to reside in Italy, you do not need an entry visa. However, if members of your family do not have residence permits, they must apply for a visa unless exempt.
4.I hold an Italian residence permit but I’ve mislaid it. Do I need a visa?
Foreign nationals holding a residence permit in Italy and who have declared this document lost or stolen to the local authorities must apply for a return visa from the consulate in order to enter Italy again. It is recommended that foreign nationals holding an Italian residence permit keep this document safely at all times when travelling overseas.
5. Where do I submit my visa application?
You must lodge the application for a Schengen visa at the Consulate of the country that you intend to visit, or – if you intend to visit more than one Schengen State, the Consulate of the country of your primary destination (i.e. main purpose of stay or longest stay). If you intend to visit several Schengen States and the stays will be of equal length, you must apply at the Consulate of the country whose external borders you will cross first when entering the Schengen area. As a general rule, you must apply for a visa at the Consulate with territorial competence for the country in which you legally reside.
6. Can I enter the Schengen area in country X, while the visa was issued by Schengen country Y?
As a general rule you may cross any Schengen border with visa issued by any Schengen country. However, the short-stay visa does not automatically entitle you to enter the Schengen area. See FAQ no 16 on checks at the external borders.
7. Can I extend my Visa?
Extensions are granted only in exceptional situations. You generally cannot renew a tourist (Schengen) visa for Italy in the usual way. Tourist visas are short-stay visas valid up to 90 days within a 180-day period and are not extendable except in exceptional cases. You must apply for the extension at the local police office (Questura) in Italy before your visa expires. Situations where you may request an extension of a tourist Schengen visa include:
- Serious illness or medical emergencies preventing travel
- Unforeseeable humanitarian reasons (e.g., a close family member’s serious illness or death)
- Force majeure events (natural disasters, flight cancellations due to strikes or weather)
- Important professional reasons, like delayed business matters
If I am in my country of residence, I contact the consular services or the competent service provider.
8. What are the terms for issuing visas?
For a Schengen visa: 15 days that can be extended up to 45 days, in the cases provided for specifically.
For national visas, there is a general deadline of 90 days from the date of application, with different deadlines for the following types of visas:
– family reasons and subordinate employment – 30 days
– self-employment – 120 days
These terms may not be respected in the event that checks, season workload, verifications and collection of data, documents and evaluations by foreign authorities become necessary.
9. Why has my Visa been refused?
There is no foreign nationals’ right to obtain a visa, but at most a simple “legitimate interest”. In the event of a refusal, the decision shall be reasoned and motivated and shall be communicated to the person concerned in a language that he/she understands or, failing that, in English, French, Spanish or Arabic. An appeal against the refusal of a visa may be lodged with the Regional Administrative Court (T.A.R.) of Lazio within 60 days of notification of the decision. Only in the case of refusals of visas for family reunification or accompanying family members, any appeals may be lodged with the competent ordinary court without any time limit. Any appeals shall be notified directly to the Avvocatura dello Stato (the State Legal Service).
10. I want to visit Italy and already have a valid short-stay Schengen visa issued by another Schengen State. Do I need a new visa?
A Schengen visa (issued by a Schengen State embassy or consulate) is valid for all 29 States in the Schengen area unless indicated otherwise on the visa stamp. If your visa is still valid, you do not need to apply for another visa to visit France. However, you must be able to provide supporting documentation as to the purpose of your stay and your means of subsistence upon your arrival in Italy. Important: the United Kingdom and Ireland are not part of the Schengen scheme.
11. Can I apply online or do I have to appear in person?
You must appear in person for biometric data submission and interview; some parts of the application may be completed online or through VFS.
12. How do I calculate the travel days remaining of my Schengen short-stay visa?
For the Schengen short-stay visa, the European Commission has created a calculator that can help you check how many days are left on your visa (Please note: the total length of your stay shall not exceed a total of 90 days over a period of 180 days).
13. How do I renew a long-stay visa or residence permit?
Renewals must be applied for before expiry, at the local police station (Questura) in Italy, with required documents proving your ongoing stay reasons.
14. Can I work on a tourist visa?
No, working is not permitted on a tourist or short-stay visa.
15. How do I check the status of my visa application?
You can track your application through the visa application center.
16. What health insurance do I need?
Travel medical insurance covering at least €30,000.00 valid for the entire stay in the Schengen area is mandatory.
17. How much money do I need to have to go to Italy?
We need to provide an acceptable proof of funds that shows your financial ability to travel and bear expenditures during your stay in the Schengen area (personal bank statements for the last 3 months, last 3 pay slips, credit/debit cards statements, travelers cheques etc.). You can also apply with a declaration from a relative saying that he/she will be financially responsible for you. check: Proof-Of-Funds
18. What is a biometric passport?
A biometric passport is a passport with an electronic chip that contains biometric information that can be used to authenticate the identity of the passport holder. It uses a contactless smart card technology. Passport information is both printed on the passport data page and stored in the chip. The biometric passport contains personal data of the passport holder, digital photo ID and fingerprints.
19. Which documents should I bring at the airport?
You shall bring with you:
- Your passport (with a visa, if this applies to your situation);
- Supporting documents as to the purpose of your trip to Italy, your means of subsistence during your stay, and the means to return to your country of origin.
- You must have an insurance certificate covering all medical and hospital expenses for which you may be liable for the duration of your stay in France, as well as medical repatriation costs and expenses in the event of death.
Holders of multiple-entry visas must carry a health insurance certificate during every trip.
Having a visa in your passport does not necessarily guarantee that the holder will be authorised to enter the Schengen area. The border police may refuse your entry. If you were granted a long-stay visa, the border police will only ask to see your passport containing the visa. It must have a stamp showing the date of entry into Italy.
20. Where can I find all the forms related to my visa application?
Please click here: Forms for Visa
21. I am a Seaman / Maritime/ I am going to work on a vessel, should I apply for a C Transit Visa or for a D Salaried Employment Visa?
- If a seaman is going to work on a ship that has the Italian flag, they must apply for a D VISA called “salaried employed – maritime.” (click here)
- If the seaman is joining a ship that has a flag from another country, but the ship is just passing through an Italian port, they need to apply for a C Visa called “Seamen transit”. (click here). This visa is for short stays while the ship is just stopping in Italy.
- If the ship with a foreign flag is staying in an Italian port for repairs or work, and the seaman has to stay in Italy for more than five days because of that, then the seaman must apply for the D VISA for “salaried employed – maritime,” the same as if they were working on an Italian ship. (click here)
In short, the type of visa depends on the ship’s flag and how long the seaman will stay in Italy. Short visits get a C Visa TRANSIT, longer stays get a D Visa FOR SALARIED EMPLOYEMENT.
22. What type of visa should be issued to a television, radio, or film crew that needs to travel to Italy for a period of less than 90 days?
The type of visa will depend on the actual activity that the crew will be carrying out in Italy.
- If the activity is purely economic and commercial in nature, for the purpose of initiating or concluding business negotiations (such as making arrangements for filming, conducting location scouting, finalizing contracts with actors or production companies), a business visa will be issued.
- If, on the other hand, the activities are related to the creation and production of shows (e.g., shooting scenes), a work visa must be issued. The visa will be granted following the issuance of a Nulla Osta (clearance) for subordinate work, which interested parties must request from the Directorate-General for Labor Services Policies of the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.
23. I am applying for a STUDY VISA. Is the expectation of a scholarship enough for a proof of funds?
No, simply applying for an Italian government scholarship does not constitute proof of financial coverage. Students who have applied for but not yet obtained an Italian government scholarship and wish to apply for enrollment under these regulations must provide proof of financial coverage like other applicants. If you plan to study in Italy you have to demonstrate to have sufficient financial means to cover the planned stay. These means are quantified as €467.65 per month for each month of the academic year, equal to €6,079.45 per year. The availability of such means of subsistence in Italy must be proven by personal financial guarantees or those of parents or Italian or foreign entities or citizens legally residing in the country, or provided by Italian institutions and entities of proven creditworthiness, including universities, local governments, and foreign institutions and entities considered reliable by the Italian diplomatic representation. Financial resources specificallyfor a STUDY VISA can be proven not only by the possession of financial means in a bank account, but also by any other documented family income.
This includes income from real estate and income from any other lawful and verifiable source. Look at the Declaration of financial responsibility on behalf of the applicant: Proof-Of-Funds
24. Are financial guarantees provided to the student by someone who is not a member of the family valid?
Students who are regularly admitted and apply for a visa for “study – university enrollment” must demonstrate that their family has sufficient financial means to support them while studying in Italy. If the student obtains a declaration of hospitality in Italy from a person outside the family (associations, friends, or relatives residing in Italy) and a commitment to guarantee their maintenance with their own income, this may be positively evaluated by the Office for the purpose of granting the visa. Therefore, in such cases, the Consulate will evaluate the decision in light of the economic and social context of origin and the economic and personal conditions of the guarantor in Italy.
25. I am a student and I have to take admission tests or language proficiency exams in order to enroll at a university in Italy. What type of visa should I apply for?
For students whose admission is subject to passing an entrance test or language proficiency test, the offices will issue a “tourist” visa. Please note that admission tests are only mandatory for students who intend to enroll in courses with “national programmed access.”
26. I am a foreign citizen and I want to marry an Italian citizen. What type of visa should I apply for?
You must apply for a tourist visa. To do so, in addition to the documentation required for the issuance of a tourist visa, you must also provide proof that you have applied for the publication of banns in Italy.
It is not necessary for the applicant to travel to Italy in advance to publish the banns; this can be done by proxy.
27. Is it possible to obtain a Schengen visa with an expired passport?
No, it is not possible. As a rule, visa applicants must be in possession of a passport issued within the previous ten years and valid for at least 90 days after the planned date of departure from the Schengen area. In addition, the passport must have at least two blank pages (one for the visa and one for border stamps).
28. I would like to work as an au pair in Italy. What do I need to do?
The entry of au pairs into Italy is regulated under the framework of subordinate employment. If you want to participate in an au pair program in Italy, you must ask your Italian host family to apply for a Nulla Osta (clearance certificate) for you. Only after obtaining the Nulla Osta from the Sportello Unico Immigrazione (SUI) can a visa be requested. There are specific conditions and requirements for applying for the SUI Nulla Osta for au pairs, so it is advisable for the interested party to contact the Sportello Unico directly first.
29. I hold a South African diplomatic/official passport do I need a Visa to go to Italy?
If you hold a diplomatic or official passport you may enter, transit through and stay in Italy for a period not exceeding ninety (90) days without having to obtain a Visa. This exemption shall be valid for either a continuous or interrupted period of 90 days within a six-month period from the date of arrival on the territory of Italy. If you are going to stay in Italy for more than 90 days and you old a diplomatic/official passport the Embassy of Italy in Pretoria will handle your application.