If you want to travel to Italy, you might need a visa—especially if your country requires one to enter Italy. You can check if you need a visa on the official website check here.
The Consulate General of Italy issues visas for residents of the Provinces of Gauteng province, Mpumalanga province, Free State province, Limpopo province, North West province, Kwa-Zulu Natal province and Botswana. The Consulate General of Italy in Johannesburg issues Schengen visas also for travellers to Malta for stays of a duration of no more than 90 days to applicants legally residing in its consular jurisdiction.
All visa applications must be lodged at the VFS Global Visa Application Centres dedicated to Italy.
Please visit the dedicated VFS’s website (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/jhn/en/ita) to book your appointment, to track your application and for information.
Depending on why you are traveling, the Consulate will issue either a Schengen Visa (C Visa) or an Italian National Visa (D Visa).
SCHENGEN VISA (C VISA)
- For short stays up to 90 days.
- Lets you travel in all Schengen countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
- If you visit more than one country, apply at the Consulate of your main destination (where you will stay the longest).
- If you spend equal time in several countries, apply at the Consulate of the country of first entry.
- Border authorities can refuse entry if you don’t meet all requirements.
Schengen visa duration
- The visa may be valid for 1 year, 5 years, or another period, but you cannot stay more than 90 days in any 180 days.
- 1-year visa: Multiple trips during a year, max 90 days stay in any 180-day period.
- 5-year visa: Multiple trips during 5 years, same 90/180 rule.
- Visa length depends on your travel history and trustworthiness. Frequent, reliable travellers can get longer visas. New travellers will get a visa commensurate with the duration of the requested trip.
Application form:
C Visa application (PDF)
NATIONAL VISA (D VISA)
- For long-term stays over 90 days (work, study, family reunion, elective residency, etc.).
- Issued by the Italian Consulate.
- Lets you freely travel in Schengen countries for up to 90 days in 6 months starting from the visa’s validity date.
- On arrival in Italy, you must report to the Questura (Police) within 8 working days to apply for a Residence Permit (“Permesso di Soggiorno”). Not doing this can affect your ability to live in Italy.
Application form: D National long stay visa application form (PDF)
Purpose of Travel and Documents needed
There are some essential documents that you will need to submit when applying for a visa:
- Complete and sign the Visa Application Form.
- Valid passport (at least 3 months beyond departure, minimum 2 blank pages).
- Passport-size photo (as per official standards).
- Travel medical insurance.
- Proof of reason for travel and accommodation.
- Evidence of financial means.
- Proof of intention to return home.
- Any extra documents requested by the consulate.
Others may be requested in addition, depending on the specific reason for your trip.
Verify the required documents for your visa based on the purpose of your travel.
Maritime (salaried employed) D VISA
Maritime (transit) C VISA
Need Help?
For Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ), visa forms, and guidelines, please explore the sections above.
You can also contact the VFS’s helpline by phone (+ 27 12 4253048 for South Africa, +267 3733400 for Botswana) or via email (info.itza@vfshelpline.com for South Africa, info.itbo@vfshelpline.com for Botswana). Please, do not use the emergency phone of the Consulate General for visa-related queries. For queries contact the Consulate directly at visa.johannesburg@esteri.it. The Consulate General of Italy in Johannesburg does not disclose details on visa applications over the phone nor gives information on their status, nor provide answers to questions whose content is already covered by the websites of the Consulate General and of VFS Global.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
The issuing of the visa is at the discretion of diplomatic and consular missions. The staff of VFS Global Application Centres does not have the authority to assess visa applications nor to take decisions on them.
The Consulate General of Italy in Johannesburg is not liable for any financial loss incurred by applicants whose visa application was finalised later than expected or unsuccessful.
In order to prevent and contrast fraudulent activities, please be informed that:
- agencies/agents/brokers/translators/any person offering visa facilitation services upon payment of additional fees ARE NOT ALLOWED to deal with VFS. Please report any such case and/or the name/s of the person/s to the Consulate General of Italy in Johannesburg by writing an email to visa.johannesburg@esteri.it;
- VFS Global is the only company authorised by the Consulate General of Italy in Johannesburg to receive visa applications on behalf of Italy;
- The visa fees for each type of visa as well as the service fees applied by VFS are indicated in the relevant section on VFS’s website;
- Except for VFS Global, the Consulate General of Italy in Johannesburg entertains no relation with companies or individuals (including agents, brokers, translators) who may offer visa facilitation services upon payment of additional fees;
- The Ministry of the Interior Directive dated March 1, 2000, applies to foreign nationals and defines the criteria for quantifying the means of subsistence to be demonstrated, within the conditions for entry into the national territory and for issuing a visa, where required.
Before traveling make sure you have read “Rights and duties of foreign nationals” for short term stays and for long term stays.