Applying for a visa to Italy

Specific details

Nuances of visa processing

When it is needed to obtain a visa, there are certain specifics to consider. The visa center for individuals, whether they're applying for a tourism or a study visa to Italy, or any other type of visa, works strictly by appointment.

When making an appointment at the visa center, the applicant needs to list all those who will be traveling with them, including children. In the case of group applications, one collective appointment is conducted, and the consular fee is paid for the entire group with one single receipt. An applicant who hasn't pre-registered will unfortunately be denied service.

If the applicant is planning other international trips prior to their departure to Italy, it is advisable to include information about hotel reservations and flight tickets in their application. This is crucial as no additional documents can be submitted after the initial application for the visa to study in Italy or any other type of visa has been made.

According to adopted protocols, the scheduling process is regulated at the visa center. Adjustments to appointment times within the same day aren't possible. If you need to change your appointment, you'll need to reschedule for another day.

For those who have been obtained an annual Schengen visa in the previous year, it is allowable to apply for another year-long visa. If you've received three Schengen visas in the last two years, you may request a two-year visa. With a business visa, the duration corresponds with the period indicated in the invitation letter.

Please note that the consulate staff make the final decision on the duration of the visa issuance, including student visas to Italy.

A single-entry visa permits the holder to cross the Schengen border only once; upon exiting, the visa is immediately rendered invalid. A double-entry visa allows two entries and exits from the Schengen area, while a multiple-entry visa permits unrestricted travel within the Schengen area for the duration of its validity.

For six-month visas, including the study visa to Italy, a stay of up to 90 days is allowed. For a one-year visa, a maximum stay of 180 days is allowed. Transit visas are granted for a maximum of five days during a six-month period.

It's crucial to provide all necessary documents at the time of submitting an application as you can't complement your application after submission. Hence, you should ensure you have original documents and all notarized copies at hand before submitting.

If you already have a valid Schengen visa, you can apply for a new one to begin the day after your current visa expires.

To accelerate the application process, it's advisable to use only the standard forms, ensuring they're fully completed and signed. If the trip is urgent, it's recommended to include documents proving the urgency, such as a hotel reservation, a copy of your air ticket, etc.

For those seeking a Schengen visa or a study visa to Italy, the application should be made at the consulate of the country where the majority of your time will be spent. If you plan to visit multiple Schengen countries, apply to the consulate of the country where you'll spend the most time.

In case of equal stay duration across countries, apply to the consulate of the first country on your trip. Be prepared to present all canceled passports (originals and copies) showing visas from the last two years. The Italian Consulate reserves the right to request additional documents at any time.

Tourist (Schengen) visa to Italy (stay not more than 90 days in a half-year)

Obtaining a Schengen visa to Italy, whether it's a tourism or educational visa, presents a sophisticated process. Below there is an outline of the process.

A tourist visa to Italy can be obtained by:

The applicant.
A family member of the applicant who has documents verifying the relationship.
A trustee having a notarized power of attorney and three copies of it, along with three copies of the passport.

Please remember that a tourist visa for the Schengen area is only valid for 90 days within a 6-month period.

The following documents must be submitted to the Italian Consulate to issue a tourist visa (almost similar documents will be needed for a study Visa to Italy):

Booking of Hotel or official invitation letter. The invitation should be from an Italian citizen or another individual legally residing in Italy, supported by a copy of their residence permit or entire passport. The official invitation has a standard sample and must be filled out individually for each international applicant. The confirmation should include the precise address and phone number of the hotel, and the applicant's name and dates of stay in Italy.
Transport tickets or its reservations. These can be for bus, rail, or air travel, or their confirmed reservation. If the applicant intends to travel in their vehicle, they must present the original and copy of the car registration certificate, international insurance policy, and driver's license. If the vehicle isn't owned by the applicant, a notarized power of attorney is necessary.
Medical insurance policy with a copy. A valid medical insurance policy in the Schengen area for the first trip is mandatory, with a minimum insurance amount of at least 30,000 euros.
Foreign passport with copies of the page with the photo and personal data of the applicant.
Application form with a photo. This document should be completed in Italian or English and in block letters only.
Certificate of employment. It should contain information like address and phone number of the company, monthly salary, period of employment, applicant's position, and issue date of the certificate. It should be signed by the head of the enterprise and stamped.
Financial guarantees. These can be an extract from a bank account, a savings account with a photocopy, traveler's checks and their copies, a copy of the credit card and a printout with a balance, or a special bank guarantee from the inviting person.
Foreign passport, the validity of which must be 3 months or longer beyond the return date from Italy.
Payment of consular fees. Short-term visa category C for some countries costs 35 EUR. For citizens of all other countries, the cost of a short-stay visa is 60 EUR.
The applicant's passport for the contract.

For persons under the age of 18, additional documents should be prepared, such as:

A fully completed application form signed by both parents.
A photocopy of the passport (page with a photo of the child and his personal data).
Original and copy of the birth certificate.
Consent from one or both parents, certified by the notary, its copy.
Original and a copy of the visa of the person who will accompany the child.

This summary provides a comprehensive overview of the necessary steps and requirements to successfully apply for a visa to Italy up to 3 months, study visa to Italy, or student visa to Italy.

Student visa from 3 months - national visa category D

If you're planning to apply for a national visa category D to Italy for the purpose of study, there are some aspects you need to know. This type of visa is applicable for both short-term study up to 3 months or for a longer term educational stay in Italy.

The form for visa can be filed by the foreign applicant themselves, a family member who can provide documents verifying the relationship, or by a trustee with a notarized power of attorney from the applicant. Remember to make three copies of your passport.

To apply for the student visa to Italy, you'll need an invitation letter which can be of two types:

An official invitation from a commercial Italian educational institution and a package of additional information from the list below:

Chosen educational course
Number of teaching hours per week (must be at least 20)
Student residence address
Dates and duration of the education course
Confirmation of payment for education course
Admission certificate to the course (mandatory for acquiring a study visa to Italy, type D)
Copy of the educational diploma of a foreign applicant
One-way ticket booking confirmation for long-term visa, round-trip tickets for less than 90 days
Medical insurance valid in Schengen countries. For short-term, insurance should cover the entire stay; for long-term, coverage for the first month is enough
Photocopy of your passport's photo page and personal information
A correctly filled application form with a photo
Financial guarantee (calculated based on the parameters approved by Italy's Ministry of the Interior)
Additional educational documents of the applicant such as course completion certificates
Portfolio, sketches, drawings, letters of recommendation or motivation, if available and applicable for future study
Foreign passport valid for at least 3 months beyond your departure date from the Schengen area with 2 free pages for the visa. If there are two valid foreign passports, both should be presented
In addition, you need to provide actual copies of cancelled passports, if applicable.

An official invitation from an Italian state educational institution and additional information in the form for educational visa is represented by:

The application procedure is similar to the first one, with a few slight differences. For instance, medical insurance for people involved in extreme sports can be arranged in addition to the standard programs, with an insurance amount ranging from 30,000 to 100,000 Euros.

Whether you're applying for a short-term study visa to Italy, or a longer-term educational visa, it's essential to be prepared. Keep in mind that sponsorship for a study visa is not accepted, so you'll need to present financial guarantees like a bank account extract, savings book, traveler's checks, or credit card copy and balance printout.

Remember, if you're applying for a long-term visa, you'll need to provide two sets of documents to the consulate: one with the originals and another with photocopies. An internal passport is also required for the contract conclusion.

So, whether it's for education or tourism, getting a visa to Italy requires careful preparation and attention to detail. It's your passport to an enriching study experience in one of the world's most beautiful countries.

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