In this article
If you want to travel to Italy, you may need an Italian Visa – it all depends on your nationality.
Since Italy is part of the Schengen area, all other Schengen countries are free to travel without a visa for stays of up to 90 days. The same applies to citizens of the EU/EEA or Switzerland, as well as select countries who are exempt from a visa.
Different rules apply for stays exceeding 90 days. For this reason you have to know your remaining days in Schengen Area using our calculator.
Click here to find out whether you need an Italy Visa.
Anyone who has to apply for a visa, must meet certain requirements and conditions set by Schengen and Italian authorities.
What are the Requirements for Italy Visa?
Foreign nationals have to provide several documents when they submit their Italy visa application. A lot of the required documents depend on the purpose of travel. For example, if you apply for a business visa you may need a few different documents than if you were applying for a tourist visa.
The requirements may also vary from country to country, and Italian authorities reserve the right to ask for any additional documents as they see fit. However, there are still a standard set of documents everyone has to have.
The requirements for an Italy visa are as follows:
- Italian visa application form.
- Valid passport/travel document.
- Pictures.
- Civil status documents.
- Copies of previous visas.
- Travel insurance.
- Proof of travel.
- Proof of accommodation.
- Proof of sufficient financial means.
- Cover letter.
- Documents based on employment status.
- Visa fees.
- Any additional documents for minors.
- Any additional documents based on the purpose of entry.
Italian Visa Application Form
The application form must be completed, dated, and signed. You can download the application form online for free and print it.
Valid passport/travel document
You must have a passport/travel document that meets the following requirements:
- It cannot be older than 10 years
- It must have at least two blank pages to attach your visa
- It must be valid for at least three more months starting from after you leave Italy and the Schengen area
Pictures
You must have two identical passport pictures which meet the Schengen photo requirements. That means they must be:
- Taken in the last six months
- With 35x45mm dimensions
- Colored
- Clear
- Face must take up 70-80% of the picture
Civil status documents
You must have any civil status documents that may be required of you, such as a marriage certificate, a death certificate, birth certificates of children etc.
Copies of previous visas
If you had any previous visas attached to your passport, you must provide photocopies of each of them along with your application for an Italian visa.
Travel health insurance
You need to have travel insurance which is valid not only in Italy, but the entirety of the Schengen area. The health insurance for an Italy visa must be a minimum of €30,000 and cover any expenses related to medical treatment, hospital stays, medical emergencies, and even death.
Proof of travel
When you apply for an Italy visa, you will be required to provide proof of travel. This means you have to show a booked flight itinerary and/or flight reservation. This is used to show that you have a booked flight to enter and leave Italy. It must show the dates, flight number, and other details of your flight.
It is not necessarily an actual flight ticket, though in cases, it is possible the Italian authorities may even ask for that.
Proof of Accommodation in Italy
Depending on where you are staying while you are in Italy, you must include proof of accommodation along with your Italian visa application.
Proof of accommodation could be a hotel booking, proof of home rental, a letter from your sponsor (if you are staying with friends/family) etc.
Proof of sufficient financial means
When you apply for an Italian visa, you have to prove to the Italian authorities that you can provide for yourself financially during your stay. The amount changes depending on the length of stay and whether you have any dependants.
See an elaborated list of the required financial means for admission to Italy.
You can provide proof that you have sufficient financial resources to fund a trip to Italy in one of the following ways:
- Bank statements. You must provide an original copy of your bank statements issued within the past month. The bank statement must be stamped and signed by an authorized bank official.
- Savings account statement. You must provide the original as well as a photocopy of the document.
- Copy of credit card. The copy must show your name and surname. You must also include a copy of an ATM receipt issued in the past three days, which shows the account balance.
- Your host’s bank guarantee (in case of sponsorship). If a close relative is sponsoring your stay, you must provide a copy of their bank guarantees (also known as Fidejussione bancaria or Polizza fidejussoria). A copy and the original must be signed by your host.
Cash, certificate of exchanged currency, or bank account statements which do not have an authorized stamp and signature will not be accepted as valid proof of financial means for Italy.
Cover letter
You must also include a personal letter which explains the reasons why you want to travel to Italy, how you intend to fund your trip, your relationship to your sponsor (if you have one), and explain why you will return to your home country.
Additional Documents based on Employment Status
Whether you are employed, a student, or retired, you have to provide the appropriate documents in respect to your employment status. As such:
If you are employed:
- Employment contract
- Bank account statements for the past six months
- No Objection Letter from your employer, stating:
- Their name and the date of writing the letter.
- That they have no objection to you being absent from work.
- The dates which you will be absent from work.
- That you are an employee at the company and will return upon expiry of visa.
- That you can financially support yourself during this time (they have to include proof of your annual income).
- Income Tax Return (ITR) form.
If you are self-employed:
- Copy of your business licence.
- Your company’s bank statements for the last six months.
- Income Tax Return (ITR) form.
If you are a student:
- Proof of enrollment at your educational institution.
- No Objection Letter from your school stating:
- The name of the academic personnel writing the letter.
- The date of writing.
- That you are a student at the school and have been since XX date.
- That they have no objection to you being absent from school.
- The duration for which you will be absent.
- That you can financially afford the travel, either through personal financial means or a scholarship/grant.
If retired:
- Bank statements from the last six months
Any Additional Documents for Minors
Minors who are travelling to Italy, either alone or accompanied by a parent, will have to provide the following documents:
- Birth certificate of the minor.
- The Italy visa application form signed by both parents.
- Certified copies of the parents’ IDs/passports/travel documents.
Then, as applicable:
- Court statement in case only one of the parents has custody of the child because the parents are divorced/one of the parents is deceased.
- A notarized parental authorization if the child will be travelling alone.
- If the child will be accompanied by another adult: the adult’s original passport and a copy.
Any Additional Documents Based on the Purpose of Travel
Even though the standard documents are the same for all types of entry purpose, you will need to provide additional documents based on the reason why you want to enter Italy. There are also different requirements if you are applying for an Italian long-stay visa.
If traveling for business
To apply for an Italy Business visa you should submit the following documents:
- Letter of invitation from your host. Letter of invitation by the partner company in Italy that you will be visiting, or the organizer of the training/event that you will attend.
- The Registration Certificate of the inviting company in Italy.
- Proof of previous trade relations between the companies (If applicable).
If traveling for cultural, sports or filmmaking events
Requirements for an Italy Cultural Event Visa:
- Letter of invitation from the organizer of the event, detailing the nature of the activities that will be held
- Entry tickets
- The conditions of enrollment to the event
- A detailed program of the event
- Proof you took part in previous events of the same nature and/or won a certificate/award.
If traveling to seek medical care in an Italian hospital
The requirements for an Italy medical treatment visa are the following:
- Letter from your doctor/medical institution in your home country stating:
- That you need to receive medical treatment in Italy.
- Your medical history.
- The medical treatment you will receive in Italy.
- Official document of acceptance from the Italian medical institution confirming they can give you the medical treatment you require.
- Proof of correspondence between your doctor in your home country and the one in Italy.
- Evidence of accommodation in the Italian medical institution.
- Proof of at least 30% of the payment for the medical treatment in Italy.
- In case the ministry of health in your home country covers the costs of your treatment, they must declare so in an official letter.
- Proof that the patient is capable of covering any additional medical costs that may arise.
Please click on the relevant Italy visa below to get more information regarding it:
- Italy Tourist Visa requirements
- Italy Transit Visa requirements
- Italy Student Visa requirements
- Italy Work Visa requirements
- Italy Working Holiday Visa requirements
- Italy Self-employed Visa requirements
- ItalyFamily Reunion Visa requirements
- Italy Elective Residence Visa requirements
Did you find this page helpful?
Yes No
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Based on the information provided in the article, here is a breakdown of the concepts mentioned:
Requirements for Italy Visa:
- Foreign nationals who need to apply for an Italy visa must meet certain requirements and conditions set by Schengen and Italian authorities.
- The specific requirements may vary depending on the purpose of travel and the applicant's employment status.
- The standard set of documents required for an Italy visa includes:
- Italian visa application form.
- Valid passport/travel document.
- Pictures.
- Civil status documents.
- Copies of previous visas.
- Travel insurance.
- Proof of travel.
- Proof of accommodation.
- Proof of sufficient financial means.
- Cover letter.
- Documents based on employment status.
- Visa fees.
- Additional documents may be required for minors and based on the purpose of entry.
Italian Visa Application Form:
- The application form must be completed, dated, and signed.
- The form can be downloaded online for free and printed.
Valid Passport/Travel Document:
- The passport/travel document must meet the following requirements:
- It cannot be older than 10 years.
- It must have at least two blank pages to attach the visa.
- It must be valid for at least three more months starting from after leaving Italy and the Schengen area.
Pictures:
- Two identical passport pictures are required.
- The pictures must meet the Schengen photo requirements, including being taken in the last six months, having dimensions of 35x45mm, being colored, clear, and with the face taking up 70-80% of the picture.
Civil Status Documents:
- Any civil status documents that may be required, such as a marriage certificate, death certificate, or birth certificates of children, must be provided.
Copies of Previous Visas:
- If the applicant had any previous visas attached to their passport, photocopies of each of them must be provided along with the visa application.
Travel Health Insurance:
- Travel insurance valid not only in Italy but the entire Schengen area is required.
- The insurance must have a minimum coverage of €30,000 and cover expenses related to medical treatment, hospital stays, medical emergencies, and even death.
Proof of Travel:
- Proof of travel is required, which can be shown through a booked flight itinerary and/or flight reservation.
- The proof must show the dates, flight number, and other details of the flight.
- In some cases, the Italian authorities may even ask for an actual flight ticket.
Proof of Accommodation in Italy:
- Depending on where the applicant will be staying in Italy, proof of accommodation must be provided along with the visa application.
- Proof of accommodation can be in the form of a hotel booking, proof of home rental, or a letter from the sponsor if staying with friends or family.
Proof of Sufficient Financial Means:
- The applicant must prove to the Italian authorities that they can financially support themselves during their stay.
- The required amount varies depending on the length of stay and whether there are any dependents.
- Proof of sufficient financial means can be provided through bank statements, savings account statements, copies of credit cards, or a host's bank guarantee in case of sponsorship.
Cover Letter:
- A personal letter must be included, explaining the reasons for traveling to Italy, how the trip will be funded, the relationship to the sponsor (if applicable), and the intention to return to the home country.
Additional Documents Based on Employment Status:
- Depending on the applicant's employment status, additional documents may be required.
- For employed individuals, documents such as employment contracts, bank account statements, a no objection letter from the employer, and income tax return forms may be necessary.
- Self-employed individuals may need to provide a copy of their business license, company bank statements, and income tax return forms.
- Students may need to provide proof of enrollment and a no objection letter from their school.
- Retired individuals may need to provide bank statements from the last six months.
Additional Documents for Minors:
- Minors traveling to Italy, either alone or accompanied by a parent, must provide additional documents, including the birth certificate of the minor, a signed Italy visa application form by both parents, certified copies of the parents' IDs/passports/travel documents, and additional documents in specific situations such as divorce or if the child is traveling alone.
Additional Documents Based on the Purpose of Travel:
- Additional documents may be required based on the reason for traveling to Italy.
- For business travel, documents such as a letter of invitation from the host, registration certificate of the inviting company, and proof of previous trade relations may be necessary.
- For cultural, sports, or filmmaking events, documents such as a letter of invitation from the event organizer, entry tickets, a detailed program of the event, and proof of participation in previous events may be required.
- For medical treatment in an Italian hospital, documents such as a letter from the doctor/medical institution, official acceptance from the Italian medical institution, proof of correspondence between doctors, evidence of accommodation, and proof of payment for the medical treatment may be necessary.
Please note that the information provided is based on this article, and it is always recommended to consult official sources or contact the relevant authorities for the most up-to-date and accurate information regarding visa requirements for Italy.
