Visas to enter in Italy

If you would like to travel to Italy, depending on your citizenship, the duration and purpose of your stay, a visa may be required before departure.

For additional information on some individual types of visa please see below:

SCHENGEN VISA REQUIREMENTS

The Schengen visa is valid for a maximum of 90 days and allows the visa holder to travel to all of the 26 European Countries that signed the Schengen Agreement namely: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

Applicants should provide:
Shengen Visa application form duly filled in and signed at the Consulate;
Recent passport-style photo (3,5 cm x 4,5 cm or 1''3/8 x 1''3/4, full front and white background);
Passport (and copy of relevant pages)
Return flight reservations from the U.S/Bermuda to the Schengen Area (and ultimately to Italy) and back;
Proof of available lodging in Italy:
Proof of economic means of support (as per Ministry of Interior Directive 1.3.2000): last three months bank statements, last three months credit card statements mentioning your credit limit or bank guarantee (fidejussione or polizza assicurativa) from Italy;

- Proof of medical insurance

SCHENGEN BUSINESS VISA REQUIREMENTS

Applicants should provide:

1. Shengen Visa application form duly filled in and signed at the Consulate. The applicant must appear in person;
2. Recent passport-style photo (3,5 cm x 4,5 cm or 1''3/8 x 1''3/4, full front and white background);
3. Passport
4. Return-trip booking or ticket;

5. Local letter demostrating status as financial-commercial operators: letters in original from the appliant's company in USA specifyng the reasons the applicant is expected in Italy, position held by the applicant, dates of trip and duration of stay as well as declaration of financial responsibility.
For self-employed applicants: copy of Certificate of incorporation, business income taxes return, business bank statments;

6. letter of invitation from Italian company (in original, on letterhead). The person signing the letter should also include a copy of ID Card/passport;
7. Business license of Italian company

8. Italian hotel reservation, not compulsory if indicated in the invitation letter
9. Proof of economic means of support, as per Ministry of Interior Directive 1.3.2000. Last three months bank statements: the most recent full statements which include bearers name, address and financial history;
10. Proof of medical insurance covering the entire period of stay in Italy.

STUDENT VISA REQUIREMENTS

Students participating in study abroad programs:

1.Long term visa application form and one recent passport size picture (1”3/8 x 1”3/4, full front view, white background).

2. Passport (valid at least 90 days beyond the expiration date of the visa) and photocopy of the main page.

3. Photocopy of student’s ID and driver’s license (or state ID).

4. Letter filled out from the University in Italy and specifying the address of the student’s accommodation.

5. Letter from the University in United Statesspecifying that the student is officially enrolled with said University and confirming his/her enrollment in the University Study Abroad Program in Italy. The letter should also indicate the address of the University in Italy, program dates and duration.

6. Personal bank letter or bank statement on its official letterhead, indicating the total amount of funds in their personal account (no joint bank accounts).

7. Personal credit card statement with indication of credit limit.

8. Schengen medical insurance covering medical evacuation and repatriation for the first 15 days of their stay in Italy.

SUBORDINATE WORK VISA REQUIREMENT

All documents must be presented in original and photocopy (included photocopy of passport and relevant pages, green card, driving license, I-20, Advanced Parole etc.)

Applicants should provide:

1. Visa Appliction form duly filled in and signed at the Consulate.

2. Recent passport-style photo (3,5 cm x 4,5 cm or 1''3/8 x 1''3/4, full front and white background);

3. Passport or travel document valid three months over the applicant’s planned stay in Italy.

In order to process this type of visa your employer needs to request a “nulla osta” (entry clearance), at the "Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione" (Unified Immigration Desk) in Italy. The “Sportello Unico” will provide for the Nulla Osta (entry clearance) and the "contratto di soggiorno per lavoro" (job contract) to be sent to the Diplomatic Representation.

SELF-EMPLOYMENT VISAS

Self-employed professionals and Entrepreneurs

a) Self-Employed professionals are those mentioned in the list of the Italian Ministry of Justice ‘Associazione delle Professioni non Regolamentate’ according to D.Lgs 206/2007 art. 26 comma 3 and according to ‘Elenco Professioni Vigilate’ are included in ordini, collegi e albi professionali (professional orders, professional boards and bulletin boards). For medical professions the visa is issued upon recognition of your University Degree by the Italian Ministry of Health.

b) Entrepreneurs are considered those business operators who intend to perform in Italy a commercial activity that is considered significant for the Italian economy.

Visa requirements:

1. visa application form

2. recent passport-style photo

3. passport or travel document valid for at least three months after visa expiry date

4. declaration by the Office authorized to issue any required certification, license and authorization, to receive notices of commencement of business activity, or by the Body which supervises professional associations . Such declarations should be issued within the previous three months .

5. Declaration of parametri di riferimento (list of specific assets to perform different commercial or professional activities) issued by the local Chamber of Commerce or by the pertinent professional order. Such amount cannot be lower than the triple of the minimum social welfare yearly income (14.000 Euro).

6. proof of income, earned during the preceding fiscal year in the country of residence, higher than the minimum level provided by the law for exemption from participation in medical and health public assistance (8.500 Euro).

7. nulla osta (authorization) issued within the previous 90 days by the competent Italian Questura (Police Commissary)

8. Availability of a suitable lodging

Partners and Chairmen of Italian Companies

Partners and chairmen (listed in D.I. 850/2001) in Italian S.p.A., S.r.l. and SAPA which must have been operating for at least three years.

Visa requirements:

1. visa application form

2. recent passport-style photo

3. passport or travel document valid for at least three months after visa expiry date

4. certification of enrolment of the firm in the Business Registry (Visura Camerale)

5. copy of the declaration of responsibility sent by legal representative of the Italian company to the local Italian DTL (Territorial Labor Office) stating that, in virtue of the contract stipulated, the applicant will not be employed as a subordinate worker

6. nulla osta (authorization) issued within the previous 90 days earlier by the competent Italian Questura (Police Commissary)

7. availability of a suitable lodging

Managers or highly qualified employees , University language tutors and university professors, translators and interpreters

a) Managers or highly qualified employees of companies based in Italy or with branches in Italy, or of branch offices of foreign companies headquartered in a member country of the World Trade Organisation, or managers of main offices in Italy of Italian firms or firms of another EU member

b) University language tutors and university professors intending to fill an academic position in Italian universities or in an educational institute;

c) translators and interpreters;

Visa requirements:

1. visa application form

2. recent passport-style photo

3. passport or travel document valid for at least three months after visa expiry date

4. Certification, issued by the competent Labor Territorial Service of the Italian DTL (Territorial Labor Office) stating that, in virtue of the contract stipulated, the applicant will not be employed as a subordinate worker

5. availability of a suitable lodging

6. a contract showing a yearly income higher than the minimum level provided by the law for exemption from participation in medical and health public assistance (8.500 Euro).

7. nulla osta (authorization) issued by the competent Italian Questura (Police Commissary) within the previous 90 days

Sport personnel and Athletes

Visa requirements:

1. visa application form

2. recent passport-style photo

3. passport or travel document valid for at least three months after visa expiry date

4. declaration of consent by CONI (Italian National Olympic Committee sent directly to the competent Italian Diplomatic/Consular Representation, indicating the athlete’s personal data, sport practiced, and details and address of the team/club of destination. This statement must be accompanied by the nulla osta (authorization) of the Italian Questura (Police Commissary), stating that the sport practiced is included in the list of activities entitled to apply for a sport-self-employment visa. The nulla osta should be issued within the previous 90 days.

Artists and entertainment industry personnel

Visa requirements:

1. visa application form

2. recent passport-style photo

3. passport or travel document valid for at least three months after visa expiry date

4. job contract ensuring the self-employee’s compensation is higher than the amount provided by the Italian national contracts for the same category of employees

5. Proof of lodging

6. Flight reservation