All You Need To Know About Visa To Italy For Indians

Italy, a country rich in architecture & history, is known for its delicious Italian food, jaw-dropping sceneries, and world-famous medieval little towns & cities – it is one of the world’s top travel-destination with good reason. From the canals of Venice to the Tuscan wine lands & beautiful streets of Rome to the Arno River running through Florence; there is truly something to enchant everyone here. It is a country that captures the heart of every visitor.

Italy is diverse, and hence variations in temperatures are to be expected as you move from the cities to the coast, and from the north to the south end of the country. Make sure to check the weather & climate before planning your Italy tour package. Positano in Italy is one of the most picturesque towns & feels straight out of a fairy-tale for couples and should definitely be included in an Italy honeymoon package. While some visit Italy for tourism, others visit for purpose of independent work, religious reasons, study & much more. Italy has a multitude of visas for all purposes. Here is all the information you need to know about the visa requirements from India to visit Italy:

A Little About Schengen Zone And Visas:

Italy is located in South Central Europe & is surrounded by the Mediterranean Sea in the North East. Since Italy is a part of the Schengen area, the travel document necessary for Indian citizens is the Schengen visa. At present, 26 countries in Europe are included in the Schengen zone & Italy is one of them. Visitors from India to Italy will need a Schengen visa for arrival. The Schengen visa is issued if any tourist wants to stay in the country for up to 90 days.

Italy’s Short term Visa:

The Italian Embassy has subdivided short-term stay visas into five subcategories according to the need for the visit:

1. Tourist visa: If an Indian intends to visit Italy for the sole purpose of tourism such as vacation, leisure, experiencing the country & its culture or sightseeing or visiting family or friends, then they can apply for an Italy tourist visa for India Applications ought to be made at an Italian consulate abroad no less than 3 months before the expected date of the travel or for anItaly tourist visa for Indians. Before you apply for a tourist visa, ensure that you meet the visa requirements and have the required travel documents. Ensure that you pay the required fees for the visa for travel from India to Italy.
2. Transit visa: This type of visa is for people having a layover in Italy & needing to board a connecting flight to reach their destination.
3. Business visa: Those who are visiting Italy temporarily for the purpose of business need to acquire an Italy business visa for their travel. This visa allows the applicant to travel within Italy & to Schengen countries for professional commitments for a maximum of 90 days, either continuous or separately depending on whether it’s a single entry or multi-entry visa.

4. Study short stay visa: This visa can be applied if someone wants to pursue a short course in Italy not exceeding 90 days.
5. Official invitation visa: This visa is applied when individuals are invited to participate in meetings, consultations or exchange programs in Italy based on their professional status or achievements.

What about Italy’s Long term stay Visa?

An Italy long-term stay visa is also known as the D-visa or a National Visa and is applied if you want to stay in Italy for longer than 90 days. The type of long-stay visa that you apply for depends on the purpose you want to be in Italy for. So, if you want to go to Italy to study, work, or join a family member, you have to apply for the respective visas.

The most common types of Italian long-stay visas are:

• Italy Work Visa: This visa is available to a foreign national who wants to move to Italy to engage in salaried work. It is important to note that you need to have a job in Italy before you apply.
• Italy Study visa: This can be applied for by students over the age of 18 years who are enrolled in an Italian educational institution.
• Italy Family visa: This visa is available to foreign nationals who want to join a family member who already possesses an Italian permanent residence permit.

Documents required for Italy tourist visa

Travellers visiting Italy must provide personal information to complete the process of online application. The Italy embassy has the right to have all the documents they need & may even call for an interview. At this point, you should know about your plans in Italy like travel dates and the reason for your visit. It is advisable to apply for a visa to Italy at least a few weeks or months in advance because the processing time for Italy visa application from India & the requirements for granting an Italy tourist visit from India takes some time. You will need to have the following documents in place to apply for your Italy Schengen visa:

1. Download, fill & sign the visa application form.
2. A valid passport that should not be older than 10 years. The passport should be valid for at least 3 months from your date of departure from Italy or any other Schengen region.
3. Recent passport size photograph clicked within three months that should show your face with a light background.
4. Proof of flight reservation & accommodation
5. Copies of the previous visa, if any
6. Evidence of sufficient finance status
7. Travel insurance documents

Visa Interview & Questions

Many people who apply for visas to visit Italy are asked to attend an in-person Italy Schengen visa interview. The Italian border officers can ask you various questions upon your arrival related to your trip & visa documents from India to Italy, such as: -

• What is the purpose of visiting Italy?
• Why do you need to spend 90 days in Italy?
• How will you pay the price of your Italy trip from India? (and can ask for your visa)
• Do you know anyone in Italy?
• Have you ever been convicted of a crime?
• Where do you reside?
• Do you know how long your Schengen visa is valid?

Do not panic in such an interview. One should remain calm & answer whatsoever is asked confidently to move forward with your application.

Fees & Tracking

The fees of applying for an Italy visa from India keeps changing according to the International currency rates so it is advised to check the latest prices & make the payment online or offline. The application for a visa from India to Italy can be tracked online through the reference number present on the invoice or the receipt issued by your Visa application centre & regular updates can also be taken from your travel agent.

Still procrastinating about your plans to visit this beautiful country? Well, not anymore! Pack your bags & make sure all your visa documents are up-to-date for your trip to Italy & enjoy the most scenic landscapes it has to offer.