The visa, which consists of a special “vignette” (or “sticker”) affixed to the applicant’s passport or other valid travel document, is an authorisation granted to a foreign national for entry into the territory of the Schengen Area and of the Italian Republic, to be assessed in the light of the requirements linked to the smooth running of international relations and the protection of national security and public order.
All information on entry visas can be found on the portal “Visa for Italy”.
The visa issued by Italian Representations abroad allows access – for transit or for a short stay (up to 90 days) – both in Italy and in the other countries that apply the Schengen Convention, and is known as the “Uniform Schengen Visa” (USV). Similarly, the USV issued by the diplomatic-consular Representations of the other countries that apply the Convention also allows access to the Italian territory.
An entry visa for a long stay (more than 90 days) is known as “National Visa” (NV) and allows access for a long stay in the territory of the State that issued it. As long as it is valid, it allows free circulation for a period not exceeding 90 days per semester in the territory of the other Member States.