By selecting the country of which you are a citizen, the country where you have registered residence, and the length of stay and reason, you will see if you need to obtain a visa for entry into Italy. All types of visas list the documentation required.
Visa applications shall be submitted to the visa office of the Embassy or Consulate of Italy of the place where you have registered residence. On the database Visa for Italy, you can find the contact details of the office where you shall apply for the visa. Just select the country where you reside and click on the “Confirm” button.
For further information see Responsibility for issuing visas.
List of Italian embassies and consulates abroad
The The person that shall apply for the visa is the foreign national. The visa application shall be submitted to the visa office of the Italian embassy or consulate competent for the place where that person is a registered resident. On the database Visa for Italy you can find the contact details of the office where you shall apply for the visa. Just select the country where you reside and click on the “Confirm” button.
For more information see Procedures for issuing visas.
List of Italian embassies and consulate abroad
Visit the database Visa for Italy. By selecting the country of which you are a citizen, the country where you have registered residence, and the length of stay and reasons, for each type of visa you will also find information on the documentation to be provided. In addition to the documentation indicated, the visa office may also request additional documents in connection with the visa application. We suggest you get specific information at the visa office competent for your area.
The database Visa for Italy indicates the cost for each type of visa at the bottom of the page with the answers, after the list of required documents.
The time required by regulations for issuing visas varies according to the type of visa. Schengen visas (i.e. short-stay visas) take 15 days, which can be extended up to 45 days in the cases provided for by law (Article 23 of the Visa Code).
In the case of national visas (i.e. long-stay visas), if the application is deemed admissible and after the necessary checks, the diplomatic-consular Mission shall issue the visa within 90 days of the date of application (30 days for paid employment, within the quotas envisaged by the so-called 2023-2025 Flows Decree, 30 days for family reunification and 120 days for self-employment).
For more information see Terms for issuance of visas
There are two timeframes for an entry visa:
- Duration is the actual maximum period of stay permitted
- Validity is the time within which the visa can be used.
A visa’s validity is generally longer that its duration, and it establishes from when and until when the visa can be used. The visa expires on the last day of its validity, and as from that date foreign nationals are required to leave the Schengen area, otherwise their presence becomes illegal.
For example: if a Schengen visa has a duration of 30 days and a validity of 90 days starting today, this means it can be used to enter the Schengen area at any time in the next three months for a maximum of 30 days.
For more information see Entry and stay in Italy
Both short-stay and long-stay visas can be issued for one, two or multiple entries. The number of entries is indicated on the visa application by writing 01 or 02 or MULT, in the case of authorisation to enter more than twice. When entries number more than one, the visa holder is entitled to stay for a period of time or the sum of periods not to exceed the time limit for the stay permitted by the visa, starting from the date of first entry into the Schengen area. Multiple entry visas can also be issued for periods of validity from 6 months to 5 years, but only with reference to the Uniform Schengen Visa and only in exceptional cases, and shall, in any case, comply with the terms and conditions listed in article 24, paragraph 2 of the Visa Code.
For further information see General conditions governing the entrance of foreign nationals to Italy.
To check on the status of your visa application, you may contact the visa office of the consulate where you submitted the application.
If you have a short-stay visa (a uniform Schengen visa) you can stay in Italy or another Schengen country for a period of time not to exceed the length of the visa, except in the case of proven inability to leave or in other adequately justified special cases (e.g. business visa extension for negotiations, supplier contacts, etc.).
In such cases the local Questura decides on visa extensions.
The national visa (i.e. a long-stay visa) permits only entry into Italy, but once across the border a residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) is required and is the only document that enables you to reside legally in Italy.
For more information about how to apply for it and to find out if it can be extended, visit the website of the Polizia di stato.
Check the list to see if your nationality requires prior consultation.
In the event of a refusal to grant a Schengen visa or a national visa not requested for family reasons, you may lodge an appeal with the Tribunale Amministrativo Regionale (T.A.R.) (regional administrative court) of Lazio, through a lawyer, within 60 days of receipt of notification of denial.
In the case of denial of national visas for family reasons, an appeal may be lodged, through a lawyer, with the competent ordinary court (Tribunale Ordinario) without time limitations.
For more information see Visa Denials.
The submission of all required documents does not guarantee the issuance of a visa. Applicants are notified of Schengen visa denials and their reasons by means of a form that can be found in the Visa Code.
Applicants are notified of the reasons for denial also in the case of long-stay visas.
In the case of refusal to grant a Schengen or a national visa not requested for family reasons, you may lodge an appeal, through a lawyer, with the Tribunale Amministrativo Regionale (T.A.R.) (regional administrative court) of Lazio within 60 days of receipt of notification of denial.
In the case of denial of national visas for family reasons, an appeal may be lodged, through a lawyer, with the competent ordinary court (Tribunale Ordinario) without time limitations.
For more information see Visa Denials.
In the case of denials of Schengen or national visas not requested for family reasons, an appeal may be lodged with the Tribunale Amministrativo Regionale (T.A.R.) (regional administrative court) of Lazio within 60 days of receipt of notification of denial.
In the case of denial of a national visa for family reasons, an appeal may be lodged, through a lawyer, with the competent ordinary court (Tribunale Ordinario) without time limitations.
The family members of EU and EEA citizens can apply for visas in accordance with Italian legislative decree 30/2007, art. 2.
The required documentation includes:
- Visa application form (click here)
- A recent photo
- A valid travel document with expiry date of at least 3 months beyond that of the visa requested
- declaration made by the EU or EEA citizen, accompanied by his/her identity document, certifying that he/she meets the requirements provided for by law (EU citizenship, residence in Italy, degree of relationship with the visa applicant and, where necessary, the condition of dependent family member). With this declaration the EU or EEA citizen requests the presence of the family member in Italy
- civil status deeds or appropriate administrative documentation attesting to the family relationship
- in the case of minors, written consent to the issuance of visa by the other parent
For more information see the database “Visa for Italy”.
One of the prerequisites for entry into the Schengen area is that you have sufficient financial resources for the period you are planning to stay.
The bank security in no way guarantees the issue of a visa.
For more information see Entry into Italy/Financial resources.
For detailed information, we advise you to contact the visa office of your nearest Italian Mission
Citizens of countries not subject to entry visa requirement for short stays can remain in Italy or in the Schengen area for a maximum of 90 out of every 180 days. The 180 days are to be counted backwards from the date of any future entry. In short, once you have decided on the date of future entry, you must make sure that you have not spent 90 days in the Schengen Area in the previous 180 days. For simplicity’s sake, use the calculator that you will find on the official EU website:
If useful, you will find here a guide to using the calculator
For further information see the Border Code.
Italian laws and regulations on entry visas do not provide for a marriage visa. The type of visa for which you shall apply is therefore a tourist visa. In addition to the requirements for the issuance of a tourist visa (visa database), it is also advisable to submit the certificate of banns, in order to prove that the purpose of the trip is to marry an Italian citizen.
Entry into Italy by non-EU nationals for the purposes of non-seasonal and seasonal employment and self-employment occurs mainly within the framework of the entry quotas established by the law known as the “Decreto flussi”.
The Italian or foreign employer residing in Italy must first apply for clearance (nulla osta al lavoro) at the Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione of the local Prefettura where the worker will be residing or where the place of work is located.
Once clearance is obtained, you may apply for the entry visa at the Italian diplomatic-consular Mission.
The categories of workers who may enter Italy outside the quota established by the so-called “Decreto flussi” are listed in Article 27 of the Consolidated Immigration Act.
For more information see the Visa Database and the websites of the Ministry of the Interior and the Polizia di stato.
If you wish to return permanently to Italy after having established residence abroad for at least 12 months you have a right to facilitated customs treatment and – depending on the regional, provincial and local laws – to possible financial contributions.
For more information see the website of the Customs Agency under Repatriations.
The Customs Agency has drawn up a traveller’s customs card which contains the information needed to clear the goods most frequently carried by travellers.It is an easy-to-use guide to the main customs provisions regulating luggage, personal belongings and animals accompanying travellers. It is a helpful tool for those arriving in or departing from Italy, in view of preparing in advance any documents required at customs. It also provides useful information for those purchasing products via the Internet.