Visa for Italy
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Visa for Italy
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General Information
Pursuant to art. 2, paragraphs 6 and 9, art. 4 and 5 of Legislative Decree no. 286 of 25 July 1998 (Consolidated text of provisions governing immigration and legislation on the condition of foreigners) and to art. 5 paragraph 8 bis of President of the Republic Decree n. 394 of 1999 and art. 47, paragraph 1, letter i) of Regulation (EC) 810/2009 (Visa Code), the following should be noted:
A short-stay visa is an authorisation issued by a Member State for the purpose of transit through or stay in the territory of the Schengen States, not exceeding 90 days in any 180-day period. The visa issued can be:
USV “Uniform Schengen Visa” (type C), valid to enter and move freely in the territory of all countries that apply the Schengen Acquis(*) in full.
LTV “Visa with Limited Territorial Validity” (type C), valid ONLY for the territory of the issuing State or exceptionally for the territory of several member States, but not for all of them.
ATV “Airport Transit Visa” (type A), allowing the holder to transit through the international transit area of a Member State’s airport(s) only.
Possessing a USV or a LTV does not confer automatic right of entry. Upon entering the Schengen territory, even if the person concerned is in possession of a USV or a LTV, border authorities can ask them to prove that the requirements for the issue of the visa have been met. Moreover, border Police are entitled to deny entry into the Schengen territory, even if they are in possession of a valid visa, if they deem that the conditions and requirements for entry into the Schengen territory set out in article 5 of the Schengen Borders Code (Regulation EC no. 562/2006) have not been met.
Except for entry visas for paid or gainful activity, the Directive of the Ministry of the Interior of 1st March 2000 established the criteria for defining the required financial means and quantifies the subsistence means to prove, under the conditions for entry into the Italian territory and the issue of the visa.
Within eight (8) days from the date of entry into Italy, foreign nationals must comply with the obligations arising from the rules on the residence in the territory of the Member State, by applying for a residence permit or by declaring their presence according to their type of visa. Procedures are indicated in paragraph “Types of Visas”.
Important: The administrative expulsion order may be made against a foreign national who entered the territory of the Member State by evading border controls, or without having applied for a residence permit, or, when applicable, without having declared their presence within the given deadlines (unless the delay was caused by force majeure). Expulsion may also be adopted against a foreign national who, despite having legally declared their residence, overstays in the territory of the Member State.
On the institutional websites of the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Polizia di Stato, the Portale Immigrazione and the Poste Italiane, you can find more detailed information connected with the regulations on immigration, relating to visas, residence permits and declarations of presence, as well as a list of Postal Offices (Sportello Amico), of Authorised institutions and Municipalities (see page “Ricerca Strutture” - “Search institutions”) authorised to complete the postal kit for the submission of the residence permit application, including the addresses of the relevant Questure.
Please note that the procedures set out above refer to the rules and procedures relating to legal residence in the Italian territory. Foreign nationals who although in possession of a Uniform Schengen Visa or a Limited Territorial visa valid for more Member States, exercise the right to free movement and residence in authorised Member States, shall be required to obtain information from the authorities of the other Member State where they are going on the procedures to follow for the declaration of residence and compliance with the residence rules that apply in the territory of that State.
On the website of the European Union you can consult the public European Regulations (in different languages) on entry into the Schengen territory and free circulation, amongst which Regulation (EC) 810/2009 (Visa Code) and Regulation (EC) 562/2006 (Schengen Border Code).
Any other information not expressly covered in this Notice or on the above institutional sites may be requested throughout Italy directly from the Ministry of the Interior or the relevant Questure, that are competent for migration or residence matters.
(*) The countries that apply the Schengen Acquis in full are: Italy, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Hungary.
General Information
In accordance with the Italian law on the communication to, and entry and stays of, foreign nationals in Italy, pursuant to Art. 2 6 ad 9, Art 4 and 5 of Legislative Decree of 25 July 1998, n. 286 (consolidated act of the regulations concerning immigration and the laws on the condition of foreign nationals) , in accordance with art. 5, comma 8-bis of the Decree of the President of the Republic n. 394 of 1999 and, with regard to entry and circulation within the Schengen area, in accordance with art. 47, comma 1 letter i) of EC Regulation N. 810/2009 (Visa Code), the following is communicated:
A long-term entry visa (or long stay) is an authorisation issued for an intended stay in the territory of the State for a duration which exceeds 90 days. All non-EU citizens who intend to stay for whatever reason in any state which is a member of the European Union must be in possession of a a Long Stay Entry Visa, which can have a duration of 91 to 365 days.
Possession of a Long stay visa foresees and entails the following:
VN “National Visa” (type D), this is a long-term visa (or long stay) which is issued by one of the Member States in accordance with its own internal legislation or that of the European Union. It is valid for a stay of more than 90 days in the territory of the Country which issued it.
The Police Autorities are entitled to refuse entry to any foreign national into the territory of their State, also if that foreign national is in possession of a valid visa, in the case that the foreign national in question does not meet the entry conditions and requirements for entry into that State, as stated in Art 4 of Regulation (EC) no. 562/2006 (Schengen Borders Code) concerning the border crossings, which is the remit of the relevant police Authorities.
With the exception of entry for stays referring to fully paid and remunerated activities or of entries that refer to an independent discipline of reference pertaining to the economic means required, the directive of the Ministry of the Interior of 01.03.2000 sets forth the criteria for the definition of the economic means required for entry into Italian territory and subsistence there, and for the issuing of the visa. The table is available for your reference in the Embassy/Consulate, or can be consulted at the following link (required financial means).
Within eight working days of entry into Italy, the foreign national must fulfil the obligations of the laws on residence in the territory of the State by submitting a request for a Residence Permit relevant to the purpose of the visa. Procedures are indicated in paragraph “Types of Visas”.
Regulation EU 265/2010 extends to a national visa the principle of the equivalence of a residence permit and a visa for short-term stays issued by the Member States that fully implement the Schengen Acquis (*).
The national visa (over 90 days) therefore has the same validity as the residence permit with regard to the free circulation of the visa holder within the Schengen area, and so, the holder of a national long stay visa issued by a Member State is allowed to circulate and reside in other Member States for 90 days out of every 180 days during the validity of the visa, under the same conditions as the holder of a residence permit, provided that the conditions of entry (Schengen Borders Code) are met.
The foreign national, although in possession of a long-term visa (Long stay VN type D) if he or she exercises his or her right of free circulation within other member states for 90 days of every 180 days, during the validity of his or her visa, or residence permit, in application of the principle referred to in EU regulation 265/2010, that foreign national is still required to refer to the authorities of the other Member State in which he or she stays, for information on the procedures to be followed regarding the declaration of his or her own presence and in respect of the rules relating to a short-term stay in the territory of that State.
On the official website of the European Union, you may furthermore refer to the European legislation, in different languages, on entry into the Schengen territory and freedom of circulation for short stays, including Regulation EC562/2006 (Schengen Borders Code)
On the websites of the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the State Police, the Immigration Portal and the Italian Postal Services, you may obtain more detailed information relating to the rules, procedures and disciplines on immigration, concerning entry visas and residence permits.
Any further information not provided within this notice or at the above-mentioned websites, may be requested, directly, when you have entered the national territory, or by referring directly to the Ministry of the Interior or to the relevant Police Headquarters competent for matters of immigration and residency.
Important. In accordance with Italian legislation, an expulsion order can be issued to any foreign national who has entered the territory of the State by avoiding border controls, or has stayed in the territory of the State in the absence of an official communication, or without requesting permission to stay within the determined period (unless this delay is due to unforeseen circumstances), or if the residence permit was revoked, annulled or refused, or if it was allowed to expire for more than 60 days and a renewal was not requested.
(*) Countries which apply the Schengen Acquis in its entirety: Italy, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Latvia, Liechstenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Hungary
Starting from October 12, 2025, the centralized system for the electronic registration of entry and exit of third-country nationals at the external borders of the Schengen Area for short stays becomes operational. “Short stays” means a period of up to 90 days in any 180-day period, calculated as a single period for all European countries using the EES.
A guided procedure will help you decide if you need to apply for a visa based on your nationality, country of residence, reasons for your visit and length of stay.
If you need a visa for Italy, you will be provided with all the information and forms needed to submit your application.
Submission of the required documentation does not automatically guarantee visa issuance.
Upon entering Italy and the Schengen Area, even if you have a visa, Border Authorities are authorised once again to check the documents required for issuance of the visa.
The information provided on this website applies only to holders of an ordinary travel document. Holders of diplomatic or service passports are kindly requested to contact the Italian Embassy or Consulate for specific instructions.
The information contained on this website, intended to asist foreigners applying for a visa for Italy, are purely indicative and not exhaustive. Interested parties should seek additional information from the Italian Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over their place of permanent residence.