How to Complete An Italy Visa Application Form
If you have decided to visit Italy, then you must answer these important questions: Do I want a short stay or a long stay in Italy? Also, how do I complete an Italy Visa Application Form? Your Italy Visa Application depends on these questions. This article hopes to give you answers.
You must know that Italy is one of the 26 member countries that form the Schengen Zone. The result is that citizens of these Schengen countries can visit without visas.
Apart from these, there are 64 countries whose citizens can enter the Zone without a visa. These are not Schengen countries. However, they need legal permission to visit any Schengen country.
The third category of visitors is those who cannot enter any Schengen country without a visa. If you are in this category, this article is for you. You need to know about the application fees and steps to complete your visa application forms. And yes, you made a good decision by choosing Italy as your destination for a long stay.
Going to Italy on a short stay?
If you intend to travel to Italy on a short stay, say 3 months or 90 days, the Schengen Visa is what you need. Here’s an article about the cost and procedure for getting a Schengen Short-stay Visa.
Going to Italy on a long stay?
What if you plan to stay longer than 90 days? Of course, it’s possible! You’ll be thinking of how to get the Italy National Visa. With this visa, you can stay for as long as 1 year or more.
About Italy
Italy is a tourist’s favorite. There is no particular season for visiting Vatican City. In Italy, every day is a holiday. There are the castles and palaces of the Ancient Roman Empire. Then, there are beautiful lakes, breathtaking mountains, and famous national parks.
All these combine to make Italy a tourist haven. As a matter of fact, Italy ranks among the countries with a very yearly high turnout of visitors. Perhaps this is why the Italian Visa Officers are often seen as short-tempered. Because they are almost always overworked. As a result, your visa application can be rejected because of a little mistake or omission.
About the Italy Long Stay Visa
The Italy Long Stay Visa is for visitors who would like to stay longer than the permitted 90 days which the Schengen Visa allows. It is also known as the D-Visa or a National Visa. Please note that the long-stay visa only allows you to enter Italy. If you want to stay longer than 90 days, you have to get an Italian Residence Permit. Also, you cannot apply for a residence permit with a Schengen visa.
Who is Eligible for the Italy Long Stay Visa?
The categories of people who request long-stay visas in Italy are:
a. Visiting Italy for Work. To enter Italy for work, a person has to apply for an Italy Work Visa. However, before doing so, he must already have a job in Italy.
b. Visiting Italy for Study. This is for a student who is over 18 years, and who has gained admission to study in an Italian higher institution. In this case, he can apply for an Italy Study Visa.
c.Visiting Italy to start a business. Entrepreneurs who want to start their own business in Italy can apply for the Italy Self-Employed Visa.
d. Visiting Italy for Holiday Employment. Italy’s working Holiday Visa is available to young people between the ages of 18 – 30 years. But these are young people whose countries take part in the Working Holiday Program.
This program is aimed at cultural exchange. Here, young people from certain countries can visit Italy for a period of 1 year, and work for 6 months of the period. During these 6 months, the young person can only work with an employer for 3 months. As a result, he must work with 2 employers for a period of 3 months each, summing up to the 6 months period.
The countries which share this cultural exchange program with Italy are Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. However, the age range for Canada is 18 – 35 years.
e. Visiting Italy as a Retiree. The Italy Retirement Visa is not as popular as the others. This is specifically reserved for people who want to live in Italy and are capable of supporting themselves financially, without working. This type of visa is also known as the Elective Residency Visa.
f. For Family Reunion. A person who is living in Italy with a residence permit can invite his family member who is from a non-Schengen country, to live with him. This is called the Italy Family Visa, also known as the Spousal Visa or the Family Reunification Visa.
An Italy Family Visa allows the following category of family members to join the Italian resident:
- A spouse
- Children below 18 years of age
- Children above 18 years who depend on their parents because of ill health
- Parents of either spouse, who are over 65 years, and have no one else to take care of them
General Requirements For an Italy National Visa
Each category of Italy’s National Visas has its specific requirements. However, here are the general requirements for all types of National or Long-stay Visas to Italy:
- A long-stay visa application form, duly completed.
- 2 recent passport photographs in plain background.
- A valid passport with at least 2 blank pages for the visa sticker to be affixed.
- Evidence of previous visas, if any.
- Health insurance of €30,000 to cover any possible medical emergency during your stay.
- Official documents like birth or marriage certificates.
- Visa Fee
Can You Complete An Italy Visa Application Form Online?
You can apply for an Italian Visa online but it is better to download the form. You can fill it out and submit it in person, at the submission center. This is because you will still need to submit your application to the visa office. Also, you have to book a physical interview.
Besides, the consular will need a copy of your form, with which he will ask you questions.
Where Can You Apply For An Italy National Visa?
a. An Italian embassy or consulate in your country
b. A Visa Application Center officially recognized by Italy
c. An official representative of another Schengen country which Italy has approved for visa application purposes.
How to Complete Your Italy Visa Application Form
When you decide where to submit your application, here are the next things to do:
- Book a visa interview.
- Download and fill out the Italy National Visa Application Form.
- Gather the necessary documents.
- Attend the interview.
- Pay the Italy Visa Fee. The amount depends on the type of visa you are applying for, and the fee is non-refundable.
- Wait for the good news
If all goes well, between 3 to 6 weeks, you should receive your Italy National Visa. Congratulations!
Tips:
Before you travel to Italy, read up all you can, about the country. Since you will probably stay there for a long time, you can invest in an Italian language class. Buy suitable clothes for the journey ahead. Also, be sure to tie up loose ends in your home country before saying goodbye.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between an Italy short-stay visa and the long-stay visa?
Firstly, with an Italy Short-stay visa, you can only stay in Italy for a maximum of 90 days but with a Long-stay visa, you can stay for a longer period.
Secondly, with an Italy short-stay visa, you cannot request a residence permit. With a long-stay visa, you can request a residence permit. With this, you can work or study in Italy.
Do members of non-Schengen countries, need a visa to stay for more than 90 days in Italy?
It is true that members of non-Schengen countries can visit without visas. However, they will have to apply for long stay visas if they intend to stay longer than 90 days. This is to enable them to work freely in Italy or stay longer than the permitted duration.
What type of visa do I need to visit San Marino or Vatican City?
San Marino and Vatican City are considered part of the Schengen Area. This is despite the fact that both states did not sign the Schengen Agreement. If you have an Italy visa, you can travel freely to any of these states because there is no border control when you enter Italy.
What is the Visa Application fee for National Visa in Italy?
Generally, Italy Visa Application Fee for a long stay is €80 for adults and half the price for children between 6 and 12 years. However, the application fees vary, depending on the category of visa you apply for.
What can cause my Italy Visa to be revoked?
There are many reasons why your Italy Visa can be revoked but the most popular reasons are:
- Taking part in a crime
- Giving false or unclear information
Not sticking to the terms of the visa given to you. For instance, if you get into Italy and start working when you’re on a retirement or study visa.
Conclusion
Now that you are in Italy on a National Visa, your first assignment is to request a residence permit. You can do this at the local police headquarters commonly known as Questura. There, you will fill out an application for a residence permit. Bear in mind that your National Visa is just an entry visa. As such, without a residence permit, you cannot work or study in Italy. A residence permit is your a better life in Italy.
