Citizens residing in the European Union are not required to have a visa to visit Rome or any part of Italy. However, non-EU nationals must get a visa to visit Italy for a short or long visit. If you plan to go on a reconnaissance in Rome, EU-nationals can stay for a minimum of 90 days without a visa but in need to show some form of identification. Other nationalities that are exempt from getting a visa are Australians, Israelis, Japanese, Canadians, New Zealanders, South Koreans, and Americans. Nationals with no visa-free agreement with Italy are required to have a valid visa (must have been issued in the last 10 years) and passport. In some cases, airport authorities will require proof of passage to your final destination if you are only passing through Italy.
The visa required for those on a Transit visa, short-term travel, private visits, business trips or tourist visit is known as the Schengen visa. The visa price may vary depending on the exchange rate, type, and length of validity. Proof of civil status in the form of a marriage certificate, family record book, birth certificates are usually required for spouses and children that are not EU-nationals. For more information on the exact requirement, enquire at the nearest Italian Consulate.
An Italian Schengen visa is valid for 90 days, and lasts for only sixty days. The visa may be for less than 90 days depending on the type. The types of visas given to those visiting Italy include single-entry, double-entry and multiple-entry. All these visas are restricted to ninety days with the single and multiple ones allowing visitors to enter Italy and other Schengen countries once and twice, while the multiple-entry allows you to get in and out as many times as possible.
Application for the visa can be made in different places, depending on the office in your home country. The visa can be applied for at an Italian embassy, consulate, visa application center or embassy of another country within the Schengen region. For visa extension, the application must be made afresh at the local Italian embassy in person. The following documents are required when applying for the visa.
- Completed visa application online form.
- Two colored passport photos (35 x 45 mm, recent with full facial view).
- Valid national passport (valid at least three months longer than your intended stay).
- Proof of accommodation with a hotel reservation
- Proof of travel with flight itinerary with round-trip reservation.
- Proof of satisfactory monies to cover your stay in Italy (amount depends on length of stay)
- Proof of travel health insurance for Italy and the Schengen region. The minimum health coverage for the Schengen are is € 30,000 and includes emergencies, treatment and repatriation if need be.
- Cover letter to explain reasons for visit, length of stay, when you will be leaving among other details
- Proof of civil status (applies to spouses married to Italian citizens and their children)
- Visa fees
Processing of Italian Schengen visa should be complete in 15days but this can extend to 30 days in specific situations. In exceptional cases, the visa may be issued after 60 days whereby they need to consult with other embassies.
More information on Schengen visa requirements can be found here: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/
