Tourist Visa to Italy | Eligibility, Cost, How to Apply

Italy was the birthplace and centre of the ancient Roman civilization. Rome was founded as a kingdom in 753 BC and became a republic in 509 BC. The Roman Republic then unified Italy forming a confederation of the Italic peoples and rose to dominate Western Europe, Northern Africa, and the Near East. After the assassination of Julius Caesar, the Roman Empire dominated Western Europe and the Mediterranean for centuries, contributing to the development of Western culture, philosophy, science and art. The above historical notes positioned Italy as a site for tourists to behold. Again on a religious note, Italy serves as the host of the Vatican City where the pope resides. The catholic faith has grown to be a body where faith and culture are guarded seriously. These perspectives have made Italy cum the Vatican City and home for Christians and people of cultures to visit and reflect on their lives journey. It is worth noting that a Tourist visa to Italy is a visa to the Vatican City.

It is on record that Italy attracts more than 50 million tourists from all over the world each year. Some of them enter the country with just a passport and/or ID, while others need to apply for an Italy Tourist Visa beforehand.

A Tourist Visa for Italy is simply a Schengen Visa with the purpose of tourism. This visa arrangement is for about 30 European countries. A Schengen visa for any of its members allows tourists to visit any of its members. So, if you want to travel to Italy for tourism purposes, you may have to apply for a Schengen visa.

Italian Tourist Visa Eligibility

Visitors to Italy will not require a visa to visit Italy if they fall into the categories below:

A national from a Schengen Country
A national from an EU(European Union) or EEA (European Economic Area) member state or from Switzerland
A national from another (non-EU/EEA/Schengen) country who has been exempt from Schengen Visas
A holder of a residence permit/visa issued by another Schengen country

Otherwise, you will most likely have to apply for a visa.

When Can I Submit the Application?

You can apply for an Italy Tourist Visa:

At the latest: Two weeks before your planned trip
At the earliest: Six months before your planned trip

However, you have to apply well in advance because the Italy visa processing time can take up to three weeks (15 working days) or more depending on your country or particular case.

For example, if you have omitted to submit a particular required document, it will delay the processing time. That’s because the visa officials have to send you back your application so you can resubmit once it is completed.

Furthermore, depending on the country and time of year, even booking an appointment can take some time so you have to keep that in mind if you need to enter Italy at a particular time.

What are the Requirements for the Italian Tourist Visa?

When you apply for a tourist visa to Italy, you must have several supporting documents. One of them is the Italy Visa Application Form.

The requirements for an Italy Tourist Visa are:

Complete travel routine: You must include a document detailing the dates of your travel (entry and exit) as well as flight numbers. You also have to specify what places you will be visiting in Italy or elsewhere in the Schengen Area. It does not necessarily have to be an actual flight ticket, only a flight reservation.
Letter from your tour organizer. (If you are travelling with a tour agency)
Proof of Accommodation
Proof of sufficient financial ability throughout the tourist stay

However, if you are planning on visiting a relative or friend in Italy, you should submit the following documents:

Letter of invitation from your host If you are visiting a family member/friend in Italy, then they serve as your Italian host. Your host can be an Italian citizen or residence permit holder (in which case they must include a copy of their residence permit with the letter). The invitation letter must state that you are their relative/friend and specify the dates that you will be visiting them.
Proof of family relationship. If your host is a family member, such as a spouse, child, or parent, you must provide proof. This can be a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or a certificate of registered partnership. You must include this with the letter of invitation.
Proof of sufficient financial means. Depending on how you will fund your trip, this can be through:
- Your bank statements from the past six months (if you will fund the trip yourself).
- Letter of sponsorship from your host along with their bank statements (if your host will be funding your trip).
Proof of accommodation. Depending on where you will be accommodated while you are in Italy, you could submit:
- The address of the house/apartment of your host.
- A hotel/hostel booking or home rental agreement. (If you do not intend to stay with your family member/friend, you may be asked to prove proof that you will alternately visit them.)

How to Apply for the Tourist Visa to Italy

If you are from a country whose nationals need a visa for Italy, you must apply for an Italy Tourist visa at the appropriate location for applying for Italian visas in your country. This could be one of the following:

The Italian Representation in your country (such as an Italian embassy or consulate).
A Visa Application Center, such as VFS Global, COX and Kings, or TLS International, to which the Italian government has outsourced visa applications.
The Representation of another Schengen country to which the Italian government has outsourced visa applications (if there is no Italian Representation in your country).

Before you apply, however, you must book an appointment. You cannot apply for an Italy visa without a prior appointment.

Italy Tourist Visa Application Procedure

To successfully acquire a visa to Italy as a tourist the steps below have to be followed:

Book the appointment.
Complete the Italy Visa Application Form.
Gather the required documents.
Apply in person.
Enter the visa interview.
Pay the visa fees.
Wait for processing.

Validity Period of Italian Tourist Visa

An Italy Tourist Visa is valid for the same amount of time that all Schengen visas are: a maximum of 90 days within six months

In some cases, your visa can be issued for less than 90 days, depending on the type of Schengen Visa you receive (single-, double-, or multiple-entry).

Information on the Schengen visa usually indicates how many days each tourist will stay in Italy and the last day a visitor will stay in the Schengen area.

When you receive your visa, the visa sticker on your passport informs you on how many days you can spend in the Schengen area. It also informs you when you can enter the Schengen area and what is the latest date you can leave.

Cost of Getting a Tourist Visa to Italy

Aside from the other logistics like paying for accommodation, and fees paid to Tour agencies, applicants for tourist visas to Italy will pay the fees in their categories below: