Italy Tourist Visa for Indians

Types of Tourist Visas for Italy

Italy is an EU member and one of the 29 Schengen Area nations. As such, the most common visa for Italy from India is the Schengen visa. Short-term Schengen visas allow for extended trips up to 90 days during any 180-day period. With a short-term Schengen visa, you can book flights to Italy and enter any of the European countries that are members of the EU or within the Schengen Area.

Schengen Tourist Visa: This is the most common Italy tourist visa for Indian citizens and provides you with the flexibility to explore Italy and the other member states of the Schengen Area. A Schengen tourist visa is ideal for travellers wanting to explore the landmarks of Italy through sightseeing visits and cultural outings. As you apply for an Italy visa application from India, you will come across three types of Schengen tourist visas.

Single-Entry Visa: This visa allows you to enter the Schengen area only once, and would be ideal for tourists who plan to enter and exit only once within the visa’s validity. It is the most common Italy tourist visa for Indian citizens.

Double-Entry Visa: This visa permits you to enter and exit the Schengen area twice.  A Schengen double-entry visa would be well-suited for tourists who may briefly leave the Schengen zone to visit the United Kingdom or some other non-Schengen country, and then re-enter Italy or another Schengen country once more.

Multiple-Entry Visa: This visa allows for multiple entries into the Schengen area for the duration of the visa, and is intended for travellers wanting to visit multiple Schengen countries over time.

Family Visit Visa: This is a subcategory of Italy tourist visas. A Family Visit Visa is ideal for people wanting to visit their family or friends in Italy. To apply for a family visit visa for Italy from India, you would have to provide evidence from your host indicating the relationship and Italian residency verification.

Group Tourist Visa: A Group Tourist Visa is intended for travellers participating in group tours. Travel agencies providing group tours in Italy handle the processing for such visas. Group travellers benefit from this visa type when following a predetermined itinerary throughout their Italy trip, as it makes their visa application process more straightforward.

Visa Application Process

The process to apply for an Italy visa from India is quite simple and involves a few straightforward steps.

• Step 1: Identify Visa Type

The very first step to obtaining a visa for Italy from India is to select the right visa for your trip, as per your requirements and travel plans. As a tourist, you are likely to apply for a Schengen short-stay visa.

• Step 2: Gather Required Documents

All visa categories have specific documentation requirements. Based on your chosen visa type, you must gather the necessary documents, like:

• Valid passport
• Passport-sized photographs
• Financial proof showing adequate funds for the trip
• Travel Insurance
• Flight itinerary and accommodation details
• Cover letter explaining the purpose of the visit
• Step 3:  Begin Your Application

Once you have identified the right visa type and have the appropriate documentation in place, you may start your visa application process at the VFS Global website. You can download the Visa Application Form, complete it, print the completed form and bring it with you to the Visa Application Centre for submission.

• Step 4: Book An Appointment

After your application is duly filled out and the documentation is ready, you must book an appointment to submit your documents and have your fingerprints and photo taken at a Visa Application Centre. After you have booked an appointment, you will receive an appointment confirmation email along with an attached appointment confirmation letter.

• Step 5: Pay Your Fees

If you are applying for your visa online, you should pay your fees as part of this process. But if you have downloaded the form to print and bring to the Visa Application Centre, payment can be made at the time of your appointment as well.

• Step 6: Visit A Visa Application Centre

Attend your scheduled appointment, and submit your complete visa application form at the Visa Application Centre in person.

• Step 7: Track Your Application

You can also track your visa application status online by using the reference number present on the invoice/receipt issued by the Visa Application Centre. The processing time for Italy visa from India is usually 15 working days.

• Step 8: Collect Your Passport.

After a visa application decision has been made, you may collect your passport from the Visa Application Centre or have your documents couriered back to you for a fee.

Italy Visa Charges for Indians

Visa charges for Italy from India may differ based on the visa type and the age of the applicant.  A tourist visa for Italy from India costs approximately €90. The fee for applicants between the ages of 6 and 12, however, is about €45. The visa charges can change at any time. Hence, you must check for the up-to-date visa cost when planning your trip.

Common Challenges and How to Overcome Them

Late Applications: Last-minute applications are often rejected due to insufficient processing time. Hence, you should apply for a visa at least 3-4 weeks before your planned Italy trip.

Incomplete Application Form: Providing inaccurate information on your Italy visa application form or leaving fields blank can get your Italy visa rejected. Hence, you must always double-check your visa application and make sure that all sections are accurately filled.

Lack of Ties to India: Visa officials may reject your application if they do not have assurance that you will return to India after your trip. You must convince the authorities that you have compelling reasons to return to India after your trip. This can be done by demonstrating strong ties to India through a stable job, property ownership, business ownership, and so on. 

Tips for Travellers

• Make sure that you arrive at the Visa Application Centre 15 minutes prior to your appointment time.
• Your passport must have a validity of at least 3 months after your intended stay in Italy and a minimum of 2 blank pages.
• You have to submit a confirmed hotel reservation covering travel dates with your visa application. If you are travelling to any other Schengen countries apart from Italy, then hotel bookings for the same are also required.

 IMPORTANT NOTE: 

All the information mentioned above is accurate at the time of writing.