Italian Consulate Manila – 5 Easy Steps to Apply for Italy Schengen Visa

Italy is a beautiful Schengen country and anyone who has ever been there always returns for more. You’ve got cities like Rome and Venice with beautiful monuments, wonderful architecture and impressive art. Italy has a long history and, in most destinations, you’ll come across archaeological sites which are fun and interesting to explore. The food is fabulous too and you won’t have far to go to find something traditional and tasty. In this article learn more about how to apply for Italy visa at the Italian consulate in Manila, Philippines, Italy visa appointment booking, Processing time at the Italy visa application center, flight itinerary for Italy visa, hotel bookings for Italy visa, Schengen travel insurance for Italy visa application, and Italy Visa Application Process at the Manila embassy.

Italy Schengen Visas

In 2018, there were 1,844,140 Italy Schengen visas received by all the Italian embassies and consulates around the world. 135,882 (7.4%) were rejected. The Italian Embassy in Manila received 23,478 applications and rejected 2,553 (10.9%).

Applying for a Schengen Visa from Manila

If you are a citizen of any of the following countries, you need to apply for a visa to be able to enter and stay in Italy:

1. Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belize, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central Africa, Chad, China, Comoro Islands, Congo, Congo (Democratic Republic of), Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican (Republic), Ecuador, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Micronesia, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestinian National Authority, Papua-New Guinea, Peru, the Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Rwanda, Solomon, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tonga, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe

You can easily apply from Manila as long as you can prove you have a permanent or temporary legal right to remain in the country. If you do not, you must apply for an Italy visa from your home country.

You have to make sure you apply at the right Italian embassy and consulate. In order to apply for your Italy visa, you may submit your application to the Embassy of Italy in Manila or at the Italy visa application center, VIA Piasi Center in Manila.

Types of Schengen Visas Offered at the Embassy of Italy in Manila

There are 2 types of visas you can apply for and the one you need will depend on the duration of your trip:

1. Schengen visas (C and A) – for stays up to 90 days in a 180 day period
2. National visas (D) – for stays exceeding 90 days (please note, if you are applying for this type of visa, you will need a residence permit too. For further information, check the embassy’s website)

Then, you must choose the correct category of visa based on your reason for traveling to Italy

1. Business
2. EU Relatives
3. Religion
4. Seaman transit
5. Tourism/Visiting family or friends
6. Work
7. Family reunion
8. Study
9. Other visas – Adoption, Mission, Official visit, re-entry etc

When you apply for your visa, you can choose how many times you can enter the country within the validity of the visa:

1. Single entry – you can enter once
2. Double entry – you can enter twice
3. Multiple entry – you can enter as many times as you like

Schengen Visa Application Process at the Embassy of Italy in Manila or the VIA Piasi Center

Visa applications are processed within 15-30 days. Some applications could take longer, for example, citizens of some countries are subject to prior consultation and/or the type of visa you are applying for could take longer to process.

You can apply up to 90 days before the start of your trip, so you should apply well in advance to allow enough time for your application to be processed.

Here are a few steps to help you apply for your Italy visa:

Step 1: Make an Appointment

Making appointments with the embassy or visa application center is generally free and can be done yourself. However, If you are running short of time or not sure which consulate to apply to or have no idea on how to get this done yourself then not to worry, we will make the appointment for you for a small service fee!

Booking a visa appointment using our services is pretty simple! All you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the link to schedule the visa appointment
2. Submit the appointment details, visa you are applying for, consulate you need the appointment for, the country you need the appointment IN and make the payment
3. Receive appointment confirmation in email

You can also make an appointment on your own by following the steps below:

The first thing you need to do is to make an appointment in order to submit your application to the embassy in Manila.

1. Go to the embassy’s website and click on: “Visas”
2. Scroll down to “Where to apply for a visa in the Philippines” and click on the link for scheduling an appointment
3. You will be directed to the embassy’s online booking system – Prenota Online
4. Click on: “New user registration” and input the required information
5. Then, you will be able to log in and make a convenient day and time for your appointment

If you plan to submit your application to the VIA visa application center, there is no need to make a prearranged appointment although you can if you wish to do so. If you want to just walk-in to hand over your application, you can do this during opening hours:

1. Monday to Friday, 8.00 am to 2.00 pm

Please be aware that there may be appointment waiting times if you wish to submit your application directly to the embassy. It may be quicker to deal with VIA Piasi Center as you do NOT need an appointment.

Step 2: Complete your application form

If you are applying through the embassy, the relevant application forms can be found on their website. Click on: “Visas”:

Scroll down, and you will find the relevant links for the application forms:

1. Schengen visa application form
2. National visa application form

You will need to download the form, so you can print and complete it. Make sure you sign the form before you submit it.

If you are applying through VIA Piasi Center, you can complete your application online. Go to their website and click on: “Online application” and choose either short-term or long-term:

You will be directed to the online system where you can complete your application. Remember to print the form and sign it.

Step 3: Prepare your documents

It’s a good idea to spend time looking at the requirements for the type of visa you are applying for. If your hand over an application with anything missing, it could be rejected.

Document checklists can be found on both the embassy’s website and VIA Piasi Center’s website.

Documents include:

1. Visa application form
2. 1 recent passport-sized or 2×2 colored photo
3. Old (if applicable) and current valid passport – expiry date is 3-6 months longer than the end of your trip. (Please note, the Philippines Bureau of Immigration may require your passport to be valid for 6 months past your trip)
4. Photocopy of the biographical page and last page of the valid passport, previous visa and immigration stamps in all countries
5. Complete itinerary
6. Confirmed round trip flight booking
7. Proof of financial means – title-deed (if relevant); 6 x bank statements; credit cards statements, properties, land titles etc. For minors: proof of economic means of parents or legal guardian
8. Proof of occupation – if employed, certificate of employment & approved leave of absence and income tax return; if self-employed, business license/permits, business registration and financial statement/income tax return; for students, certificate of enrollment and approved leave of absence
9. Schengen Travel health insurance with coverage of at least €30,000 valid for 15 days beyond travel period. Must cover expenses for emergency hospitalization and repatriation expenses, valid throughout the Schengen area
10. Hotel booking OR letter of invitation with ID from inviting person
11. Proof of family ties
12. Birth certificate/marriage certificate
13. For all minors & students – notarized affidavit of support and consent from both parents
14. If not a Filipino citizen, proof of residency in the Philippines
15. Proof of participation in any type of event
16. Proof of work permit/employment contract

If you’re planning to obtain your flight reservation for visa without paying for the ticket, all you have to do is follow the 3 simple steps below:

1. Visit the Visa Reservation website to choose the right package
2.  Submit the travel details and make the payment online
3. Receive flight itinerary in email

Step 4: Attend your appointment

On the day of your appointment, go to the embassy or the visa application center where you will submit your visa application and supporting documents.

Remember to take all your documents with you because your application cannot be processed without them. In addition, arrive early to avoid missing your appointment and having to reschedule which could delay your plans. It’s also a good idea to dress smartly to make a good impression.

The visa officer will look through your application and documents and they may ask you questions regarding the information you have provided. If this happens, don’t panic, just answer politely and whatever you do, be honest.

Typical questions include:

1. Have you ever traveled to the EU before?
2. What do you know about Italy?
3. Why do you need a 3 month visa?
4. Are you married?
5. What are your plans when you arrive in Italy?

Don’t jeopardize your Schengen visa interview at the last minute. Use this comprehensive and thorough visa interview guide to crack the visa interview!

You will also pay the fee for your visa. If you are submitting your application to VIA Piasi center, there are additional service fees:

1. Visa lodgement and biometric service: 1,350 PHP per application
2. Courier service (for no biometric required applications): 1,350 PHP per application (includes round-trip courier fee)
3. Courier fee (one way): 215 PHP
4. Submission of additional documents: 75 PHP per transaction

These fees are non-refundable even if your application is rejected.

You may also have to provide biometric data which is a scan of your fingerprints and a photograph. This information is uploaded to the Visa Information System and used by the immigration authorities. If you have previously applied for a Schengen visa and it was approved within the last 5 years, your data can be reused. You may also have the option of sending your application by mail rather than appearing in person. You should contact the embassy or VIA Piasi Center to see if this is possible.

Step 5: Receive your visa

When a decision about your application has been made, you will be notified and you can collect your passport from the embassy or visa application center or have it mailed back to you.

If your visa has been approved, you will find it inside your passport. If it has been rejected, it would have been for a specific reason. You can apply again or appeal within 60 days.

Common rejection reasons include:

1. Signatures missing – you must sign the application form and any other documents requiring signatures, so check before you hand over your paperwork to the visa office
2. Lack of funds – you must be able to afford your trip to Italy and the documents you provide, such as bank statements or payslips etc., must prove this
3. Purpose of travel is not clear – you must show why you are going to Italy and you can do this by providing specific evidence such as itinerary, work contract, proof of enrollment etc
4. Invalid passport – if your passport is invalid in any way (see above requirements) you must obtain a new one BEFORE applying for your visa

Contact details for the Embassy of Italy in Manila

Address: 6/F Zeta II Bldg. 191 Salcedo St., Legaspi Village, Makati City, Manila

Telephone: 0063 (0)2 815 6527

Fax: 0063 (0)2  817 1436

Email: visti.manila@esteri.it

Hours: (for submission of applications)

Monday: 9.00 am – 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm – 5.30 pm

Tuesday: 9.00 am – 2.00 pm

Wednesday: 9.00 am – 1.00 pm and 2.00 pm – 5.30 pm

Thursday: Not available for visa submissions

Friday: 9.00 am – 1.00 pm

Contact details for VIA Piasi Center in Manila

Address: 3rd Floor Allegro Center, Chino Roces Ave, Makati, 2284 Metro Manila

Telephone: +632-845-9200 / +632-845-9215

Email: ita_inquiry@via.ph 

Hours: Monday to Friday, 8.00 am – 2.30 pm

Conclusion

There are just 5 easy steps to apply for your Italy Schengen visa from Manila:

1. Make an appointment
2. Complete your application
3. Prepare your documents
4. Attend your appointment
5. Receive your visa

Once you have your visa, you can start packing and looking forward to your trip to the wonderful country of Italy!

At Visa Reservation, we strive to simplify the visa process by providing free visa consultations, cover letter templates and no objection letter templates for our clients from US, UK, Canada, Philippines, India, China, UAE, Europe, Nigeria and globally. We also offer flight itinerary for visa, travel medical insurance, hotel reservations for visa , Book Visa Appointment, Travel Guides, Visa Interview Guides and many more. To learn more about how we can help you with our visa services, please feel free to contact us today.