Italy Visa From India – How to Apply for Italian Schengen Visa Application Requirements Guide

Of all the Schengen countries, Italy has to be one of the most interesting and beautiful destinations you could ever visit. Cities like Rome, Florence, Milan and Naples, are places that you’ll never tire of – with wonderful architecture and historical attractions around every corner, and some of the most delicious food you will ever eat! In this article, learn more about how to apply for an Italy visa from India, Italy visa appointment booking, processing time at the Italy visa application center, flight itinerary for an Italy visa, hotel bookings for an Italy visa, Schengen travel insurance for an Italy visa application, and Italy visa application process in India.

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Italy Schengen Visas

In 2021, 212,806 Italy Schengen visa applications were received by embassies around the world. 20,930 were rejected. The Consulate of Italy in Mumbai received 4,428 applications and rejected 646. The consulate in Kolkata received 689 applications and 153 were rejected. The embassy in New Delhi received 2,275 applications and rejected 1,042.

Applying for an Italy Schengen Visa from India

Applying for an Italy visa from India is easy, however, you must be either:

1. A citizen of India
2. A non-Indian resident who has the legal right to live in India

The place where you reside will determine which visa office will process your application.

1. Applications from the residents of New Delhi, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Chandigarh are to be decided by the Embassy of Italy in New Delhi 
2. Applications from the residents of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Daman and Diu, Dadra, Nagar Haveli, Lakshadweep, Pondicherry are to be decided by the Consulate of Italy in Mumbai
3. Applications from the residents of the States of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Tripura, Sikkim and West Bengal, the Union Territory of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Nepal are to be decided by the Consulate of Italy in Kolkata

The embassy and consulates have outsourced the receipt of visa applications to VFS Global. This means that you will hand in your application to one of VFS offices that are located across India.

Please refer to the relevant VFS Global website for your area.

1. VFS Global for North India
2. VFS Global for West and South India
3. VFS Global for East India and Nepal

Visa applications are processed within 15 days, so you must submit your application at least 15 days before your travel date. Please note, the processing time can be extended if further checks are required. You can submit your application up to 6 months ahead, so apply in plenty of time to avoid the disappointment of not obtaining your visa in time for your trip.

Types of Schengen visas offered at The Embassy and Consulates of Italy in India

Depending on your reason for going to Italy, there are different visas you can apply for:

1. Uniform Schengen Visa (short-stay) – for tourism, visiting family/friends, study up to 90 days
2. Airport Transit visa (short-stay) – if you are traveling through Italy on the way to another destination
3. National (D) Visa (long-stay) – for intended stays of more than 90 days, typically issued for family reunion, study or employment

How Can I Apply for an Italy Schengen Visa from VFS Global in India?

There are several steps to follow when you apply for your visa.

1. Step 1 – Identify visa type
2. Step 2 – Begin your application
3. Step 3 – Book an appointment
4. Step 4 – Pay your fees
5. Step 5 – Visit a Visa Application Center
6. Step 6 – Track your application
7. Step 7 – Collect your passport

Step 1 – Identify visa type

Go to VFS Global’s website and click on “Start now”:

Go to “step 1 – identify visa type” and click on the relevant link depending on your location:

Select the visa you are applying for:

You will then be presented with information regarding fees, required documents, forms etc. Read the information in full before proceeding to the next step:

Step 2 – Begin your application

To begin your application, you can download the application form from VFS Global’s website. Click on the “application form” tab and you can save the form to your computer:

You should complete the form and take it to VFS Global for submission.

Remember to go to the correct website based on your location as each office has different requirements. For example:

1. If you live in the Western or Southern part of India – the Consulate General of Italy in Mumbai can only accept visa applications only when submitted a certain number of days prior to travel. Check their website for more information
2. If you live in the Eastern part of India – if you choose to apply within 15 working days prior to the date of departure, you’ll need to sign a declaration form. Plus, the Consulate General of Italy in Kolkata can’t accept passports that contain any written observations

It is your responsibility to comply with the requirements of each of the visa offices, so it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with what these are before applying.

Step 3 – Book an appointment

Making appointments with the embassy, consulate 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 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, the 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.

1. Go to VFS Global’s website and click on “start now”
2. Go to “step 3” and click on the link to book an appointment
3. Click on the link to book now
4. Create an account with VFS Global
5. Log in and make your appointment
6. Receive an appointment confirmation email along with an attached appointment confirmation letter

Please note, if you live in the Western or Southern part of India, call VFS Global on 022-67866004 to book an appointment.

Step 4 – Pay your fees

The visa fee is paid by demand draft made out to – ‘VFS GLOBAL SERVICES PRIVATE LIMITED’.

If you are applying at VFS Global in Delhi, Jaipur, Chandigarh, Gurgaon & Jalandhar, you have the option to pay in cash. If you pay in cash, there is a convenience charge of INR 169 which you will pay on top of the visa fee.

In addition, there is a VFS service charge of INR 758 which can be paid in cash/online/debit or credit card.

The visa fee and service charges are not refunded if your application is refused by the Embassy of Italy, or if you withdraw your application while it is being processed.

Step 5 – Visit a visa application center

When you are ready to submit your application to VFS Global in your chosen location, there are a few things to bear in mind:

1. Don’t be late for your appointment. If you miss your appointment on the scheduled day, you will need to book a new appointment after 24 hours from your original appointment date
2. Aim to arrive 15 minutes before your appointment
3. You cannot send someone in your place, you must attend the appointment in person
4. Only applicants are permitted to enter the office of VFS Global
5. Take a printed copy of your visa application, 2D barcoded sheets (2 copies), passport bio page (2 copies), as well as a valid passport or travel document with at least 2 pages that are blank on both sides
6. Take all supporting documentation (originals and copies)
7. If you haven’t paid your visa fee online, you can pay your fees once you get to the center
8. At the center, you will also need to submit your fingerprints and photograph. This is known as biometric information collection. A digital finger scanner collects images of all 10 digits, and you will have a digital photo taken. Without biometrics information, your visa application will not be processed

You may also be asked questions about your application. Typical questions include:

1. Where do you get your income from?
2. Are you going to any other countries in the Schengen Area?
3. Are you going to work in Italy?
4. Do you know anyone 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!

Step 6 – Track your application

Go to “step 6 – track your application” and click on the link:

Use the reference number on the invoice/receipt issued by VFS Global, along with your date of birth:

Step 7 – Collect your passport

The decision will be either:

1. Accepted – you will find your visa attached to one of the pages in your passport
2. Rejected – if your application is rejected, you can appeal the decision within 60 days or make a new application. Take a look at the embassy’s website for more information
   

There are different reasons why an application may get rejected including:

1. Documents missing – you must provide all documents which are relevant to your application. It is your responsibility to make sure you submit a complete application
2. Photograph is older than 6 months – the photo you provide must have been taken within the last 6 months to show an up-to-date likeness of the person applying for the visa
3. Proof of social/professional status not included – you must provide evidence to prove your social or professional status, for example, payslips, pension income, leave authorization etc
4. Passport not valid – your passport must be in date, issued within the last 10 years and have 2 blank pages. If your passport does not satisfy ALL of these requirements, you must get a new one before applying for your visa

Documents Required

There are document checklists on VFS Global’s website. Requirements are different for each type of visa, so make sure you refer to the correct checklist. You should also submit photocopies along with original documents.

Documents include:

1. Application form fully completed and signed
2. One recent passport-size photograph (white background) – (see full photograph specifications)
   
3. Passport/Travel Document – must be valid for a minimum of three months after the intended stay with at least two blank pages. It must have been issued within the past 10 years and its validity must not exceed 10 years
4. Overseas travel insurance with minimum coverage of Euro 30,000 – for emergency hospital and repatriation expenses
5. Travel itinerary with travel dates, including a return flight reservation or ticket (Please mention if any other country/countries are to be covered during the entire trip).
6. Two photocopies of your passport
7. Proof of social or professional status – evidence of working/business activity or evidence of source of income, leave authorization from employer; salary slips
8. Proof of financial means – last 3 months’ salary slips/certificates; status of personal bank account for the last six months & letter from the bank or stamped bank statements or credit card statements OR bank guarantee ( “fide jussione bancaria”) from sponsor in Italy (if any) covering the expenses for the duration of stay
9. Proof of accommodation – confirmed hotel reservations or invitation letter from the sponsor in Italy
10. For minors – application to be signed by both parents, parental consent and parent (s) ID
11. Proof of work in Italy – Photocopy of “Autorizzazione al lavoro subordinato” (Authorization for dependent work)
12. Confirmation receipt of enrolment & original letter of admission from University/Institute in Italy (if going to Italy for study)
    

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

COVID REGULATIONS

All restrictions for Italy in response to COVID-19 have been lifted, but it’s a good idea to keep up to date with the latest entry requirements before you travel.