If you would like to travel to Italy, depending on your citizenship, the duration and purpose of your stay, a visa may be required before departure.
There are two main visa categories:
SCHENGEN VISA
The Schengen Visa is a visa issued by this Consulate, valid for a maximum of 90 days, which allows the visa holder to travel in all of the 27 European Countries that signed the Schengen Agreement, namely: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland. – If you intend to visit one or more Schengen Countries in the course of a single trip, you must apply for a visa at the Consulate of the Country that is your main destination (i.e. where you will stay longer). – If, in the course of your trip, you will spend an equal amount of time in different Countries, the visa MUST be requested at the Consulate of the Schengen Country port of entry.
Please note that border authorities may refuse entry to a foreign national who does not meet all requirements.
NATIONAL VISA
The National Visa is a long-term visa (over 90 days) issued at the Italian Consulate for various purposes (elective residency, work, study, family reasons, diplomatic reasons, mission, adoption, etc.). – This type of visa allows a foreign national, who is awaiting a residency permit in Italy, to move freely within any other Schengen Country for up to a maximum of 90 days within 6 months from the initial date of validity of the visa. – A foreign national who has been granted an Italian National Visa must report to the Questura (Central Police Station) within 8 working days from the date of entry to apply for a permesso di soggiorno (residence permit). Please note that failing to report to the Questura might compromise your ability to legally reside in Italy.
DO YOU NEED A VISA?
To find out whether you need to apply for a visa click here.
If a visa is required, please follow this link to schedule an appointment online
For additional information on the individual types of visa please visit our “Modulistica” page.
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT, AT THE TIME OF YOUR APPOINTMENT, YOUR APPLICATION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED UNLESS IT IS PRESENTED WITH ALL REQUIRED DOCUMENTS. IF THE ITEMS LISTED IN THE RELEVANT CHECK LIST ARE NOT PRESENTED, THE APPLICANT WILL HAVE TO RESCHEDUELE A NEW APPOINTMENT.
We also recommend to carefully read our FAQs page
Please note that visa officers may request additional documents at their discretion based on the information received during the interview with the applicant.
NEWS – Following the recent amendment to the Immigration Consolidation Act (“TUI” Legislative Decree 286/1998, article 26-bis), foreign nationals who intend to make an investment in Italy are allowed entry and stay in the country through a simplified procedure for the issuance of their visa.
The “investor visa” is not subject to the annual limits on entries (“quotas”) referred to in the aforementioned Immigration Consolidation Act.
For more information and submission of applications, please consult the website https://investorvisa.mise.gov.it/index.php/it/
For information on visas not listed on this page, please contact the Consular Office by e-mail: visti.washington@esteri.it
February 25, 2026