Italian Business Visa
Tourism has encountered an enormous boost in Italy and the country had been able to improve its socio-economic situation due to its prosperous hospitality sphere. The national government, in order to guarantee the security of the foreign tourists and provide better law and order, enhanced a tangled way of getting visas for the British residents. We are more than happy to share a detailed clear procedure on how to obtain an Italian visa in 2022.
Visa to ItalyLet’s consider this:
Introduction
1. Top questions
1.1 What is a visa & who needs to get it?
1.2 What Business Visa is to enter Italy?
1.3 How long is a Business Visa valid for?
1.4 When should I start applying to get a Business Visa?
1.5 How long does it take to get an Italian Business Visa?
1.6 Where is the Business Visa processed?
1.7 How much does it cost to obtain an Italian Business Visa?
1.8 How to pay?
2. Application process
2.1 Documents to apply for an Italian Business Visa
2.2 Steps to apply for an Italian Business Visa
In overall
The boom in the number of international travelers in Italy has led to numerous benefits in terms of local business & study generation. This is also linked to global funding and infrastructure improvement. In parallel, there is an issue about their influence on the local population in Italy. While questions have been raised on the detrimental effects alongside the increase in the Italian travel industry, it is of high importance to say that, by enforcing strict law and order and implementing clear and transparent legislation, authorities may regulate most of these bad effects of trips to Italy. For this reason, certain visa requirements have brought innumerable perks to Italy and especially the local citizens. On the other side, we are sure that the procedure of obtaining a visa to enter Italy is not an as complicated thing as it seems to be. Let’s start to answer as well as get the responses to some questions to find out the Italian visa application process.
1. Top questions
1.1 What is a visa & who needs to get it?
According to Wikipedia definition, a visa is a permit given by Italy that allows someone to fly, stay in, or pass through the border of Italy. This document is stamped on one’s passport by a Visa Application Center. It goes without saying, there is the type of visit and the duration of staying in the country. In rare cases, people have to be interviewed at the Visa Application Center before they obtain a visa. Henceforth, it can be confidently conveyed that some categories of citizens who reside in the UK are offered visa-free conditions to see Italy.
British citizens are exempted from visas for short stay visits to the Schengen area (up to 90 days in any 180 days period) but will require a visa if staying more than 90 days in Italy. On the other side, if you do not hold a UK passport or a BOTC, BOC, BPP, or BS passport meaning that you are a UK resident there is a need to get an Italian Schengen visa to visit Italy.
Please, take a look at the tables to check out whether your nationality requires you to apply for an Italian visa or not.
[expand title=”The countries whose citizens are required to get an Italian visa in order to enter there are”]
| A | |||||
| Afghanistan | Algeria | Angola | Armenia | Azerbaijan | |
| B | |||||
| Bahrain | Bangladesh | Belarus | Belize | ||
| Benin | Bhutan | Bolivia | Botswana | ||
| Burkina Faso | Burma/Myanmar | Burundi | |||
| C | |||||
| Cambodia | Cameroon | Cape Verde | Central African Republic | Chad | |
| China | Comoros | Congo | Cote D’ivoire | Cuba | |
| D | |||||
| Dem. Rep. Of Congo | Djibouti | Dominican Republic | |||
| E | |||||
| Ecuador | Egypt | Equatorial Guinea | Eritrea | Ethiopia | |
| F | |||||
| Fiji | |||||
| G | |||||
| Gabon | Gambia | Ghana | Guinea | Guinea-Bissau | Guyana |
| H | |||||
| Haiti | |||||
| I | |||||
| India | Indonesia | Iran | Iraq | ||
| J | |||||
| Jamaica | Jordan | ||||
| K | |||||
| Kazakhstan | Kenya | Kosovo | Kuwait | Kyrgyzstan | |
| L | |||||
| Laos | Lebanon | Lesotho | Liberia | Libya | |
| M | |||||
| Madagascar | Malawi | Maldives | Mali | ||
| Mauritania | Mongolia | Morocco | Mozambique | ||
| N | |||||
| Namibia | Nepal | Niger | Nigeria | Northern Mariana’s | North Korea |
| O | |||||
| Oman | |||||
| P | |||||
| Pakistan | Papua New Guinea | Palestinian Authority | Philippines | ||
| Q | |||||
| Qatar | |||||
| R | |||||
| Russia | Rwanda | ||||
| S | |||||
| Sao Tome And Principe | Saudi Arabia | Senegal | Sierra Leone | ||
| Somalia | South Africa | South Sudan | Sri Lanka | ||
| Sudan | Suriname | Swaziland | Syria | ||
| T | |||||
| Tajikistan | Tanzania | Thailand | Timor-Leste | ||
| Togo | Tonga | Tunisia | Turkey | ||
| Turkmenistan | |||||
| U | |||||
| Uganda | Uzbekistan | ||||
| V | |||||
| Vietnam | |||||
| Y | |||||
| Yemen | |||||
| Z | |||||
| Zambia | Zimbabwe |
[/expand]
With the primary condition such as a UK residence permit valid for at least another three more months beyond the date you plan to leave Italy / the Schengen Area comes a plethora of benefits like you can live in Italy for less than 90 days but if your idea is about staying in Italy for more than 90 days, then there is a need to apply for a residency permit, not an Italian Schengen visa.
If you have a 3 month UK visa, you can extend it for three more months to be eligible to apply for an Italian Schengen visa from within the UK. You must apply for an extension before your visa expires and while you’re still in the UK.
1.2 What Business Visa is to enter Italy?
This kind of visa is made for traveling to Italy that is to attend or participate in trade fairs, seminars, or conferences related to your professional activity. In this case, you are replying to invitations and requests from your partners in Italy.
1.3 How long is a Business Visa valid for?
Once again, a valid period of business visa can not exceed 90 days. To achieve a business stay in Italy you should prove the link between your professional activity and the purpose of your travel.
1.4 When should I start applying to get a Business Visa?
The earliest period within which you can submit your business visa application is 3 months before your trip to Italy.
The latest period within which you can submit your business visa application is 15 working days before your trip to Italy.
But we totally recommend you submit your application about 3 weeks before your traveling date to let the consulate or embassy have time to process your visa.
1.5 How long does it take to get an Italian Business Visa?
In common cases, the processing time for a Business visa is 10 business days.
On the other side, depending on the individual case or the complicated political situation, an Italian Business Visa might be processed longer.
1.6 Where is the Business Visa processed?
IF YOU VISIT ONLY ITALY THEN you need to submit your application at the Italian Visa Center IN THE UK.
IF YOU VISIT MORE COUNTRIES THAN ITALY THEN you need to submit your application at the Visa Center IN THE COUNTRY:
– you will be spending more days;
– you will come in first since you plan to spend an equal amount of days in each.
VFS Center’s official website pageA VISA APPLICATION CENTER IN LONDON – VFS JOINT VISA APPLICATION CENTRE
Address:
66 Wilson Street
London
EC2A 2JX
Contact details:
email: info.ituk@vfshelpline.com
Helpline number: 0871 376 0023
However, to meet the skyrocketing demand for Italian Visas, the Italian Embassy outsourced its Visa Application Processing to the Italian Visa Centers in London. To be added, a Visa Application Centre is a special third-party service provider authorized to accept visa applications on behalf of a country. It should transmit the information on the applicant and their application to the responsible body for visa processing which is the embassy or consulate of the applicant’s destination country. Our company is ready to help you with filling and sending the necessary documents to the Visa Application Center. Thus, at present, our company corrects and sends the documents to get Italian Visas through VFS Visa Application Center.
1.7 How much does it cost to obtain an Italian Business Visa?
The cost for processing a visa is totally different for some categories of UK residents:
– 73 UK pounds is the actual visa processing fee for adults;
– 36,5 UK pounds is the actual visa processing fee for the 6-12 years old kids.
There is no fee to be paid for the next categories of UK residents:
– the kids younger than 6 years of age;
– holders of diplomatic, official, or service passports traveling for official purposes;
– a family member of an EU/EEA national;
– pupils, students, and accompanying teachers during a school trip;
– researchers traveling to Italy to perform scientific research;
The visa fee may also be waived for participants aged 25 years or less in seminars, conferences, sports, cultural or educational events, organized by non-profit organizations. The decision will be made case by case according to the relevance of the event.
1.8 How to pay?
You have the option of paying the visa fees by cash or Credit/ Debit card when applying at the Visa Application Centre. Checks are not accepted.
2. Application process
2.1 Documents to apply for an Italian Business Visa
When applying for an Italian Business Visa, you must provide the next documents:
FIRST DOCUMENT – VISA APPLICATION FORM
You need to fill in your Short-stay Visa Application Form legibly, and correctly, sign it, and be aware that addresses in Italy must specify the number, street name, city, and postal code.
Please make use of the following table to fill in the form correctly:
| The appropriate Form Section | Our explanation of each Form Section |
| Surname | Fill in your name like it is on your passport (do not write “married name” and your husband name) |
| Surname at birth | Write the name you had at your birth if different than your current surname |
| First Name (s) | Write your first name like it is on your passport |
| Date of birth | Fill in your date of birth like this: day/month/year |
| Place of birth | Fill in your place of birth like it is on your passport |
| Country of birth | Fill in your country of birth even there is no it on your passport |
| Current Nationality | Fill in your nationality like it is on your passport |
| Nationality at birth, if different | Fill in your nationality at birth if it is different from the nationality on your passport |
| Other nationalities | |
| Sex | Fill in your male or female gender |
| Marital Status | For a common-law marriage, indicate “common-law marriage” in the section “Other”. For a PACS (Italian civil union contract) with an Italian citizen, indicate “PACS” in the section “Other“ |
| Parental Authority | Fill in the full name, address, telephone number, email address, and nationality of the person who keeps parental authority or legal guardianship |
| National Identity Number | Fill in your national identity number if you have this one |
| Type of travel document | Write the appropriate kind of your travel document |
| Number of travel document | Write the appropriate numbers of your travel document |
| Date of issue | Write the date your passport was issued (not the extension date) |
| Valid until | Write your passport expiration date taking into account the extensions |
| Issued by | Write the country of issuing your passport and the authority that issued the passport |
| Personal data of the family member who is a European Union, EEA or Swiss Confederation citizen or is a United | Fill in the full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, and relationship only if you are the dependent spouse, child, father, or mother of a person who is a citizen of another State of the European Union. |
| Kingdom citizen beneficiary of the withdrawal agreement, if applicable | |
| Family relationship with an European Union, EEA or Swiss Confederation citizen, or with United Kingdom citizen beneficiary of the withdrawal agreement, if applicable | Fill in the corresponding status |
| Applicant's home address and e-mail address | Write the e-mail address: 1) your own one, either 2) another person one, or 3) company (accordingly, write the name of the mailbox owner). |
| Telephone number | Write your cellular number in your residence country and, where appropriate, in the country where you are submitting your visa application |
| Residence in a country other than the country of current nationality | If you are living in other country you need to write the number of your residence permit and its expiration date |
| Current occupation | Fill in the current occupation like it is on the passport, for example: “professor” or “retired (former designer)”. If you have no occupation, write “no occupation” |
| Employer and employer's address and telephone number | Fill in the name of the organization (firm, public service, educational institution) where you work or study and its name, address, and telephone number |
| For students, name and address of educational establishment | |
| Purpose(s) of the journey | Write the appropriate goal of your travel |
| Member State of main destination (and other Member States of destination, if applicable | Write Italy as your primary destination. If it is a Italian overseas department or territory, write “Italy” and the name of the department or territory |
| Member State of first entry | Fill in “Italy” |
| Number of entries requested | Write your desired number of entries with the dates of arrival and departure |
| Fingerprints collected previously for the purpose of applying for a Schengen visa | If your fingerprints have already been taken for a visa application, write the date |
| Entry permit for the final country of destination, where applicable | Write the number and validity dates for your visa at your final destination, if this country is outside the Schengen area |
| Surname and first name of the inviting person(s) in the Member State(s). Address and e-mail address of inviting person(s). Telephone number | Write the name of the person who invited you, address, e-mail and a phone number |
| Name and address of inviting company / organization, phone number and e-mail number | Write the contact info of the organization that invited you and the contact info for your contact person in the organization |
| Cost of travelling and living during the applicant's stay is covered | Indicate the necessary boxes |
| Place and date | Write the place and date where you are filling in the form, even if this date is different than the day you are going to the visa service |
| Signature | The visa applicant must sign and not another person. If the visa applicant is a minor (under 18), the application must be signed by a person having parental authority and their relationship should be included in parentheses (father, mother, guardian). If the visa applicant cannot sign, a cross may be used |
SECOND DOCUMENT – TWO RECENT PHOTOS
It is recommended to follow all the following Italian Visa Photo Requirements:
– Two identical photos. Not older than six months;
– Photo size: 35x45mm (width*height);
– In color. No black and white;
– Head should take 70-80% of the photo;
– Brightly colored background. Light grey is suggested;
– The applicant should be looking straight at the camera;
– Neutral face expression. No smile and mouth closed;
– Avoid uniforms or colors matching the background.
THIRD DOCUMENT – VALID PASSPORT
Your passport’s maximum validity period: 10 years.
Your passport minimum validity period: 3 months after your trip to Italy. Your passport should have at least two blank pages in order to be able to affix the visa sticker.
FOURTH DOCUMENT – TRAVEL HEALTH INSURANCE
You need to be aware of some travel insurance requirements, such as the following:
– A minimum coverage of at least 30,000 EUR;
– It should cover all member states of the Schengen Area;
Regarding this, it is highly recommended to contact one of the companies like AXA or Europ Assistance.
AXA insurance company pageFIFTH DOCUMENT – A FLIGHT ITINERARY (RESERVATION)
Sometimes you can hear other names of this document like Booked Flight Itinerary, Flight Itinerary for Visa Application, Flight Reservation, Air Ticket Booking, Dummy Air Ticket for Visa, Dummy Ticket, Flight Confirmation, and Return Ticket.
A Flight Itinerary for Visa Application is not an actual air ticket that you spend money for without ensuring that your Italian Visa will not be declined. Flight reservation means a document of a detailed plan of your flight or travel journey to Italy. So, it is only a flight timetable on the chosen flight airline including a flight name, your name, a valid flight reservation number or booking ID, arrival and departure date and airport IATA codes, and the price of a real Flight Ticket.
Getting a Flight Reservation for your visa application is not a price-free matter. It is real to get charged with a small amount of money to be confirmed about your flight. There are not so many air companies to do this for free by not charging you anything until you buy the actual Flight Ticket. But, in the long run, you can try to find some air companies that offer a charge-free Flight Reservation.
SIXTH DOCUMENT – PROOF OF ACCOMMODATION
You are able to select one of the next options to live in Italy while you are doing business:
– hotel booking;
Hotel booking in Italy– letter of invitation from the host at whose house you want to stay;
A house in Italy– rent contract.
SEVENTH DOCUMENT – PROOF OF SUBSISTENT FINANCIAL MEANS
This is a supporting document that demonstrates you have enough money to support yourself when your stay in Italy. Proof of subsistent financial means maybe one of these docs:
– bank account statement;
Bank account statement– sponsorship letter from another person who can financially support your trip to Italy;
– a combination of both.
In other words, there are some recognized docs to use as a proof of subsistent financial means:
– a personal bank statement with your financial affairs for at least 3 last months;
– credit card;
– cash;
– cheques;
– payslips;
– proof of employment;
– document from your sponsor during your stay;
– proof of prepaid accommodation;
– a document about your private accommodation;
– proof of prepaid transport;
– other docs.
Any applicant when applying for Italy Visa should attest to the Italy Visa Application Center possessing this:
– for Stays up to 5 days
The overall amount is 269.60€ /person and 212.81 /for two and more persons.
– for Stays 6-10 days
The daily amount is 44.93€ /person and 26.33€ /two and more persons.
– for Stays 11-20 days
The overall amount is 51.64€/person and 25.82€/ two and more persons, plus the daily amount is 36.67€/person and 22.21€/ two and more persons.
– for Stays over 20 days
The overall amount is 206.58€/person and 118.79€/ two and more persons, plus the daily amount is 27.89€/person and 17,04/ two and more persons.
EIGHTH DOCUMENT – EVIDENCE OF EMPLOYMENT STATUS
In case of your employment:
– employment contract;
– leave permission from the employer;
– current bank statement of the latest 6 months;
– income tax return or certificate of income tax deducted at the source of salary.
In case of your self-employment:
– a copy of your business license;
– company’s bank statement of the latest 6 months;
– your Income Tax Return.
NINTH DOCUMENT – PROOF OF FINANCIAL MEANS FROM ONE OR BOTH PARTIES
You must have this one in the employer’s letter or the partner company’s invitation that one or both parties are ready to cover your travel expenses in Italy.
TENTH DOCUMENT – LETTER FROM YOUR EMPLOYER
This doc should contain your travel goal and the confirmation of the days in Italy.
ELEVENTH DOCUMENT – INVITATION LETTER FROM YOUR PARTNER COMPANY IN ITALY
This doc should be written by your Italian partner and faxed to the consulate so that you could have a chance at any meetings or trade events in your expertise area.
TWELFTH DOCUMENT – YOUR COVER LETTER
This doc needs to explain your goal to come to Italy.
THIRTEENTH DOCUMENT – A SHORT PROFILE OF YOUR WORKPLACE
2.2 Steps to apply for an Italian Business Visa
Irrespective of your visa type, your movements after collecting all the corresponding docs to getting an Italian visa are the same:
FIRST STEP – find out the option of applying – through the Visa Application Center on your own or contact us to help you with filling out the documents.
Your choice of applyingSECOND STEP – figure out the appropriate time to go in person to apply for the Italian Visa.
Your choice of time to come to usTHIRD STEP – make an appointment at the Italian Visa Application Center
There are two options to make an appointment:
– online;
– in person.
Make an appointment at the Italian Visa Application CenterFOURTH STEP – attend the interview with the collected documents.
Your interviewFIFTH STEP – pay the visa fee.
Paying money for your visaSIXTH STEP – wait for a reply from the VFS application center on your visa application.
A reply from the VFS application centerTake note that the visa application form must clearly contain the dates of your visit and which cities you will be staying in. For this reason, it is better to collect your documents and fill in your visa application form once you have all of the information you need for the visa application.
In overall,
We do really hope this article has helped you apply for an Italian visa from the United Kingdom.
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