GENERAL INFORMATION
The Schengen area includes the following countries: Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.
Citizens of countries belonging to the European Union do not need visas for any Schengen Country. Citizens of the Countries listed below DO NOT require visas when visiting the Schengen area for tourism, official or business stays up to 90 days:
ANDORRA, ANTIGUA, ARGENTINA, AUSTRALIA, BAHAMAS, BARBADOS, BRAZIL, BRUNEI, BULGARIA, CANADA, CHILE, COSTA RICA, CROATIA, CYPRUS, EL SALVADOR, GUATEMALA, HONDURAS, ISRAEL, JAPAN, LIECHTENSTEIN, MALAYSIA, MAURITIUS, MEXICO, MONACO, NEW ZEALAND, NICARAGUA, PANAMA, PARAGUAY, SAN MARINO, SEYCHELLES, SINGAPORE, SOUTH KOREA, ST KITTIS-NEVIS, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, URUGUAY, VATICAN CITY, VENEZUELA.
As of December 19, 2009 citizens of the following countries DO NOT require a visa when visiting the Schengen Area countries for a stay of up to 90 days per semester ONLY if traveling with a biometric passport: MACEDONIA, MONTENEGRO, SERBIA*.
*Serbian citizens holders of Serbian passports issued by Koordinaciona upreva, MUST appy for a Schengen visa
Citizens of Bermuda
Those who need a visa are:
British citizens who are not nationals of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the purposes of Community law:
- British Overseas Territories Citizens who do not have the right of abode in the United Kingdom;
- British Overseas Citizens;
- British Subjects who do not have the right of abode in the United Kingdom;
- British Protected Persons;
Those who do not need a visa are:
British citizens who are not nationals of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for the purposes of Community law:
- British Nationals (Overseas).
------------------------------------------
Foreigners who visit Italy for business, tourism and study for up to 90 days must not apply for a permesso di soggiorno (residence permit). All the other visitors must request a permesso di soggiorno within 8 days from their arrival in Italy.
U.S. Citizens do not require visas when visiting Italy with Diplomatic or Official Passports for official stays of 90 days or less.
Citizens of the Countries not listed above do need a visa to enter the Schengen area, even if they are legal residents of the United States of America.
Therefore if:
- Italy is your main destination;
- You are visiting different Countries in the Schengen area, but Italy is the Country in the Schengen area where you will be spending most of the time (number of days);
- You are visiting different Countries in the Schengen area, but you are spending an equal number of days in each Country, and Italy is your first port of entry in the Schengen area;
YOU MUST APPEAR IN PERSON to apply for a VISA
JURISDICTION:
We only accept applications from residents of the States of New York, Connecticut and the following New Jersey Counties: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, Warren.
Students enrolled full-time at a University located in our jurisdiction meet the residence requirement.
Please follow this link if you reside outside our jurisdiction: Italian Consular Offices in the US.
PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS:
Your passport must be valid at least 3 months beyond the date of your return to the United States. It must have at least one blank page for the visa sticker.
LEGAL STATUS:
Only holders of one of the following documents may apply for a visa:
- U.S. Passport (when visa waiver is not applicable, i.e. for long term stay);
- U.S. Permanent Resident Card (formerly Green Card), foreign students holding valid visas and valid I-20, exchange visitors holding valid visas and I-66;
- Long term visas except B1/B2. Holders of B1/B2 Visa can only apply for air transit visas if necessary.
PROCESSING TIME:
Depending on your nationality and the documents presented, it can take between 2 and 15 days and over (from the day the application is complete) to issue a visa.
Please note that processing for holders of US travel documents requires at least 15 days.
Urgent processing is not considered by the Schengen visa procedure.
Applications cannot be accepted if filed earlier than 90 calendar days from the departure date.
MINOR APPLICANTS:
For minor applicants, the following certification is needed:
- Authorization to travel signed by both parents. Both parents should appear in person before the VISA officer.
- birth certificate, original or a notarized copy. Foreign (i.e. non US) birth certificates must be translated by the competent Consulate;
- Copies of both parents' picture I.D.
Children under 10 do not need to appear personally.
All foreign documents MUST be translated into English and the translations legalized by the competent Consulate.
Map | Disclaimer | Credits | F.A.Q.