General Information and VFS centres
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 26 European Countries that signed the Schengen Agreement, namely: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, 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 the 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 by at the Italian Consulate for various purposes (elective residency, work, study, family reunion, diplomatic or military 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.
ELIGIBILITY
Do you need a visa? https://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/home/en
Legal status in the UK: Passports, travel documents and residence cards must have a validity of at least three months beyond the last day of your trip in the Schengen Area. In order to apply, you must be resident in the Consular district: England, Wales, Isle of Man, Isle of Wight, Channel Islands, Gibraltar and South Georgia & Sandwich Islands. Please note that applicants not residing in the mentioned area or holders of a UK C-visit visa are not eligible to apply.
APPOINTMENTS
Appointments are processed exclusively at our outsourcing service VFS Global.
Please follow this link to book an appointment http://www.vfsglobal.com/italy/uk/
An extra fee will be applied as service charge.
VFS London
3, 66 Wilson St, Finsbury, London EC2A 2BT
VFS Manchester
50 Devonshire St N, Manchester M12 6JH
VFS Joint Visa Application Centre
1 Rennie’s Isle, Leith
Edinburgh EH6 6QT
website: https://visa.vfsglobal.com/gbr/en/ita
email: info.itU.K.@vfshelpline.com
Helpline number: 0871 376 0023
PLEASE NOTE
Applicants must always appear in person.
Please, make sure to have all paperwork complete and in order before coming to the visa office to apply for the type of visa you wish to request. All documents must be printed out and presented in original plus a photocopy where required. This office does not make photocopies on your behalf.
Be aware that at the time of your appointment, your application will not be accepted unless presented with all required documents. If the items listed in the relevant visa category are not presented, the applicant will have to reschedule a new appointment.
This consular administration has full authority to evaluate and request additional documentation, if deemed necessary, in addition to what has been submitted. Furthermore, the applicant, is hereby informed that submitting all the required documentation, does not guarantee the issuance of any particular visa.
PASSPORTS AND TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Before applying for your visa, make sure those documents have a validity of at least three months beyond the last day of your trip in the Schengen Area and at least two empty ‘VISA’ pages. The passport will be kept and returned with the visa, if approved. Therefore, passport’s withdrawal is not allowed.
Citizens of Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine and Travel Documents holders (with the three letters code XXA or XXB appearing in the ICAO) need to provide full names of mother and father and it must result from a birth certificate or Consular declaration.
CERTIFICATES:
a. Marriage/civil partnership certificates older than 6 months will NOT be accepted.
b. Certificates issued by a foreign authority other than the UK, MUST be translated in English or Italian and legalised by the Italian Consular Office of the issuing Country OR by the Consular Authority in the UK of the issuing Country.
c. Certificates issued by one of the Schengen countries will be accepted only if multilingual, otherwise please refer to second note.
- Please note that for minors:
- If one or both parents do not appear in person on the application day, a parental consent notarised by a UK notary is mandatory.
- If the parents live abroad, the consent must be notarised by the Italian Consulate of their country of residence. This also applies when parents living abroad nominate a guardian;
- a photocopy of both parents’ passports must be provided.
PROCESSING TIME: Generally, varies from 2 to 15 days depending on the type of visa and citizenship of the applicant. It can take up to 45 days for Schengen Visa and up to 90 days for National Visa.
Please be aware that it is not possible to rush processing time because the system is completely automated.
You can apply for a visa no more than six months before the start of the intended visit, and no later than 15 calendar days before the start of the intended visit; the seafarers, in the performance of their duties, no more than 9 months in advance to the intended travel date are issued at the discretion of the Consulate upon fulfilments of all requirements provided by the Law.
VISA FEE: Visa fees are payable only in cash and in British Pounds at the Visa Office of this General Consulate.
Visa fees at our VFS centres can be paid both in cash and card in British Pounds only.
RECEIVING YOUR PASSPORT: Passports at the Visa Office of this General Consulate will be returned by post. On the day of your appointment you will need to provide a pre-paid envelope, in order for the passport to be sent to you once the visa has been processed. Furthermore, you will need to submit an assumption of responsibility for posting passports [click here].
Passport at our VFS centres can be both collected and posted.
FORMS
Schengen visa [click here]
National visa [click here]
Proof of sponsorship and/or accommodation [click here]
Business invitation letter [click here]
EU partner sponsorship letter [click here]