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Tourism and transit

SCHENGEN TOURIST AND TRANSIT VISA REQUIREMENTS

All documents must be presented in original and photocopy

Applicants should provide:

1. Schengen Visa application form (short term) duly filled and signed

2. Recent passport-style photo (3.5 cm x 4.5 cm or 1”3/8 x 1”3/4, full front and white background)

3. IDs and Travel Documents:

  • Passport (and copy of relevant pages) or travel document 90 days beyond the intended departure date from the Schengen area. Passports issued more than 10 years before the dates of travel cannot be accepted. Passports must have at least two empty ‘visa’ pages.
  • US Visas or other Immigration Documents: Alien Registration Card or a valid US INS visa and US government supporting documents, i.e.: Advanced Parole, IAP66, I20 and copies (plus enrollment verification letter and school ID), I797 – any visa or permit with the exception of B1-B2 – with a validity of at least 90 days beyond the intended departure from the Schengen Area.
  • Proof or residence in the Consular Jurisdiction: driver’s license or State ID, or State Income tax or copy of lease or last three months utility bills.
  • Copy of previous Schengen Visas (if any) issued in the past five years

4. Complete round trip flight reservations from the U.S/Bermuda to the Schengen Area; if planning to travel across different Schengen Countries, applicants are required to bring also flight/train tickets to/from each Country

5. Proof of available lodging in Italy: tourist vouchers, hotel bookings, etc. If planning to stay at a relative’s place, applicants will have to provide at the time of the interview a duly filled, signed and dated host declaration, along with copy of the host’s documents (if the host is a EU Citizen: ID card or passport; if the host is NOT a EU Citizen: copy of permit of stay will have to be provided along with passport and ID).

6. Proof of economic means of support (as per the Direttiva del Ministero Dell’Interno 1.3.2000): last three months of complete checking bank statements of the account(s) the applicant receives their paychecks on. If the applicant has more than one bank account, additional three months complete bank statements can be accepted (only checking and savings). ALL BANK ACCOUNTS MUST BE IN THE US.

7. Source of income supporting documents:

  1. Employed applicants should provide: recent letter of references from their employer, which must include employment start date, job title, annual salary and approval of vacation period (with dates). Employed applicants must also provide their last three pay stubs;
  2. Self-employed applicants should provide: articles on incorporation, 1099, last three months of complete business bank statements and personal bank statements, copy of business income tax
  3. Retired applicants: proof of pension (letter from Social Security, letter from former employer, etc.). PENSIONS MUST BE IN THE US. Foreign pensions are not accepted
  4. Unemployed applicants:
    • Dependent spouses should provide: spouse’s employment and income information (employment letter, last three pay stubs, three months of bank statements), joint income tax return and affidavit of support filed by the sponsoring spouse and notarized by a Notary Public. If filing taxes separately, applicants must their marriage certificate in original and in copy. Certificates issued by a foreign non – U.S. Authority will have to be translated and legalized by the Italian Consular Office of the issuing Country;
    • Dependent children should provide: parents’ employment and income information (employment letter, last three pay stubs, three months of bank statements), income tax return and affidavit of support filed by the sponsoring parent(s) and notarized by a Notary Public. Applicants are also required to please provide original (plus one copy) their birth certificate showing both their parents’ names. Certificates issued by a foreign non – U.S. Authority will have to be translated and legalized by the Italian Consular Office of the issuing Country;
    • Dependent parents or other next of kin relatives (brothers and sisters): applications of such nature will be reviewed on a case by case basis. As a general rule, applicant will be required to provide the sponsoring relative’s employment and income information (employment letter, last three pay stubs, three months of bank statements), along with notarized affidavit of support and birth certificate(s) and/or complete family vital records. Certificates issued by a foreign non – U.S. Authority will have to be translated and legalized by the Italian Consular Office of the issuing Country;

The Consulate reserves the right to require additional documentation if deemed necessary.

8. Proof of Schengen medical insurance covering the entire period of stay in the Schengen area. Samples of acceptable Schengen insurance showing the complete and correct verbiage are available here. Please note that the aforementioned samples are only provided as courtesy and are in no way shape or form recommending or sponsoring any Insurance Company. Applicants can purchase insurances from any provider of choice and all providers are accepted.

9. For Citizens of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq: Citizens of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq are required to provide their original birth certificate showing both parents’ names; if the certificate is not in English, English translation legalized by the Italian Consular Office of the Country of issue is also required.

10. Visa Fee: Updated fees are available here. Visa fees must be paid by money order only.

MINOR APPLICANTS

When applying for a minor, parents (or legal guardians) are required to follow the following guidelines:

  • Minors cannot apply personally nor book their own appointments; parents or legal guardians are required to act on their behalf.
  • Both the parents required to come at the Consular interview together with the minor. Divorce or marital separation do not automatically grant the designated custodian parent sole authority over the minor for the purpose of applying for a Visa.

In addition to the documents listed in points 1-9, the following documents are required:

  • Birth certificate showing both parents’ names in original plus one copy; if the certificate is not in English, English translation legalized by the Italian Consular Office of the Country of issue is also required;
  • Notarized letter(s) signed from both parents granting permission to travel and assumption of financial responsibility for the entire duration of the travelling period (if not travelling with both parents); if one of the parents lives outside of the US, such letter has to be legalized by the Italian Consular Office of the Country of Issue;

If travelling without any parent or legal guardian i.e. on a school trip) the additional following documents are also required:

  • Letter from the School with detailed itinerary and chaperones;
  • Parental consent to travel signed by both parents with the name of the designated chaperone; if one of the parents lives outside of the US, their document has to be legalized by the Italian Consular Office of the Country of Issue;
  • Assumption of responsibility signed by the designated chaperone and legalized

Consular Officials have full authority in conducting the interview and reserve the right to request additional documents if deemed necessary.

Applicants are required to come to the Consular Interview prepared and with complete applications; missing documentation may result in the impossibility to submit the application the day of the interview.

Consular Officials are not responsible for, cannot guarantee the processing time of applications not the final approval of a Visa by the Visa Commission.

The Visa Office does not return documents nor makes copies of originals; it is the applicant’s responsibility to provide copies of important documents they may need to keep.