|
Passport Required? |
Visa Required? |
Return Ticket Required? |
| British |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Australian |
Yes |
No |
No |
| Canadian |
Yes |
No |
No |
| USA |
Yes |
No |
No |
| OtherEU |
1 |
No |
No |
| Japanese |
Yes |
No |
No |
Note:
(a) Italy is a signatory to the
1995 Schengen Agreement. (b) The regulations stated below also apply to San Marino and the Vatican City.
Passports
Passport valid for three months beyond the validity of the visa required by all except:
1. nationals of Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, The Netherlands, Portugal, San Marino, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland who only require a valid national ID card.
Visas
Required by all except the following for stays of up to 90 days:
(a) nationals of countries referred to in the chart above;
(b) nationals of Andorra, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong (SAR), Israel, Korea (Rep), Macau (SAR), Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Romania, San Marino, Singapore, Switzerland, Uruguay, Vatican City and Venezuela;
(c) airport transit passengers continuing their journey to a third country by the same or connecting aircraft within 48 hours, provided holding tickets with reserved seats and valid documents for onward travel (except nationals of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Congo (Dem Rep), Ethiopia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Senegal, Somalia and Sri Lanka, who
always require a visa, unless granted indefinite leave to remain in the UK). As the preceding list is liable to change at short notice, visitors are advised to check transit regulations with the relevant Embassy or Consulate before traveling.
Types of visa and cost
The visa administration fee ranges from £23.60; this must be paid in advance on presentation of the application and is non-refundable even if the visa is not issued.
There are three types of
Schengen visa:
Airport transit and
Transit: £6.70;
Short-stay (for tourism, business and study purposes); £16.80 (for up to 30 days); £23.50 (for over 30 days). Prices are approximate and are subject to frequent change with exchange rates. Visitors are advised to check with the Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see
General Info section.
Note:
Spouses and children of EU nationals (providing spouse’s passport and the original marriage certificate is produced), and nationals of some other countries, receive their visas free of charge (enquire at Embassy for details).
Validity
Short-stay (single- and multiple-entry): valid for six months from date of issue for stays of maximum three months per entry.
Transit (single- and multiple-entry): valid for five days with up to two entries. Visas cannot be extended and a new application must be made each time.
Application to
Consulate (or Consular section at your nearest Embassy - Bedford, Edinburgh, Manchester and London); see
General Info section. Postal applications are not accepted. Because of the high volume of visa applications an appointment system has been introduced. Appointments must be made via the 24-hour call line 09065 540 707 (call charged at £1 per minute). Admission without an appointment is not permitted. Travelers visiting just one Schengen country should apply to the Consulate of that country; travelers visiting more than one Schengen country should apply to the Consulate of the country chosen as the main destination
or the country they will enter first (if they have no main destination).
Application requirements
Tourism:(a) Passport valid for at least three months longer than the validity of the requested visa, with one blank page to affix the visa. (b) Completed application form. (c) One passport-size photograph. (d) UK residence permit valid for at least three months beyond the expiry date (for UK applicants). (e) Proof of sufficient funds to cover duration of stay (credit cards will only be accepted as proof of financial means if accompanied by recent statement; sufficient funds for students applying for a visa means no less than £700 per month). (f) Proof of accommodation. (g) Proof of occupation, eg letter from employer, solicitor or Chamber of Commerce.
Business:(a)-(d) and, (e) Letter from employer addressed to the Italian Consulate General explaining the purpose and duration of the visit. If self-employed, a letter from an accountant, company secretary, solicitor or local Chamber of Commerce. Applicants in the UK should also arrange for an invitation from the host Italian company or firm to be faxed directly to the Italian Consulate General in London (fax: (020) 7823 1609) at least 48 hours before submitting an application.
Student: (a)-(e) and, (f) Full medical insurance to cover period of stay. (g) Letter from Italian university addressed to the Italian Consulate General confirming acceptance of the application, explaining details of the course (duration, program etc). (h) Letter of reference from UK university confirming applicant’s status.
Transit: (a)-(e) and, (f) Proof of travel arrangements. (g) Visa for the onward destination country, if required.
Note:
(a) Minors under 18 years of age not traveling with their parents require a declaration from both parents or their legal guardian authorizing their travel. (b) Visa officers may also ask for additional documents. Supplying the documents listed above does not, in itself, guarantee the issue of a visa to the applicant.
Working days required
Usually two. No visas are issued within 24 hours. Nationals of the following countries should allow 14 to 21 days from the date of appointment for the processing of their application: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Colombia, Congo (Dem Rep), Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Nigeria, Oman, Palestinian Authority Region, Pakistan, Philippines, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Surinam, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, The United Arab Emirates, Vietnam and Yemen. This list is subject to change; check with the Consular section at Embassy for details.
Temporary residence
Enquire at Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy); see
General Info section.
Health
|
Special Precautions |
Certificate Required? |
| Yellow Fever |
No |
No |
| Cholera |
No |
No |
| Typhoid and Polio |
No |
N/A |
| Malaria |
No |
N/A |
Food & drink
Tap water is generally safe to drink. Bottled water is available. The inscription ‘Acqua Non Potabile’ means water is not drinkable. Milk is pasteurized and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are considered safe to eat.
Other risks
Leishmaniasis (
cutaneous and
visceral),
sandfly fever,
typhus and
West Nile virus, though rare, may occur along the Mediterranean coast.
Echinococcosis and
brucellosis also occur, although rarely.
Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay.
Health care
A reciprocal health agreement with the rest of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway allows reduced-cost dental and medical (including hospital) treatment on presentation of form E111; a fee must be paid, plus part of the cost of any prescribed medicines. Insurance is advised for specialist treatment. Italy is well endowed with health spas, some famous since the Roman era. The most important and best-equipped health resorts in Italy are Abano Terme and Montegrotto Terme (Veneto), Acqui Terme (Piedmont), Chianciano Terme and Montecatini Terme (Tuscany), Fiuggi (Lazio), Porretta Terme and Salsomaggiore Terme (Emilia-Romagna), Sciacca Terme (Sicily) and Sirmione (Lombardy). At Merano (Alto Adige), it is possible to have a special grape-diet treatment. More information on health spas in Italy is available from
La Federterme (Italian Federation of Thermal Industries and Curative Mineral Waters;
