Tourist Visa Requirements to Italy
- Italy is one of the world's top tourism destinations.italian flag image by Aleksander from Fotolia.com
Known throughout the world for its cuisine and as the home to the Roman Catholic Church, Italy is a tourism Mecca. Italians have made significant contributions to the Western world's cultural landscape in painting, sculpting, architecture, music and fashion. Museums and galleries preserve this heritage and are visited by millions of tourists each year. With much to share, Italians offer tourist visas rather freely. - No visa is required for nationals of Ireland, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand if a tourism visit to Italy lasts less than 90 days. A current, valid passport will suffice. Nationals from Europe's Schengen Area need only a valid form of identification. Always check with the Italian embassy in your country of origin to make sure of the requirements.
- Italy is part of the borderless region of Europe known as the Schengan Area. The area includes 25 nations that operate much like a single nation in regard to international travel. Italy requires some foreign nationals to acquire a Schengan visa for tourism in Italy. This visa is acquired by visiting a consulate of any Schengan nation, including Italy, and is valid for travel throughout the entire region.
- If you require an Italian visa application, contact the nearest Italian consulate. There are more than 50 Italian consulates throughout the U.S. You can also find visa applications at travel document-related websites.
- If you submit an application for a visa, you will need to include a passport-sized photo with your application.
- Your passport must have an entire blank page to fit the Italian visa. The validity of the passport must also outlast the length of your trip by three months.
- Copy your airline itinerary or a booking confirmation from your travel agent to enclose with your visa application.Obtain a letter from your employer stating you will be on an approved temporary vacation from your job. You will also need to submit a bank statement proving you can afford the holiday without participating in illegal work in Italy.
