Documents Required

Travel insurance is mandatory for all Schengen countries.

Please note that the list of documents provided below is not exhaustive, and the Mission may request additional information or documents if necessary.

All documents must be printed out and presented in their original form, along with a photocopy where required. Applicants are required to appear in person and must provide the following:

1. Duly completed application form [click here]
2. Application checklist [click here]
3. Valid passport or travel document (original plus one photocopy), which should be valid for at least 3 months beyond the return date of your trip from Italy and have at least two blank pages. The passport will be kept and returned with the visa, if approved.
4. Valid UK Residence Permit (original plus one photocopy), which should be valid for at least 3 months beyond the return date of your trip in Italy.
5. Passport-style photo, taken within the last 6 months, showing a full front view with a white background.
6. Documentation of socio-professional standing:

Students: A recent (not older than one month) original reference letter, duly signed, on official headed paper from either your employer or your University/College, addressed to the Italian Consulate (hard copy).

Employed applicants: A recent letter (no older than one month) of reference from your employer, which must include your employment start date, job title, annual salary, and vacation period. You must also include your last three payslips (original plus photocopies).

Self-employed applicants: Certificates of incorporation, business bank statements for the last three months, and copies of business income taxes. Alternatively, you may provide an accountant letter (no older than one month, in hard copy) as an alternative to the last point.

Retired applicants: A copy of your retirement compensation from social security.

Attention to unemployed applicants:

If you are a dependent spouse or parent, it is necessary to provide employment information for your spouse or child. This includes an employment letter, payslips, and a joint income tax return. In the event that you do not have a joint income tax, please submit the original (plus one copy) of the marriage or birth certificates, along with a sponsorship letter and a photocopy of the spouse or descendant’s passport.

For dependent children, it is required to provide the financial information of the parents. This includes the last three months’ bank statements, the last three payslips, the original (plus one photocopy) of the child’s birth certificate, a sponsorship letter, and a photocopy of the sponsoring parent’s passport.

Please take note of the following:

• Certificates older than 6 months will not be accepted.
• Certificates issued by a foreign authority other than the U.K. must be translated into English or Italian and legalized by the Italian Consular Office of the issuing country or by the Consular Authority in the U.K. of the issuing country.
• Certificates issued by one of the Schengen countries will only be accepted if they are multilingual. Otherwise, please refer to the second note.

Please note the following requirements for fully paid return travel tickets:

• If you are traveling by plane, train, or bus, the ticket must be printed directly from the airline, trainline, or bus operator. The ticket should clearly display the passenger’s name, travel dates, origin and destination, and the amount paid.
• If you are traveling by car, you will need to provide ferry tickets or Euro tunnel tickets, along with the original and photocopy of your car registration, car insurance, and driving license. If you are renting a car, you will need the same documentation, as well as the car rental documents.
• If you are traveling between multiple Schengen countries, it is mandatory to have travel tickets for each border crossing.
• If you are using the services of a third party, such as a travel agency, please note that they will only be accepted if they are based in the U.K. or one of the Schengen countries. Travel tickets must always be issued directly by the airline, trainline, or bus operator. Any other documents will not be considered valid. This requirement applies to all the previous points mentioned.

In addition to the travel tickets, you will also need to provide the following:

• A fully booked hotel reservation or an original invitation letter from your host in Italy. If you need a template for the invitation letter, you can find one by clicking here. The invitation letter must be addressed to the Italian Consulate, dated, and duly signed. It should be accompanied by a photocopy of the host’s ID or passport, with the host’s signature visible. If your host in Italy is a non-EU citizen, you will also need their Residence Permit in Italy, with the holder’s signature visible.
• It is essential to obtain travel insurance from either the United Kingdom or one of the Schengen countries. The insurance must cover the entire intended period of stay and should include a letter from the insurance provider confirming overseas coverage. This letter must explicitly state that you will be covered for medical expenses, hospitalization, and repatriation, with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros for the duration of your stay in the Schengen area. It is crucial that the insurance covers all Schengen countries. If your current insurance provider does not offer this coverage, you will need to find an international insurance provider.

Additionally, proof of economic means of support is required to cover the cost of your intended stay. This can be demonstrated through the submission of your last three months’ bank statements or a bank guarantee (fidejussione bancaria or polizza assicurativa) from Italy, as per the Ministry of Interior Directive 1.3.2000.

For citizens of Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq, it is necessary to provide the full names of both parents. This information must be obtained from a birth certificate or Consular declaration.

Please be aware that during your appointment, your application will not be accepted unless you present all the required documents. Failure to provide all the items listed above will result in the need to reschedule a new appointment.

It is important to note that our consular administration reserves the right to evaluate your application and request additional documentation if deemed necessary, in addition to what has already been submitted. Furthermore, submitting all the required documentation does not guarantee the issuance of any particular visa.