Description

Italy Schengen visa Policy

Italy Schengen visa. The Italian government operates a continental visa policy like many other European countries that are part of the wider Schengen Area. This visa policy also applies to other European countries that are members of the EFTA, but this loss excludes Ireland, which has opted out as it has decided to practice an independent visa policy. The Schengen policy practiced by Italy determines the nationals who can enter Italy without a visa. For those requiring visas, a Schengen visa is one of the visas Italy issues under approved Schengen protocols.

This visa allows holders to enter Italy and other countries by land, air, or sea. Furthermore, some foreign nationals don’t need visas to enter Italy as they qualify for visa exemptions. In contrast, other nationals require a visa on arrival or must visit the embassy to get the visa.

Currently, 23 EU countries share the same visa policy as Italy, 23 of them (Italy inclusive) as Schengen states, while the others are non-EU States—namely Romania, Liechtenstein, Iceland, and Bulgaria. The list is completed with Switzerland, Cyprus, and Norway.

Italy Schengen visa Policy Clauses

Under Italy’s visa policy, visitors from more than 90 territories and countries do not need visas to stay in Italy for short visits. They don’t need visas if they are coming for business, tourism, or transit in some cases and are free to move about the Passport free zones. However, these travelers will need to obtain a visa waiver approval online called an Electronic Travel Authorization and Information System online, which allows them to legally enter Italy and the Schengen Area.

The Schengen visa is issued by the Italian embassy, and it can also be used to enter many EU countries, which are Schengen and non-Schengen states, but you must apply for it at least 6 months before the day to travel.

Italy Schengen visa Free Countries

The Italian government keeps an updated list of visa free countries.  Citizens from enlisted countries can visit Italy without visas for leisure, business or transit travelers. This list is not updated in isolation but done in conjunction with other Schengen countries who are co-signatories to the Schengen Agreement.

As a national from a country on the visa waiver list you can enter Italy without holding a visa but you still still need an online travel authorization permit called ETIAS.

Italy Schengen visa ETIAS

The European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) is a new vetting program launched by the European Commission to protect member states from illegal migration, terrorist threats and health risks. This program is designed for foreigners who are citizens of visa free countries.  Before the introduction of ETIAS all a visa free visitor needed to do was have a valid passport and they could visit Italy or any other EU country of their choice for 90 days.

Now, all that has changed with the introduction of ETIAS. Eligible visitors may enter the country without visas but they must apply for ETIAS approval and get it online before making the trip.  This document simply validates the visitor as not being a security threat.  It takes only some minutes to progress and the applicant will get it on the same day.

The application form has sections for passport, itinerary and personal information. There are also a set of security questions the applicant has to answer to complete your application. There is also an application fee which must be paid using a debit or credit card before it is submitted for processing.  Successful applicants will receive their ETIAS in their email while unsuccessful applications are grouped into two categories.

One group is the applications that fail to pass security protocols after the data trigger security alerts. These applications are rejected outright. The other group are those with inconclusive results. If your application falls into this category the system will forward your data to the local ETIAS unit for further vetting which may take a few weeks. Persons with rejected applications may apply for it in future and be successful and there is no limit to the number of times one can apply for it.

ETIAS is valid for 3 years and is a multiple entry permit.

Eligible visa free visitors can also use ETIAS to visit other Schengen countries, including Cyprus, Romania, and Bulgaria, without visas for 90 days in 6 months.