Italian Visa in Dubai

Description

How the Italian visa application process works

In 1990, five years after the Schengen Agreement had been signed, Italy ascended to it and joined the founding members. Although the full ascension was not implemented until 1997, today Italy is a country fully within the Schengen Area.

What does that entail, you might ask?

Per this Agreement, most European Union countries grant each other’s citizens easy and unified access to their territory, which greatly facilitates travel, business, and communication between them. The good news for you as a UAE resident is that the same principle involves tourists who visit one of the Schengen countries.

Therefore, if you get a visa to Italy, it will also let you go to Germany, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, the Scandinavian states, and many more European countries without the need for obtaining their visas or permits individually. As you can see, such a visa is a powerful tool for every traveller.

And now we will walk you through the process of getting it step-by-step.

Step 1. The drawing board phase

Even though travel has been made easier than ever in the 21st century, it still requires some planning. One should not skip this step, as it influences a lot of the subsequent decisions.

So first of all you must decide when exactly you want to go to Italy. There are arguments to be made for each season, but the ultimate choice is yours.

The date of entry will help you to find out the best time to apply for an Italian visa, because it takes at least 15 working days (starting with the day following the one you hand your document in) to process your visa request. However, your application won’t be taken for processing if you submit it less than 15 working days in advance from the date of your intended travel..

If you fancy seeing some other countries thanks to the benefits of your Schengen visa, you must apply at the visa center of the state you are going to spend the most days in.

And last but not the least, you need to have a good idea of how long you plan to stay in Italy. This will help you choose the best category of visa that will let you visit everything you want and also not waste your money.

Step 2. What visa application center suits you?

In the UAE, there are two places where one can apply for an Italy visa:

• The Dubai Visa Application Center;
• The Abu Dhabi Visa Application Center.

Which one you need to use depends on where you reside. Those who live in Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, and Fujairah emirates must go to the Dubai center, whereas the residents of Al Ain and Abu Dhabi need to choose the Abu Dhabi one.

Finding out where to apply is also important because you will need to visit the center in person.

Step 3. What’s the purpose of your visit and for how long you want to stay?

To eschew any problems with the customs office as well as the immigration authorities, you need to specify the purpose of your visit to Italy and select the right type of visa for it.

The following visa types are offered:

• Tourist visas. If you just want to see the sights of Italy or go there on a vacation, you need a tourist visa. This visa does not allow you to work there!
• Work visas. On the other hand, if your desire is to enter the employ of an Italian company, you will need this type of visa.
• Business visas. Related to the previous kind, business visas allow you to conduct your own company’s affairs in Italy.
• Student visas. If it is education that you are after, a student visa will grant you the ability to stay in Italy while you study.
• Dependent visas. These are issued to people whose spouse or parent (only if they are under 18) is a EU or Swiss citizen.
• Medical visas. People who need medical attention in Italy should opt for this visa, as it will grant them a faster approval.

Apart from that, you also should choose the right visa category for your stay. Most tourists usually settle on a single-entry visa, as it is the cheapest of the bunch. However, as the name suggests, it only allows you to enter Italy once. Even if your visa is valid for three months and you’ve only spent one month in Italy – once you leave it, you will not be able to return until you get another visa.

So in the case you want to come back to the country after you leave without the extra hustle of going through the visa application and approval process once again, it may be prudent to choose a multi-entry visa from the start.

Step 4. The required documents

For your visa application to be approved, you need to provide a set of documents to the visa center. Based on this data, they will confirm your identity and make a decision of whether or not you are eligible for an Italian visa.

The documents you need are these:

• Your passport + its copy. Must be valid for six months at least after your trip ends, have two or more blank pages.
• A photo of you (white background, passport-sized).
• Proof that your funds are sufficient (such as a bank statement for the past three months).
• Copies of past Schengen visas (if you’ve had any).
• Proof of stay (the hotel you booked, etc.).
• Proof you will leave the country on the day intended (such as your return tickets).
• Medical insurance (should cover travelling).
• For persons below 18 years of age – birth certificates.

For some visa types, you may need to present additional paperwork. If you are unsure, don’t hesitate to hit Smart System Holidays up, and we’ll help clarify everything in no time!

Step 5. The application form

The application form which you can find on the official VFS Global site is necessary for you to fill in. You need to enter the information about yourself that it asks and then print it out.

This form you will take to the application center with the other documents, so it is important to do this step.

Step 6. Scheduling an appointment

You are getting close now to the final stages of the process. You need to make an appointment at the visa center you chose during Step 2.

Be aware that you do need to book an appointment, as walk-ins are not allowed. Furthermore, if you are travelling with your family or friends, each one of you can either schedule an individual appointment or you can book a group appointment with all the individual’s information.

Step 7. Submitting your documents

When the date of your appointment arrives, you need to visit the center and submit the documents required for an Italian visa. Additionally, you will also pay the visa fee (80 EUR for adults, 40 EUR for kids between 6 and 12, free for younger children).

Apart from that, your biometrics will also be taken during this stage, including a photo and your fingerprints.

Step 8. Approval

In our experience, there are no arbitrary refusals of Italian visas, so if your documents are in order and you’ve done everything correctly, you should receive a letter informing you about the approval of your application in around 15 working days.

This is a non-government site and whilst every endeavor is made to ensure the information is correct and up to date, there may be changes which we are not aware of. It is always a good idea to check the latest regulations. You should confirm details with your local Italian Visa Application Center.