Introduction
The permanent citizens of the United States do not require a visa to enter Italy for a period of up to 90 days. As a US citizen, you are allowed to roam freely in Schengen Area provided that your passport holds validity of three months after your planned date of return.
Embassy of Italy, Washington D.C., Consulates-General in Philadelphia, Houston, San Francisco, Miami, and Boston.
Italy at a glance
Be it the medieval age or renaissance, be it period of romanticism or the industrial age, Italy has always remained a global player in international affairs.
Covering an area of 301,338 km², Italy is inhabited by 61 million people.
Versatile Italy has everything for everyone. Whether you’re carving for modern infrastructure, art, fashion or culture, Italy has everything to offer to the visitors. In 2018 alone, Italy has welcomed above 58 million tourists.
Italy is the successor to the Roman Empire and a key member of the Schengen Area.
As discussed above, a permanent resident of the United States does not require a visa to enter Italy for a duration of up to 90 days.
However, if you want to stay in Italy for above than 90 days, then you will apply for Italy National Visa in any of the aforementioned Italian diplomatic missions in the USA.
Condition for US diplomatic passport holders and officials
All those visitors who are in possession of US diplomatic passport holders require a visa to enter the Italian territory; no matter whatever your purpose is.
A person who is either US official or in possession of a diplomatic passport is not authorized to enter Italian territory in absence of travel document.
U.S. Permanent Residence Card or US visa holders (except for B1/B2)
If you are not a permanent citizen of the United States and possess US Green Card, you are required to secure a formal entry permit from any of the aforementioned Italian diplomatic missions.
If you hail from the list of visa nationalities, then you are also required to seek an entry permit from any of Italian diplomatic missions in the United States.
Types of Italian Visas
Italian diplomatic missions in the United States offer the following types of visas:
Italian Schengen Visa
It is further classified into tourism, medical, business, transit, and student visa.
Italian National Visa
Italy Visa Requirements for US Residents
For acquiring an Italian Visa from the US, an applicant is required to complete the following set of documents:
A valid travel document or passport. The passport must:
- Not been issued period exceeding the ten-year limit.
- Passport must contain two empty pages to mark your arrival and departure dates.
A legal US Green Card or legal US visa with valid I-94 or I-20 I-797 + 1 photocopy. However, if you are the holder of a B2 visa or B1 visa, then you will apply in your home country [though you can apply for airport transit visa].
An Italian visa application form. The form must be fully signed and dated.
A non-US nationalist or the permanent resident of USA.
A passport size photograph.
Bank statement showing transactions of the previous six months.
Roundtrip Flight Reservation for Italian Visa: Your Italian Visa application must be accompanied by a roundtrip flight reservation or any other proof of transportation.
Travel health insurance detailing that travel insurance for Schengen Visa offering coverage of 30000 euros of 50000 dollars has been availed and attached. It should cover the cost of repatriation even after death.
Hotel Bookings for Visa Application detailing that you have already paid for accommodation facilities in Italy.
Means of subsistence detailing that the applicant has enough financial means to carry himself with ease [i-e without any financial pressure]. The applicant can prove his/her financial stability by attaching any of the following documents:
- Credit card
- Three-month-old bank statement
- Payslips
- Employment letter
- Traveler’s cheques
- A sponsorship letter from the citizen of the host nation in which he/she expresses willingness to sponsor the itinerant during the course of the stay in the Schengen Area.
- Evidence pertaining to prepaid transport
- You will attach a roundtrip flight reservation or proof of transportation
For non-US citizens: Alien Registration Card or a valid US INS visa and a letter from US government letters i.e. Advanced Parole, IAP66, I20 and copies, I797 (any visa or permit with the exception of B1-B2) with a validity of at least three months beyond the intended departure from the Schengen Area.
Also, if the applicant is a non-US resident will attach a proof of residence in the USA in his/her visa application. The proof can be State ID, State Driving License, previous three months utility bills, State Income Tax details or a copy of the lease.
For stays up to 5 days
The overall amount is 269.60€ /person and 212.81 /two and more persons.
For stays 6-10 days
The daily amount is 44.93€ /person and 26.33€ /two and more persons.
For stays 11-20 days
The overall amount is 51.64€/person and 25.82€/ two and more persons, plus the daily amount is 36.67€/person and 22.21€/ two and more persons.
For stays over 20 days
The overall amount is 206.58€/person and 118.79€/ two and more persons, plus the daily amount is 27.89€/person and 17,04/ two and more persons.
Documentation of socio-professional standing
If you are employed, then you will attach a company reference letter in your application. It must entail info about previously withdrawn salary, joining date, job title and the vacation period.
If you are self-employed, then you will attach income tax returns, bank statements and incorporation certificates.
If you are retired, then attach copies of the previous three months.
If you are a student, attach an enrollment certificate issued by Italian college, school or varsity.
Besides original documents, you will also submit copies of all the documents.
For tourism:
For business:
Roundtrip Flight Itinerary or One-way flight itinerary.
A business invitation from company or person operating from Italy.
For study (less than 90 days):
Enrollment Letter from Italian school.
 For study (more than 90 days):
Enrollment certificate from a school located in Italy.
Where to apply for Italian Visa in US
You can apply at either the Italian Embassy in Washington D.C. or in any of the nine consulates-general [depending upon the area you live in].
Embassy of Italy, Washington D.C.
 Following US states fall under the jurisdiction of the Italian Embassy in Washington D.C.
District of Columbia, Maryland [only counties of Montgomery and Prince George. All other counties of Maryland fall under the jurisdiction of Italian Consulate General in Philadelphia] and Virginia [only counties of Arlington, Fairfax, and City of Alexandria. Rests of the counties will fall in Italian Consulate General in Philadelphia].
Italian Consulate General in Boston
Italian Consulate General in Boston covers the following areas: New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Maine, Vermont, and Massachusetts.
Italian Consulate General in Chicago
Italian Consulate General in Chicago covers the following areas: Illinois, Colorado, Kansas, Iowa, Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Wisconsin.
Italian Consulate General in Detroit
Italian Consulate General in Detroit covers the following areas: Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Michigan, and Ohio.
Italian Consulate General in Philadelphia
Italian Consulate General in Philadelphia covers the following areas: Delaware, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, New Jersey [only counties of Camden, Atlantic, Burlington, Cumberland, Cape May, Ocean, Salem, and Gloucester], West Jersey [only counties of Montgomery and Prince George. All other counties of Maryland fall under the jurisdiction of Italian Consulate General in Philadelphia], and Virginia.
Italian Consulate General in Houston
Italian Consulate General in Houston covers the following areas: Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana.
Italian Consulate General in Los Angeles
Italian Consulate General in Los Angeles covers the following areas: California [counties of Kern, Imperial Valley, Orange Riverside, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo], Nevada, and New Mexico.
Italian Consulate General in Miami
Italian Consulate General in Miami covers the following areas: British Virgin Islands, Alabama, Florida, Cayman Islands, Island of Saba, Puerto Rico, Mississippi, Turks, South Carolina, St. Eustatius, St. Maarten, and Georgia.
Italian Consulate General in New York
Italian Consulate General in New York covers the following areas: Connecticut, New York, New Jersey [only counties of Essex, Bergen, Hunterdon, Hudson, Middlesex, Mercer, Passaic, Monmouth, Sussex, Somerset, Warren, and Union] and the British territories of Bermuda Island.
Italian Consulate General in San Francisco
Italian Consulate General in San Francisco covers the following areas, California, Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington, Utah, and Hawaii.
It is pertinent here to mention that you will secure an appointment by online means from the official websites of the Italian Embassy in Washington D.C. or relevant consulates-general.