• Short-Term Visa Options
• Long-Term Work Permit Options
• Useful Links

Short-Term Visa Options

Italy is a member of the Schengen Treaty. The Schengen Treaty is an agreement between European States which allows for integration or their immigration policies and border control. Under the Schengen Treaty, a foreigner may enter any of the member states for tourism or business purposes for up to ninety (90) days every six (6) months. The ninety (90) day period is cumulative of all stays in member states during the six (6) month period. Extensions of the ninety (90) day period are not normally granted and would require an unforeseen event such as a medical emergency.

The Schengen Treaty member countries consist of: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden.

Citizens of the following countries, holding a regular passport, valid for at least three (3) months will not require a visa to travel to Italy:

Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Canada, The Czech Republic, Republic of Slovakia, South Korea, Costa Rica, Chile, Cyprus, El Salvador, Estonia, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Nicaragua, Norway, New Zealand, Panama, Paraguay, Poland, Republic of Croatia, Republic of Slovenia, Romania, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, Switzerland, Uruguay, Venezuela, Hong Kong (SAR), Macao (EAR) and European Union citizens.

Anyone not included in the list will need a visa to enter Italy.

To apply for a tourist or business visa the following documents are normally required and must be submitted in person:

1. Original passport valid for a minimum of three (3) months over the estimated stay;
2. One (1) passport-sized photograph in color;
3. One (1) application form completed and signed;
4. Proof of valid immigration status if the applicant is not a national of the country where they reside;
5. Letter of support from the US company;
6. Letter of invitation from the Italian company;
7. Round trip airline ticket or proof of travel reservations; and
8. Proof of health insurance that will cover all expenses caused by a medical evacuation to the home country or emergency medical assistance or urgent hospitalization. This insurance must be valid throughout the Schengen countries.

Depending on the applicant’s nationality visas can be issued with eight (8) to fifteen (15) days, however, for nationals of certain countries they may take up to four (4) weeks to process.

For more information on different types of visas to Italy and specific individual entry requirements please contact the head of GT’s Global Outbound Immigration Group, Dawn Lurie at luried@gtlaw.com.

Long-Term Visa Options

Work permits

Employees who need to stay in Italy on business for more than ninety (90) days or employees who will be engaging in employment related activities in Italy even for periods of less than ninety (90) days require a work permit.

Work permits are available for:

1. Direct Hires (subject to quotas established by the Italian Ministry of the Interior) and
2. Inter-company transferees

In both cases, an application must be filed with labor authorities in the region where the foreign employee will be employed. Processing takes from six (6) to eight (8) weeks but in certain instances, particularly in the case of applications for direct hires, the process can take much longer.

The filing of a work permit is still very decentralized in Italy. Preparing such an application is fairly complex and many factors should be reviewed. Upon approval of the work permit application, the employee has sixty (60) days to file the visa application with the Italian Embassy or Consulate with jurisdiction over his/ her place of residence.

The following documents must be filed with the visa application by the applicant in person:

1. Application form completed to be signed in the presence of a Consular officer at the Italian Embassy or Consulate;
2. One (1) passport-sized photograph (3,5 cm x 4,5 cm or 1''3/8 x 1''3/4, full front and white background);
3. Original passport valid for at least three (3) months over the applicant’s expected stay in Italy;
4. Proof of valid immigration status if the applicant is not applying in his home country;
5. Airline reservations;
6. Authorization from the Direzione provinciale del lavoro - Servizio ispezioni del lavoro with the "Nulla Osta" on the back stamped by the Questura (local Police Headquarters);
7. Document confirming housing accommodations in Italy;
8. Original employment contact; and
9. Applicable fees.

Visas are normally issued within two (2) weeks.

The employee and his/her dependants must apply for a Permit of Stay within seven (7) days of arrival in Italy.

For more information on different types of visas to Italy and specific individual entry requirements please contact the head of GT’s Global Outbound Immigration Group, Dawn Lurie at luried@gtlaw.com.

Useful Links

• Embassy of Italy, Washington, D.C.
• Italy Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• The Universal Currency Converter