Faq Visa

1. Do I have to apply in person or can I apply by mail?
2. Can I provide copies of my passport?
3. Do I have to make an appointment?
4. What are your office hours?
5. What is the cost of visa?
6. Can I pay with a personal check?
7. Do I have to provide a picture?
8. When the visa will be ready can I receive my passport by mail?
9. How long will it take to get my visa?
10. When to apply?
11. I hold a US Alien Registration Card do I still need to apply for a visa to enter Italy?
12. My daughter is a minor traveling with her school. What is she required to bring?
13. Once I get my visa, am I guaranteed entry in the country?
14. Can I use my visa to make a side trip to another European country?
15. My flight itinerary requires an overnight stay at an Italian airport. Do I have to apply for an airport transit visa?
16. To apply for a visa how long should my passport be valid?
17. I cannot get a national passport from my country of origin. Can I use the "US Permit to reenter” to travel to Italy?
18. I cannot get a national passport from my country of origin. Can I use the "US Refugee Travel Document (Document de Voyage de refugee’) to travel to Italy?
19. I plan to visit my family or my friends in Italy and I cannot provide a Hotel reservation what should I do?
20. I have my own business and therefore cannot bring an employment letter. What documents should I submit?
21. I am a student, the tourist visa requires proof of documentation of socio-professional standing, what should I bring?
22. I am a student, my parents will pay for my expenses while in Italy. What should I bring as proof of financial means?
23. My Wife and I are planning to travel together; I will provide my Bank statement as proof of financial good standing, but my wife name in not mentioned in the bank account. What document should I provide with her application?
24. Why am I required to have health insurance coverage for Italy, What do I need to provide as evidence of coverage abroad?
25. I do not have health insurance coverage in the US, where can I find an insurance to cover my stay in Italy? Do you sell medical insurance?
26. My US Resident Alien Registration Card expired and has not been renewed yet. Can I apply with the Advanced Paroled document issued me by the US Immigration and Naturalization Service?
27. My US visa is expired as well as my I-94 and I cannot renew it in the US, can I apply for a Schengen visa?
28. My passport has my maiden name and my Resident Alien Registration Card has my married name what should I do?
29. I received my visa, and I noticed that my name is misspelled what should I do?
30. My spouse is an Italian/EU national. We are both residents in the U.S. and planning to spend our vacation in Italy. Do I have to pay for my visa?

1. Do I have to apply in person or can I apply by mail?
For Schengen visa personal appearance is mandatory. For long stay visa (more 90 days) Click here

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2. Can I provide copies of my passport?
We do not accept passport photocopies. Applicants must apply with an original valid passport.

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3. Do I have to make an appointment? Yes. We receive applications "by appointment only"
To schedule an appointment click here

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4. What are your office hours?
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, from 9.00 am to 12.30 pm.

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5. What is the cost of visa?
To find the fee required for the visa you are applying for: CLICK HERE

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6. Can I pay with a personal check?
No. The visa fee is payable by money order, cashier check or cash. Make the money order or cashier check payable to: Consulate General of Italy. We do not accept personal checks. For additional information CLICK HERE

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7. Do I have to provide a picture?
Yes. You have to provide 1 recent passport size picture.
The photographs must:

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8. When the visa will be ready can I receive my passport by mail?
Applicants can collect the passport at this Office during the regular business hours. TO RECEIVE THE PASSPORT BY MAIL PROVIDE A SELF-ADDRESSED, PRE-PAID EXPRESS MAIL ENVELOPE. Regular mail will not be accepted.

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9. How long will it take to get my visa?
It may take about 2 weeks depending on the applicant's nationality. Since this matter is regulated by law, the visa officers cannot intervene in the process. The applicants are therefore required not to discuss or try to negotiate the date of issuance of the visa. Be advised that Rush fee is not applicable.
During the months of: May, June, July, August, September and December the request for visas increase, it is therefore advisable to apply at least 3 weeks in advance. On these months visa processing can take 2-3 weeks.

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10. When to apply?
Applications can be submitted not more than 180 days prior of entering the Schengen territory

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11. I hold a US Alien Registration Card do I still need to apply for a visa to enter Italy?
It depends on your nationality. To check if you need a visa Click here.

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12. My daughter is a minor traveling with her school. What is she required to bring?

Minors under 18 years of age:

Authorization to travel signed by both parents. Parents can either appear before the VISA Attaché' or send a notarized consent. (Form)
Birth certificate, original or a notarized copy; (All foreign documents MUST be translated into English and the translations legalized by the competent Consulate);
Notarized copies of both parents' picture I.D.

Minors under 14 years of age:

In addition to the above mentioned letters, the applicant must travel with at least one parent.

parental consent form CLICK HERE

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13. Once I get my visa, am I guaranteed entry in the country?
The visa does not guarantee entry in the country. Further checks by Immigration Officers at the borders may lead to a refusal. Travelers are advised to carry copies of documents submitted with visa application and to provide them to the Immigration Officers on requested.

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14. Can I use my visa to make a side trip to another European country?
Yes you can. According to the present Regulation a Schengen Visa is also valid for the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece,Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland.

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15. My flight itinerary requires an overnight stay at an Italian airport. Do I have to apply for airport transit visa?
Citizens of some nationalities may require a transit visa if they are planning a short stopover, waiting a few hours for their onward flight at the airport's international transit area. It is therefore advisable to check if you are required or not to have a visa (Click Here).
However, if you are planning to stay in Hotel overnight, since they are only available outside the transit area you can apply for a transit visa.

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16. To apply for a visa how long should my passport be valid?
Your passport should be valid for at least 3 months after the departure date from the Schengen territory.

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17. I cannot get a national passport from my country of origin. Can I use the "US Permit to reenter” to travel to Italy?
Yes, you can. Before applying check the expiration of the document. Your travel document should be valid for at least 3 months after the departure date from the Schengen territory.

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18. I cannot get a national passport from my country of origin. Can I use the "US Refugee Travel Document (Document de Voyage de refugie’) to travel to Italy?
Yes, you can. Before applying check the expiration of the document. Your travel document should be valid for at least 3 months after the departure date from the Schengen territory.

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19. I plan to visit my family or my friends in Italy and I cannot provide a Hotel reservation what should I do?
Your family or friends can make a letter of invitation (letter of invitation).
The completed letter of invitation can be faxed directly to this Office at 713-850-9113.

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20. I have my own business and therefore cannot bring an employment letter. What documents should I submit?
You can provide your business registration, your latest tax return and a recent company bank statement to complete your application.

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21. I am a student, the tourist visa requires proof of documentation of socio-professional standing, what should I bring?
You can provide a school letter of enrollment.

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22. I am a student, my parents will pay for my expenses while in Italy. What should I bring as proof of financial means?
Your parents can make an affidavit of financial support (form) and provide a most recent bank statement or a bank letter of financial good standing.

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23. My Wife and I are planning to travel together; I will provide my Bank statement as proof of financial good standing, but my wife name is not mentioned in the bank account. What document should I provide with her application?
You can provide an affidavit of financial support (form) along with your most recent bank statement or a bank letter of financial good standing.

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24. Why am I required to have health insurance coverage for Italy? What do I need to provide as evidence of insurance coverage?
The present regulation provides applicants to have health insurance coverage before departing. This is necessary in case you have an accident during your stay in Italy. Please check carefully whether your medical insurance will cover costs for medical treatment abroad. If it does not, you need to submit a health insurance covering during your stay in Europe. In order to prove you are covered it is necessary to provide a letter from the insurance carrier confirming coverage abroad and direct payment to the provider for the minimum ammount provided by the law.
WE DO NOT ACCEPT INSURANCE CARDS OR INSURANCE BOOKLET INFORMATIONS.

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25. I do not have health insurance coverage in the US, where can I find an insurance to cover my stay in Italy? Do you sell medical insurance?
We do not sell medical insurances. You can ask your travel agent or you can check the Internet under: international medical insurance or international travel insurance. You may also contact your credit card company and request information on travel insurance coverage they may be offering.
Following are some of the insurance companies complying with the Schengen requirements:

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26. My US Resident Alien Registration Card expired and has not been renewed yet. Can I apply with the Advanced Paroled document issued me by the US Immigration and Naturalization Service?
Yes you can.

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27. My US visa is expired as well as my I-94 and I cannot renew it in the US, can I apply for a Schengen visa?
No, you cannot. We can process visa request only to legal residents of the US.

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28. My passport has my maiden name and my Resident Alien Registration Card has my married name what should I do?
You can provide a notarized copy of your marriage or divorce certificate.

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29. I received my visa, and I noticed that my name is misspelled what should I do?
You can bring or mail back the passport to have a correction made. Please include a cover letter specifying which name has been misspelled and a prepaid express mail envelope for the mailing of the passport.

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30. My spouse is an Italian/EU national. We are both residents in the U.S. and planning to spend our vacation in Italy. Do I have to pay for my visa?
No. Spouse and close relatives (ex. parents, brother and sister) of an Italian or EU citizen can obtain the visa for free. They are required to provide:

copy of the Italian/ EU passport,
original or a certified copy of marriage certificate ( spouse)
original or certified copy of birth certificate ( relatives)

You are also exempted from proof of health insurance and bank statement.

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IF YOUR QUESTION HAS NOT BEEN ANSWERED YOU CAN WRITE AN E-MAIL TO THE VISA OFFICE AT visas.houston@esteri.it