How To Apply For A Italian Tourist Visa From Nigeria

Italy is a peninsular country located on the Mediterranean Sea surrounded by France, Switzerland, Austria, and Slovenia in the European continent. It is a very lovely country and quite famous for its fantastic cuisine, trendy fashion industry, luxury sports cars, motorcycles, races, and diverse cultures and dialects including French and German. 

Italy has many beautiful coastal cities, islands, and towns like Venice, Tuscany, Sardinia, Sicily, Capri, Rome (a city on seven hills), and natural landscapes like the alpine lakes and various mountain ranges such as the Alps and the Apennines. 

It is also home to some of the major monuments in history such as the Colosseum, the Pantheon, the Trevi fountain, and lots of western European art like the Picassos, and literature.

For all you travel enthusiasts and honeymooners, Italy is a fantastic vacation destination! As a Nigerian citizen, in order to travel to Italy, you’ll first need a six months valid Nigerian international passport; this is a legal document that authenticates your identity and citizenship anywhere in the world.

Italian Visa 

Italy is a member of the European Union and the Schengen agreement, so as a Nigerian citizen, you’ll need a Schengen tourist visa from Italy to visit the country. If you have a general Schengen tourist visa, you will not need one, you can just include Italy as a destination when applying.

An Italian visa is an official endorsement stamp on your international passport issued by the consulate officials of Italy which allows you to visit Italy. 

When you are trying to get an Italian visa, you must be honest about your true intentions for the visit, so that the consulate officer doesn’t think you intend to be an illegal immigrant in the country. There are different types of Italian visas available for Nigerian citizens based on the purpose of your visit and the length of your visit.

The categories of Italy visas available are as follows:

Travel visa: This visa type is granted to anyone traveling to Italy for vacation, tourism, and recreational activities or seeing friends and family who reside in Italy. This highest visa duration is usually 90 days.

Business visa: This is granted to foreign visitors, who intend to speak with business associates, conduct trade activities, negotiate terms of a business agreement, professionals to attend a scientific, educational, professional, or business meeting, retreat or conference, and settle an estate in Italy. It falls under a Schengen type c visa with a maximum stay of 90 days.

Transit visa: This is a travel permit granted for transit through Italy for 72 hours if you’ll need to enter Italy on your travel to a different country via car, or train or if you are traveling to join a ship as a member of the crew. You might not need to submit an application for this visa.

Student visa: This is granted to international students who intend to study at an Italian educational institution for short or long-term courses.

Work Visa: This is issued to expatriates who intend to work legally in Italy. This can either be long or short-term.

How To Apply for an Italian Tourist Visa From Nigeria

If you’re wondering how to apply for an Italian tourist visa from Nigeria, you’ll have to apply using the Italian Visa Application center (VFS global), These are the supporting documents for your Italian Schengen visa application:

1. First of all, download, complete in block letters, and sign the Schengen visa application form. You can also electronically fill in the form for a Schengen Italy Visa and print it out.
2. Two passport photo is to be attached; the photo must have the following format 35-40 mm full-face capture, recently taken, and white background. One passport is glued on the application form, while the other should bear the applicant’s name on the reverse and be attached with a paper clip.
3. Nigerian International passport as well as copies of your previous expired or valid visas to the US, UK, Asia, or Australia, entry and exit stamps. A passport must be valid for at least 6 months prior to your departure and must be less than 10 years old. The passport must have at least three blank pages. 
4. Three Clear color photocopies of your international passport bio-data page
5. A typed sheet of paper containing the applicants’ bio-data information, phone number, and active email address and duly signed.
6. The travel insurance policy covers any medical emergency with hospital care and travels back to Nigeria in adverse cases. This health insurance policy has to cover expenses up to €30,000, the sum has to be valid in all Schengen countries and it must be purchased before picking up the visa. 
7. A copy of your round trip flight reservation ticket for the time intended to be travelling.
8. A copy of your accommodation details if you’ll be staying in a hotel.
9. Documents to prove your current financial status and ability to afford the trip, transportation, accommodation, and spending costs. Your last 6 months’ bank statement will be preferred.

NOTE: In a case where you don’t have a bank account or don’t possess enough funds to cater for your total expenses during the trip and you’re visiting friends or relatives, you may ask them to sign an “official affidavit of support” issued by the competent authorities in Italy. If the sponsor is not a citizen, please include a residence permit. Ensure that you carry the original document when applying for the visa.

Other needed documents include: 

1. A bank draft in convertible currency
2. A formal invitation by a relative/friend residing in Italy if any.
3. A detailed description of your trip’s itinerary, the purpose of travelling, the duration, and intended tourist visits with dates written down in a letter.
4. Your Personal Income Tax returns for the last three years i.e. tax clearance certificate.
5. A reference letter from the employer if any.
6. Proof of physical address and a utility bill can cover this.
7. Social media pages if applicable.
8. Police clearance certificate to prove that you have no legal issues pending or a criminal record.
9. Receipt of Visa Application Fee and VFS Global service charges where applicable (This is collected at the GT bank counter in the visa application center).
10. Applicants below the age of 18 years must provide a copy of his/her birth certificate, parents’ letter of consent, marriage certificate of the parents (where applicable), sworn affidavit stating the guardians’ relationship to the child and a National Identity card.
11. Other documents, specified by the consular officer of Italy.

Covid 19 Requirements to travel to Italy

Starting from 1 June 2022, the Italian government has removed the requirement for COVID-19 Green Certification for travelers entering Italy from both European Union (EU) and non-EU countries. This means that travelers are no longer required to show proof of vaccination, a negative COVID-19 test result, or recovery from COVID-19 in order to enter Italy.

The decision by the Italian government to remove the requirement for the COVID-19 Green Certification for entry into Italy is a reflection of the improving COVID-19 situation in Italy and the world, as well as the increasing availability of vaccines. 

However, it’s important to note that travelers may still be subject to health checks, including temperature checks and COVID-19 testing upon arrival, depending on the individual country’s policies and regulations.

It’s also possible that the Italian government could reintroduce the requirement for the COVID-19 Green Certification in the future if the situation with COVID-19 changes.

Visa Application Fees

The approved standard visa application fees for the Italian Schengen visa are €80 (N38,875) and €40 ( N19,435) for children of age 6 – 12 years, payment is made at the GT bank counter at the VFS global office. 

Take note that you might be charged extra (N8280) for biometric data collection for The Visa Information System and visa application center extra services.

Visa Application Process

The visa applications are submitted at the visa application centers in Lagos and Abuja. Applications submitted will be assessed by The Consulate General of Italy, located in Lagos. 

Note that a personal interview with the consulate immigration officer may be required at The Consulate General of Italy in Lagos before a decision can be made on your visa application. The Visa Application Centre will assist you to place an appointment for this interview.

To complete your visa application process, you must bring along your Italian Schengen visa application form and all necessary supporting documents mentioned above to the visa application center between 08:00 AM to 13:00 PM on Mondays – Fridays for submissions in Lagos and 08:00 AM to 15:00 PM on Mondays – Fridays for Abuja, except on Nigerian public holidays.

When can I collect my passport after the application for my Tourist Visa To Italy? 

Collection of passports back from the VFS Visa Application Centre is from 11:00 AM to 16:00 PM on Mondays – Fridays in Lagos and 08:00 AM to 15:00 PM on Mondays – Fridays in Abuja as well. If you want a representative to collect your passport on your behalf, you must include a letter of authority at the submission counter while submitting your visa application documents.

Biometric Data Collection

Biometric details will be collected from you at the visa application center for the visa information system; this helps to ascertain your identity and travel status. This is done in a quick, discreet process that captures a facial image with a digital camera and a 10-digit fingerprint scan with a digital finger scanner.

Your face must be clearly visible for a photograph to be taken. If you wear a head or neck covering for religious reasons you must ensure your face is clearly visible, from the bottom of your chin to above your eyebrows including both cheeks. You may also need to remove your glasses when the photograph is taken.

Visa Processing Time

The Italian Schengen visa application process takes a duration of 15 working days. You can track your visa application with your full name and visa receipt fee number via this link or by calling the  VFS Helpdesk on 0815 018 8800 between 9:00 AM to 16:00 PM on any working day.

Italy Visa Application Centre, Lagos

Manor Hall,

Plot 110, Admiral Ayinla Way,

Opposite Treasure Garden Estate,

Third Roundabout, Lekki Phase I

Lagos

Italy Visa Application Centre, Abuja

62, Lobito Crescent,

Wuse 2,

Abuja

Telephone        +234 815 018 8800

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