July 15th, 2023 at 05:11 am

Italian Schengen Visa Requirements and Application Process (VIA Centre)

For anyone seeking a Schengen visa from the Italian Embassy in the Philippines (through the Piasi Center), this article provides information on the Schengen Visa Guide. It includes a comprehensive list of requirements as well as instructions for how to apply in detail.

This is solely for Filipinos who are applying in Manila or Cebu for a short-term tourist visa; it is NOT for those who are applying for a long-term job, family reunion, study, or business visa.

The procedure is much simpler and more basic even though it is stringent. Via the PIASI VIA Center (Visa Information and Application Center), you can apply. There are no soul-crushing interviews or prerequisites.

Anyway, here is the procedure for requesting an Italian Schengen visa.

Who can Apply for an Italy-Issued Schengen Visa?

Only if one of these applies to you should you apply for an Italian Schengen visa.

• You won’t travel to any other nations; your only destinations will be Italy or Vatican City.
• You may travel to two or more Schengen nations, but Italy will be where you spend the most time.
• Italy is your point of entry (first on your schedule) into the Schengen region, but you will spend precisely the same amount of nights in each Schengen nation.

List of Italian Schengen Visa Requirements

• A valid passport, both the present one and any earlier ones.
• Successful Application Form: To apply online, go here; to apply by paper, go here. Click any of the links.
• Recent Image (ICAO standard color image on a white backdrop)
• Opening Letter: This is strongly advised. You won’t have the opportunity to thoroughly explain your travel itinerary to the consul or visa officer, nor will you be able to make any clarifications that you believe they might find perplexing. A cover letter might strengthen your application.
• Proof of Accommodation
• Passport page photocopies: Copy of the second page of the passport’s biographical information (page 2) and the last page (the page for emergencies)
• Evidence of Employment: This varies for candidates with jobs, for self-employed people, and for students.
• Financial Justification: a bank certificate that is accompanied by an account statement or passbook with a six-month history of the account
• Travel insurance: €30,000 minimum coverage (plus an additional 15 days past your scheduled departure date).
• Birth certificate or marriage certificate (if married) issued by the PSA or NSO. It is necessary to have a DSWD Clearance for minors traveling alone.
• Detailed Itinerary: The dates on your itinerary must match those on the application form that you completed.
• Reservations for flights
• Visa Fee: The cost of a visa has increased to EUR 80 per application at all Schengen embassies. You must also pay the P1450 handling fee that VIA PIASI charges.

How to Apply for an Italian Schengen Visa

1. Complete the necessary paperwork

Assemble each of the above-mentioned needs. To have a quick reference, you might also want to download this checklist. Please prepare your documents in the manner described above for faster processing.

2. Send the necessary documentation to the VIA Center

The PIASI VIA Center’s addresses and hours of operation are listed below for Makati and Cebu.

VIA Center Makati

3F Allegro Center, Chino Roces Ave, Makati,
2284 Metro Manila, Philippines
Phone: +632-845-9200 / +632-845-9215
Email: ita_inquiry@via.ph

VIA Center Cebu

1004 Keppel Bldg, Cardinal Rosales Avenue Cor Samar Loop,
Cebu City, 6000 Cebu, Philippines
Phone: +63-32-412-7447
Email: ita_inquiry@via.ph

You can book an appointment or simply walk in.

3. Claim your passport and visa

You will get a call from VIA Center once the results are informing you that the passport is currently with them and ready for pick-up or delivery.

ITALIAN VISA FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. How long does it take to apply for an Italian visa in its entirety?

15 days is the typical length, according to VIA. Some take more time. Some applicants must wait more than a month, while others only have to wait 10 days, 7 days, or 5 days.

2. When should I submit my application for an Italian Schengen visa?

Your application must be submitted three months (90 days) before the anticipated departure date. They will reject your application and instruct you to reapply at a later time if you submit it early.

3. How long does the Schengen visa have validity?

the itinerary you submit will determine. Take it seriously because the Embassy will make a decision depending on your itinerary. Make no fake itinerary. Make certain it’s your plan.

4. Do I need to submit a single-, double-, or multiple-entry visa application?

Once more, it depends on your timetable and air travel plans. Apply for a double-entry visa if your schedule or flight tickets indicate that you will leave the Schengen area and then return. Go for the multiple entry visa if you intend to enter and exit the zone frequently.

If you want to spend your entire trip in Italy, don’t apply for a multiple-entry visa. Multiple visas are unnecessary and will likely only cause further confusion.

5. How much cash should I have on hand to get accepted?

The precise amount that the embassy requests to examine your bank records is kept a secret. It also depends on how long you plan to stay and what activities you have planned.

6. What grounds exist for rejecting my application for a Schengen visa?

This is true for all Schengen embassies, not just the Italian Embassy:

• You are unable to demonstrate your intention to visit the Philippines again. It appears that you don’t currently have secure employment, are freshly employed, or have recently resigned, and that you want to stay longer than your stated duration.
• You cannot demonstrate that you can pay for this trip. You or your sponsor may have financial difficulties.
• Your documents don’t match up. The information on your application form could be one thing, but the supporting documentation might be another.
• It is unclear or questionable why you are in Italy or Europe. It is therefore best to be explicit when describing the objectives of your visit.

7. Do I need to buy tickets to get approved?

You do not require airline tickets. You are discouraged against buying plane tickets so you won’t lose money if your application is denied. It is NOT necessary to have actual tickets. A “flight reservation,” which is distinct from actual tickets, is what you can submit.

“Reservations” are the only evidence that you have banned these available airplane seats. Some airlines will retain your reservation for you.

Flight arrangements can also be made through travel agents. You can book it online if you don’t have time to visit a travel agency.

8. Do I have to submit the documents’ original copies?

The VIA Center advises applicants to include all original and photocopied documentation. They won’t keep all of the original copies, though. Original copies are required for several documents, such as passports, bank records, birth certificates, and job certificates.

They will only receive a photocopy of other documents like land titles and business registration paperwork. However, they will examine the original copies to ensure that the photocopies are accurate replicas of the originals.

9. Applying with my family or group Do I have to provide each member with a copy of each document?

YES. Applications for Schengen visas are evaluated individually. The VIA Embassy website states that each applicant must meet their specific standards.

10. Is a physical appearance necessary?

Generally speaking, YES. The applicant must be present for the biometrics collecting process, which includes getting your fingerprints. VIA claims that some candidates who already have biometric records in the Schengen system may not be required to appear.

However, they still strongly advise appearing in person to submit biometrics because it can be difficult to determine whether the copies are accurate.

11. What if I have multiple visas, according to the Schengen Information section on Page 5 of the VIA online application form?

“Schengen issued during the past 3 years?” is a question on Page 5 of the VIA application. The fields that follow are for entering the former visas’ expiration dates. The issue is that entering with more than one visa appears to be difficult. Simply input the expiration dates of your most recent Schengen visa.

12. What questions should you answer on Page 7 of the VIA online application form’s PERMIT INFORMATION section?

This expressly requests: Where applicable, entry permits for the final country of destination. If you don’t have the nationality of your country of residence, only fill out this field and bring a photocopy of your permission or visa.

13. The application form’s Members Information section (Page 9) has check boxes for “by an applicant,” “by a sponsor,” and “means of support.” These are what?

It states that “The applicant’s travel and living expenses are covered.”

Tick “BY APPLICANT” if you plan to pay for your travel. then decide on the assistance method you’ll employ. TICKING “BY A SPONSOR” IS NOT RECOMMENDED. That’s exclusively for applicants who are sponsored!

14. What other nations may I travel to with a Schengen visa from Italy?

A travel document known as a Schengen Visa permits its holder to travel to any of the 26 countries that are a part of the Schengen agreement. Consider it as a virtually unlimited pass to numerous European nations, removing the need to apply for visas separately for each nation and the trouble of crossing immigration borders inside the Schengen area. The following nations are a part of the Schengen Area:

• Austria
• Belgium
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Estonia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Greece
• Hungary
• Iceland
• Italy
• Latvia
• Liechtenstein
• Lithuania
• Luxembourg
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Norway
• Poland
• Portugal
• Slovakia
• Slovenia
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland

Some non-Schengen nations, including Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, and Turkey, also accept Schengen visas with two or more entries (with specific restrictions on the visa categories and stay duration, among other things).

Visit Newsnowgh.com for the most up-to-date information on changes to visa criteria, prospective paths to obtaining legal residency, and others.

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