Business visa to Italy

Foreigners traveling to Italy for business purposes receive a business visa to Italy. Among the possible reasons for the trip are meetings with foreign partners, participation in business conferences, visiting exhibitions and internships. The main requirement for obtaining a business visa to Italy is an invitation from an Italian company.

Registration at the visa center 

A business visa to Italy is a business visa that is opened at the invitation of Italian partners. This is a multiple-entry short-term Type C visa. It allows you to stay in the country for up to 90 days every 6 months. The holder of an Italian visa has the right to visit all other countries of the Schengen area. A business visa does not give the right to work in the territory of these states.

Business visas are issued for different periods depending on which travel dates are indicated in the invitation from the Italian side. A visa can be obtained without personal presence by proxy, if fingerprints were given earlier.

You can apply for a business visa to Italy at the official Italian visa application center VMS. A business visa to Italy is issued on average from 4 to 10 working days.

The consular fee for Russian citizens when applying for a business visa is 35 euros. The service fee of the visa application center is 3,300 rubles.

Documents for a business visa to Italy

• A foreign passport valid for 90 days after the expiration of the visa;
• A copy of the passport page with the applicant’s personal data and photo;
• Passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation or another state — the original and a copy of the first page and the registration page;
• Consent to the processing of personal data;
• Completed application form;
• 3.5×4.5 color photo;
• A bank statement confirming the availability of the amount necessary for living in Italy in the account;
• A certificate from the place of work indicating the monthly salary;
• A copy of the certificate of incorporation in the Unified State Register of the company where the applicant works;
• An invitation from an Italian company (Dichiarazione d’invito) indicating the purpose of the trip — original or scanned copy;
• A copy of the passport of the representative of the Italian organization who signed the invitation — pages with personal data and a personal signature;
• A copy of the extract from Chamber of Commerce (Visura camerale) with a validity period of no more than 6 months;
• Documents confirming the availability of a place of residence — a hotel reservation or an indication of the address of residence in an invitation from an Italian organization;
• Medical insurance for Schengen countries with a minimum amount of insurance coverage of 30,000 euros;
• Receipt of payment of the consular fee;
• Round-trip ticket booking (required when requesting an urgent visa);
• Documents confirming commercial relations with the receiving party: a copy of the contract with the Italian company, copies of invoices, invoices related to recent purchases (if any).

The Consulate has the right to request additional documents from the applicant for a business visa. The consulate staff can call the applicant for an interview.

An invitation from an Italian company

For a business trip to Italy, you need to receive an invitation from an Italian or international company operating in Italy. The document must be written in Italian or English.

The invitation must be issued on the company’s letterhead, stamped and signed by an employee of the company with a transcript. If family members travel to Italy with the applicant, their personal data and the purpose of the trip — “escort” – are indicated in the invitation.

When submitting a package of documents for a visa, it is not necessary to provide the original invitation, a copy will do. You can download a sample invitation to Italy on the website of the Italian visa application center.

Information that is indicated in the invitation:

• Registration number in Chamber of Commerce;
• Full name of all invited persons, place of work and position;
• The period for which the visa is requested;
• The purpose of the trip to Italy is, for example, participation in negotiations, unpaid internships, visits to exhibitions, factories, conclusion of supply agreements;
• Places that you plan to visit during your business trip;
• A company or an individual in Italy who will cover all the costs of the invited person’s accommodation, meals and medical insurance.

If the inviting party assumes the costs of the applicant’s trip, then the risk of being refused a visa is minimal.

“The inviting company is criminally liable for the entire period of stay of a foreign citizen if he violates the legislation on emigration” — this should be indicated in the invitation.

Declaration of presence

Foreigners entering Italy on a business visa must fill out a declaration of presence on Italian territory (Dichiarazione di presenza). This must be done within 8 days after crossing the Italian border. The document is issued in Questura — the police department at the place of temporary residence.

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