Schengen Visa for Tourism – Consolato Generale d'Italia a Los Angeles

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Schengen Visa for Tourism

GENERAL INFORMATION

Visa Department
Email visti.losangeles@esteri.it

To make an appointment please register and book your appointment on our online portal PRENOT@MI

Please note that applications can be submitted up to six months before the start of the planned trip and no later than 15 calendar days before the departure date.

IF YOUR DO NOT FIND AN APPOINTMENT, due to the high demand of requests, we suggest that you patiently CHECK DAILY our appointment system for cancellations. Appointments become available from 3:00 pm (local time)

 

You can apply for a Schengen visa for tourism at our Consulate General if:

a. Italy is your only Schengen Area destination,

OR

b. you are visiting different countries in the Schengen Area, but Italy is the country in the Schengen Area where you will be spending most of the time (please count the exact number of days),

OR

c. you are visiting different countries in the Schengen area, but you are spending an equal number of days in each country, and Italy is your first port of entry in the Schengen area.

 

 REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must submit the following documents (2 sets of documents: 1 original plus 1 copy) :

  1. Passport or travel document accepted by the Schengen countries valid for a period of 3 months beyond the applicant’s last day of stay abroad.
    The passport must not have been issued more than 10 (ten) years ago and must have at least two blank pages on which the visa can be affixed.
    In your passport, your complete birthdate must be mentioned: day, month and year.
  2. Valid Driver’s License or State ID issued by California, Arizona, Nevada or New Mexico (Driver’s License or State ID issued by other States are not accepted). If you moved and have not updated your Driver’s License or State ID from California, Arizona, Nevada or New Mexico, you must submit a current bill of water, gas or electricity. Other types of bill will not accepted.
  3. Proof of permanent residence in the United States: U.S. Alien Registration Card or valid long term U.S. visa (type A,E,F,G,H,I,J,L,O,R) with I-94 Form. The US Alien Registration Card or US visa should be valid at least three (3) months beyond the intended departure from the Schengen territory. U.S. visas B1/B2 (tourism/business) visas are not acceptable for this purpose.
  4. Recent passport-size photograph (35 mm x 45 mm), on white background, full face and front view, in color. Scanned or photocopied photos will not be accepted.
  5. Schengen Visa application form completely and clearly filled out, online and printed in HIGH RESOLUTION (a minimum print DPI of 300). The applicant must then sign the application in the presence of a Consular Officer. For those that are unable to fill in the online form due to technical difficulties, please contact visti.losangeles@esteri.it.
  6. Proof of sufficient funds to cover the expenses of your planned stay:
    • bank account statement(s) for the last three months showing name and address of owner (s) (Electronic printouts are accepted) AND
    • proof of regular income, pay slips of the last three months. If retired, also a copy of pension certificate showing amount of pension.
  7. Employment verification:
    • If you are employed: letter from employer, on letterhead, stating position, salary and that the vacation/leave has been approved. The letter must be signed with a WET signature and dated.
    • If self-employed: valid business license, certificate of incorporation, and latest tax return concerning business.
    • If you are a student: present a letter of full-time enrollment from the school, college or university. The letter must be signed with a WET signature. Students must also have a valid I-20 Form endorsed by the competent authority (re-entry/travel), and exchange visitors must have a valid IAP-66 Form.
  8. Round-trip flight reservation. If you visit more than one Schengen country, you must provide means of transportation between countries (flight reservations, car rental reservation, train ticket, etc.).
  9. Proof of lodging. For every night spent in the Schengen area, the applicant must provide proof of accommodation in the form of print-outs (no emails on the cell phone, no screen shots on the cell phone). If you have been invited to stay with an Italian citizen or a foreigner who resides in Italy (family or friends), you must have that person fill out the “Declaration of private accommodation”. A copy of that persons’ document of identity must accompany the invitation and, if the host is not an Italian citizen, a copy of valid Permesso di Soggiorno (Permit of stay for foreigners) must be submitted.
  1. Proof of purchase of Worldwide Travel Insurance.
    Please provide a letter or certificate from the insurance company showing coverage for medical expenses, hospitalization costs and repatriation for medical reasons, for the days you will be travelling in the Schengen area. Insurance coverage must not be less than 30,000 Euro.
  2. Payment: Money Order or Cashier’s Check (payable to the Consulate General of Italy – Los Angeles) for the exact required amount. Please refer to the Handling fees for the exact amount.
  3. One self-addressed (from yourself–to yourself) pre-paid/stamped envelope (Express Mail, FedEx, USPS) to have your passport mailed back to you. IF THE RETURN LABEL IS NOT COMPLETED PROPERLY (FOR EXAMPLE IF THE CONSULATE APPEARS AS THE SENDER) IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Please also fill out the authorization form.

For MINOR applicants, one of the parents must submit the visa application on their behalf.

The following documentations is also required:

  • Authorization to travel abroad signed by both parents. The signatures must be authenticated by a Notary Public if the parents are in the United States or by an Italian Embassy or Consulate if the parents reside abroad.
  • Birth certificate translated in English and authenticated by the local Italian Embassy/Consulate of the country of birth.
  • Declaration of financial responsibility for minor children signed (signatures must be authenticated by a Notary Public).
  • Notarized copies of both parents’ picture I.D.s

The Consular office will evaluate the documents submitted and may request additional ones at its discretion. Furthermore, you should also be aware that submitting the required documentation does not automatically guarantee the issuance of a visa.