Visa Department
Email visti.losangeles@esteri.it
To make an appointment please register and book your appointment on our online portal PRENOT@MI
You must apply for the visa at least three weeks (and not more than ninety days) prior to the departure date.
Visa applicants must make an appointment and must appear in person to submit their visa request.
As of May 15, 2014, fingerprinting is requiredfor persons applying for a Schengen Visa (up to 90 days). Children under the age of 12 are exempt from this requirement. Data will be recorded in the VIS central database, in accordance with the highest data protection standards, for a maximum of 5 (five) years and, during this period, they will be copied from the VIS database for subsequent visa applications.
You must submit ALL the required documents. Incomplete visa applications will not be accepted and will be returned without processing. The application form must be completely filled out and legible.
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) 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. Original and a photocopy of your 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 (same, if available, or previous month of your appointment) bill of water, gas or electricity (other types of bill are not accepted). We may requested additional documents as proof of residence.
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.
3) Students must have a valid I-20 Form endorsed by the competent authority (re-entry/travel), and exchange visitors must have a valid IAP-66 Form.
4) Two recent passport size photographs (2x2 inches in size, full face, front view, white background). Scanned or photocopied photos are not accepted.
5) One Schengen Visa application completely and clearly filled out, online and printed in HIGH RESOLUTION to be signed by the applicant in the presence of a Consular Officer. If an applicant presents himself/herself without this specific form they will be requested to leave and make a new appointment. 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); proof of regular income e.g. pay slips of the last three months. If retired, also a copy of pension certificate showing amount of pension.
7) Employment verification:
a) Letter from employer, on letterhead, stating position, salary and that the vacation/leave has been approved. The letter must be signed and dated.
b) If self-employed: valid business license, certificate of incorporation, and latest tax return concerning business.
8) If you are a student: a letter of full-time enrollment from the school, college or university.
9) Round-trip flight reservation is required to begin the process You must provide the round-trip airline ticket (paper or electronic) when you pickup your passport or when the passport is going to be returned to you by mail.
10) Lodging:
a) If staying at hotels, present letter from travel agent or from hotel itself stating name, address and telephone number of the hotel, the reservation dates and confirmation number. The name of applicant/s must be mentioned on the reservation.
b) If you have been invited to stay with an Italian citizen or a foreigner who resides in Italy, you must have that person fax directly to this Consulate General, prior to submitting your visa request, the “Declaration of private accommodation”. A copy of that persons’ document of identity must accompany the invitation:
- A copy of the valid Permesso di Soggiorno (Permit of stay for foreigners) if the host is a foreigner.
- A copy of a valid identification document if the host is an Italian citizen.
11) Proof of purchase of Worldwide Travel Insurance. Travel insurance can be purchased from a travel agent or online.
Provide letter or certificate from insurance company showing coverage for medical expenses,
hospitalization costs and repatriation for medical reasons, for the days you are outside the
United States. Insurance coverage must not be less than 30,000 Euro.
12) For MINOR applicant/s, one of the parents must submit the visa application on behalf of him or her (the minor does not have to come in the Consulate if younger the 12 years) along with documents mentioned on n. 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 (parents’ bank account statement(s) and notarized declaration of financial responsibility for trip), 7, 8, 9, 11,12, 13 of this list of requirements.
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 Italian Consulate if the parents are outside the United States.
- Birth certificate translated in English, and the translation must be authenticated by the local Consulate General of the country of birth.
- Notarized copies of both parents’ picture I.D.
13) Entry visa for the third destination country, if required.
14) PAYMENT METHOD: 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. Cash payment will be accepted only with previous authorization.
15) Provide a self-addressed (from yourself–to yourself) pre-paid/stamped envelope (Express Mail, FedEx), if you wish to have your passport mailed back to you. The authorization form must be filled out. IF THE RETURN LABEL IS NOT COMPLETED PROPERLY (FOR EXAMPLE IF THE CONSULATE APPEARS AS THE SENDER) IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
16) Original passport with previous Schengen Visas (if applicable) and photocopy of each Schengen Visa and of the page of your passport showing your personal information
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.
Required documents are submitted in two (2) sets – one original and one copy – since immigration authorities abroad can ask you to show the documents that were submitted to obtain the visa.
