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.
ITALIAN STUDY VISA
Study program longer than 90 days
The Consulate General of Italy in Los Angeles will accept visa applications from legal residents of ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO, NEVADA and the following counties in the state of CALIFORNIA: S.Luis Obispo, Kern, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, Imperial Valley, Orange.
Visa applicants must appear in person to submit their visa request.
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 in 2 sets – one original and one photocopy:
1)
(a) 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.
(b) 2 photocopies of the passport
2)
(a) Original 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.
(b)2 photocopies of the Driver's License
3) One National Visa application form, completely and clearly filled out, to be signed in the presence of a Consular officer.
4) Two recent passport size photographs (2x2 inches in size, full face, front view, white background).
Scanned or photocopied photos are not accepted.
5) Letter from your College or University stating that you are attending that College or University and that you will take a course or participate in the program offered by the academic institution in Italy.
6) Complete documentation on the course or cultural program that will be attended. One of the following:
- An official letter of acceptance from an Italian academic institution.
- A letter of acceptance from an American academic institution stating that you have been accepted and admitted to its center in Italy. The letter must be addressed to the Consulate General of Italy, must indicate the address of the center in Italy, the period of study by date and bear the seal of that institution.
- A letter of acceptance from an American academic institution providing for the Study Abroad Program, and a letter of acceptance from the accredited academic institution in Italy. Both letters must be addressed to the Consulate General of Italy, must indicate the address of the center in Italy, the period of study by date and bear the seal of that institution.
Students applying for full-time enrollment or “corsi singoli” at an Italian University, must first contact the Education Department of the Consulate General of Italy.
Visas will not be issued for private school programs in basic language instruction.
7) Financial guarantee must be presented in one of the following manners:
- If you are financially responsible for yourself: present a letter (NOT a bank statement) from your bank, on the bank’s letterhead, signed by a bank official and with a recent date, indicating account balance (a minimum of $ 1,000.00 per each month of stay in Italy is required.)
- If parents are financially responsible for you: present their notarized affidavit stating their financial commitment for expenses incurred in Italy AND a letter (NOT a bank statement) from their bank, on the bank’s letterhead, signed by a bank official and with a recent date, indicating account balance. (A minimum of $1,000.00 per each month of stay in Italy is required.)
- If your school or another institution is providing financial aid, present a letter from that institution’s Financial Advisor stating amount granted. A minimum of $1,000.00 per each month of stay in Italy is required.
8) Health insurance coverage must be presented in one of the following manner:
- A signed declaration from your health insurance company stating that you have a policy that will pay for medical expenses, emergency and hospital stays incurred in Italy during your period of stay there. The dates of the program must be mentioned.
- If you cannot obtain the above mentioned declaration or do not have a health insurance policy, then you must show proof of purchase of an Italian health insurance, or present a declaration stating that you will purchase an Italian insurance policy upon your arrival in Italy, before registering with the local Police Dept. (Questura).
9) Proof of suitable lodging for the entire stay, if not included in the letter of acceptance from the Italian institution.
10) Flight itinerary. If traveling to Italy by land (train, bus, automobile), provide itinerary and state name of border of entry into Italy.
11) Current document of identity (Driver License, State I.D., student I.D.)
12) 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
13)
(a) 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.
AND
(b) A photocopy of the above mentioned envelope, which must include the addresses and the tracking number.
AND
(c) The authorization form. It must be filled out before your appointment
14) 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.
It is advisable to apply for the visa at least three (3) weeks (and not more then ninety days) prior to the departure date. Rush processing is not possible.
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.
Within 8 days of your arrival in Italy you must register with the Police Department (Questura) and obtain the “Permesso di soggiorno” (Declaration of stay for foreigners). You must present a copy of the documents that were submitted with your visa application bearing the seal of the Consulate General of Italy.
