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) 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.
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) 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) Flight reservation (paper or electronic)
7) Entry visa for the third destination country, if required.
8) 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, 3, 4, 5, 6 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.
9) 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.
10) 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.
11) 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.
