What is a visa?
The visa for Italy is an authorization issued by consular authorities that allows the holder to enter Italian territory and, depending on the case, the entire Schengen area.
The main categories are:
- Uniform Schengen Visas (USV) or type “C”, valid for stays of up to 90 days within a 180‑day period and governed by Regulation (EC) No. 810/2009 (Visa Code), as amended by Regulation (EU) 2019/1155; and
- National Visas or type “D”, intended for stays longer than 90 days and regulated by Italian domestic law, in particular Legislative Decree 286/1998 (Consolidated Immigration Act) and its implementing regulation, Presidential Decree 394/1999.
Interministerial Decree No. 850/2011 lists the 21 visa categories in force, classified according to the main purpose of the stay, harmonizing consular procedures and the documentation required for issuance.
The visa is individual: each applicant must complete and sign their own application form. For minors, the form must be submitted and signed by the person exercising parental responsibility or by a legal guardian. In addition, a travel authorisation must be provided by each person exercising parental responsibility who is not accompanying the minor, or, in their absence, by the legal guardian. Such authorisation must be issued in accordance with the laws in force in the minor’s country of residence.
Who evaluates visa applications?
Visa applications are evaluated exclusively by the Embassy of Italy in Abidjan. The Visa Office may, at any stage of the procedure, summon the applicant for a consular interview or request additional documentation beyond what is indicated in the information pages.
Submitting all required documentation does not automatically guarantee the issuance of a visa, which remains subject to the outcome of the checks required by current legislation and to the discretionary assessment of the Consular Authority.
VFS Global Côte d’Ivoire is exclusively responsible for receiving and returning documentation to applicants. It has no role in the examination or decision-making process.
Who can apply for a visa at the Embassy of Italy in Abidjan?
The Visa Office first verifies whether it is competent to process the application. Specifically:
- Territorial competence: applicants must be citizens and/or legal residents of the consular district (Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Liberia, Niger, and Sierra Leone) or be legally present there. In the latter case, they must provide adequate justification for not applying at the consulate competent for their habitual residence. To this end, they must present an identity document (for citizens of the above‑mentioned States) or a residence certificate supported by objective proof of stable and legal residence in one of the countries of the district (e.g., long‑term lease agreement, electricity or rent payment receipts for the last 6 months, entry stamp dated within the last 6 months, etc.) for all other nationalities.
- Material competence: Italy must be the sole or main destination of the trip.
If the Embassy is not competent, the application will be returned to the applicant together with all documents, the visa fee will be refunded, and a written decision of incompetence will be issued.
Applicants are therefore strongly advised to verify which Italian Embassy or Consulate is competent before submitting their application.
How to apply for a visa?
To apply for a visa, applicants must independently book an appointment through the official portal of VFS Global Côte d’Ivoire – Italy (https://visa.vfsglobal.com/civ/fr/ita), which is mandatory for all applicants pursuant to Recital 6 of Regulation (EU) 2019/1155. The only exception concerns family members of EU citizens, who, under Article 5(2) of Directive 2004/38/EC and Legislative Decree 30/2007, are entitled to priority and free processing of their visa applications. Additional exceptions may be granted by the Head of the Consular Section only in exceptional cases, following a case‑by‑case assessment of documented urgent and necessary circumstances.
Since 17 November 2025, a waiting‑list function is available, allowing users to register when no slots are available and to be notified automatically when an appointment opens.
Appointment booking is always FREE OF CHARGE. Users are urged to report any attempt to sell or broker appointments and not to make any payment, as it may constitute fraud.
Once the appointment is booked, the application must be submitted in person at the VFS Global Côte d’Ivoire office, located at Rue des Carrossiers, Treichville zone 3, Centre commercial HLM, ground floor, Abidjan. Personal submission is required to ensure proper identification of the applicant.
Sending the application form or supporting documents by email does not constitute under any circumstances a visa application.
When should the visa be requested?
Under current legislation, the visa application must be submitted no more than six months before and no later than 15 calendar days before the planned date of travel. Applications that do not comply with these legal deadlines will be declared inadmissible under Article 19 of the Visa Code.
Which documents are required?
The application must include the minimum elements required by Article 19 of the Visa Code:
- Duly filled and signed application form (click here to download the forms). PLEASE NOTE: the form is always FREE;
- Valid travel document (minimum validity of three months after the planned departure from the Schengen area; at least two blank pages; issued within the previous ten years), plus a photocopy of the bio‑data page;
- Two ICAO‑compliant passport photos;
- Payment of visa fees;
- Supporting documents for the trip, in duplicate (originals and copies);
- Adequate and valid health insurance (exemptions apply to holders of diplomatic passports and family members of EU citizens);
- Biometric data collection.
Biometric data (fingerprints) are required for all visa applications. As of January 2025, fingerprinting is also mandatory for national visas (type D).
Exceptions to fingerprinting are strictly limited to those listed in Article 13 of the Visa Code (children under 12 years old; physical impossibility; Heads of State or Government and their respective delegations on official missions).
Once collected, fingerprints remain valid for 59 months and do not need to be taken again for subsequent visa applications submitted within that period. If the visa applicant has already provided fingerprints within the previous 59 months for the same visa category (“C” or “D”), the applicant may therefore choose to submit the application through a trusted representative, who must be duly authorized and present a photocopy of the applicant’s identity document, dated and signed by the applicant.
If even one of the above‑mentioned requirements is missing, the application will be returned to the applicant together with the attached documents, the visa fee will be refunded, and a written and duly reasoned decision of inadmissibility will be issued.
How much does the visa cost?
Applicants must pay:
- Visa fees, established by the applicable legislation and periodically updated. The table of fees currently in force can be consulted here;
- Mandatory service fees applied by VFS (currently CFA 11,300, approx. EUR 17.22);
- Optional service fees (photocopies, courier return of passport, VIP lounge, etc.) offered by VFS.
PLEASE NOTE: no other fees exist beyond those explicitly listed on this website.
What to do in case of visa refusal?
If the visa is refused, the applicant may appeal to the Regional Administrative Court (TAR) of Lazio – Rome, which is competent for decisions issued by diplomatic‑consular authorities. The appeal must be filed within 60 days of notification of the refusal, or within 90 days if the applicant resides in an EU country, or within 150 days if residing outside the EU.
For visas related to family reunification, a different remedy applies: the appeal must be filed by the family member residing in Italy before the competent Italian Ordinary Court, based on their residence. No statutory deadline applies, and the appeal may be filed at any time after the refusal.
Additional useful information
For more information on each visa category, you may consult the official portal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, “Visa for Italy” (https://vistoperitalia.esteri.it). The portal allows you to check whether a visa is required, identify the correct visa type, review the required documentation, and download the official forms. You are also invited to consult the specific sections available in the menu on the side.
PLEASE NOTE: The Embassy of Italy in Abidjan does not, under any circumstances, provide advice or preliminary assessments regarding the supporting documentation for visa applications. Applicants are kindly requested to ensure that they have all the necessary supporting documents before submitting their application.