Uniform Schengen Visas (Type C) allow short‑term stays of up to 90 days in total within a 180‑day period. It is essential to distinguish between the duration of stay, meaning the actual number of days the holder is authorized to remain, and the validity of the visa, meaning the time frame within which those days may be used.
Type C visas may be issued for single entry or multiple entries, and may have multi‑year validity, classified as C1 (valid up to 1 year), C2 (up to 2 years), C3 (up to 3 years), and C5 (up to 5 years). In all cases, the limit of 90 days in any 180‑day period may not be exceeded. Example: a multiple‑entry C2 visa issued on 14 February 2026 allows stays of up to 90 days in any 180‑day period (including non‑continuous stays) within the Schengen Area until 14 February 2028.
PLEASE NOTE: the duration and validity of the visa are determined by the Embassy of Italy, based on the travel itinerary and the applicant’s correct use of previous Schengen visas.
Visa applications must be submitted no more than six months before and no later than 15 calendar days before the planned start of the trip.
Nationals of the countries listed here are subject to prior consultation procedures with other Schengen States, which may take up to 7 days. They must therefore take this additional processing time into account when submitting their visa application. Applications that do not comply with these legal deadlines will be declared ipso facto inadmissible pursuant to Article 19 of the Visa Code.
The final decision on a Schengen visa application must be taken within 15 calendar days from the date of submission, extendable up to a maximum of 45 days in individual cases when further examination is required.
Travel medical insurance is an essential requirement for the issuance of Uniform Schengen Visas. Applicants for single‑entry or double‑entry visas must demonstrate coverage by a valid policy that includes expenses for medical repatriation, urgent medical care, emergency hospital treatment, and, if necessary, repatriation of remains. For multiple‑entry visas, it is sufficient that the insurance covers the first intended trip, while the applicant remains obliged—by declaration in the application form—to obtain adequate coverage for subsequent stays. The insurance must be valid throughout the territory of the Schengen Member States and for the entire period of stay or transit indicated in the application, with a minimum coverage of EUR 30,000. Only holders of diplomatic passports and family members of EU citizens are exempt from this requirement.
PLEASE NOTE: Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide valid and regularly monitored telephone and/or email contact details in their visa application, so that they can be reached if necessary and receive timely information on the outcome of their application.