I’d like to invite a friend, who is not an EU citizen, to spend some time in Italy, but I don’t know where to start. What should I do to ensure that everything goes smoothly?
You can consult the provisions regarding entry visas on the Internet site www.esteri.it. However, your friend would be best advised to go in person to the Italian Consulate in his or her own country to explain the reasons and circumstances of the planned trip to Italy and to submit the formal application. For tourism visas, applicants also need to have an invitation from an EU citizen. This should be in the a form of an invitation. A fidejussory (surety) policy should also be included with the application. Visa applicants must show proof of adequate and valid, individual or group, travel insurance covering eventual expenses incurred as a result of repatriation for health reasons, or emergency medical treatment and/or hospital care. The insurance must be valid for the entire Schengen area and cover the entire period of stay. Minimum coverage is 30,000 Euro. Some exceptions are foreseen.
A friend of mine, a non-EU citizen, applied for a tourism visa. His application was turned down, even though he had followed all the correct procedures. What sort of protection do we have?
The body responsible for issuing visas is the diplomatic-consular mission for the non-EU national’s place of residence. The diplomatic-consular mission has sole responsibility for checking and evaluating that the applicant meets the visa requirements. The decision is at the discretion of the mission and takes specific local circumstances into account. Under the current legislation the Consular Office is not required to provide the reasons for its decision not to grant a tourism visa. The interested parties can appeal to the TAR (the Local Administrative Court) of Lazio within 60 days of notification that the application has been turned down. The provisions currently in force on the subject of entry visas can be consulted on the following Internet site: www.esteri.it.
I’d like some information on visas for study reasons.
Visas for study reasons allow non-EU citizens who intend to follow university courses or other study or occupational training courses with recognized or suitably qualified institutes, or whose applications to carry out cultural or research activities have been accepted, to enter Italy for a short stay (90 days – type C) or long stay (from 91 to 365 days – type D). Persons interested in applying should consult the following Internet site: www.esteri.it where the provisions currently in force can be found. Prospective applicants would however be best advised to go in person to the Visa Section of the Italian Embassy or Consulate for their place of residence to explain the reasons and circumstances of their planned stay in Italy and to submit the formal application. The list of accredited Italian diplomatic and consular missions abroad, with addresses, can be consulted on the Internet site: www.esteri.it
I’m planning a trip to Estonia. Where can I get information about this country?
You can consult the Internet site www.viaggiaresicuri.mae.aci.it, which contains a database with information sheets on each country. These are constantly up-dated with data and situation assessments provided by our diplomatic and consular missions. The database is compiled by the Crisis Unit in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This Unit provides precautionary information on matters concerning the safety of citizens travelling abroad. Information is also available by phone (A.C.I. call-centre tel. +39.06.491115, which is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.) or through tour operator associations.
What is Self-Certification?
A statement written and signed by the person concerned regarding his/her personal status and data to be used in relations with the public administration and agencies and providers of public services. Using a self-certification in relations with a private person is up to one’s own discretion. From January 1st 2012 the new legislation regarding certificates and self-declaration, according to article 15 of Law N.183 November 12th 2011, became effective. From that date onward, certificate will have full legal values only between private persons, while Public Administration will no longer be authorized to ask or accept certificates, which must always be replaced with self-declarations. The rules concerning self-declarations are applied to Italian, EU citizens, and non-EU citizens legally residing in Italy, only with regard to the data that can be verified or certified in Italy by public entities.