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Visa for religious reasons

For general information on this type of VISA, please visit the following Italian government website: vistoperitalia.esteri.it

What it is for and who can apply for it:

This visa allows “ministers of worship” or “religious” members of their denominational organization to enter Italy to participate in religious events or to carry out activities related to their religious and/or pastoral function.

Note: Confessional Organizations must be recognized by the Italian state.

The visa can be applied for three months prior to the date of the start of travel and up to 1 month prior to the date of the start of travel.

Type of visa:

“C” Short-stay visa: for stays of less than 90 days (a).

“D” Long-stay visa: for stays longer than 90 days up to 365 (b).

REQUIREMENTS:

  1. National or Schengen visa application form duly completed in all fields and signed.
  2. Two photographs (3,5 cm x 4 cm), white background in color (identical and recent).
  3. Valid passport (valid for at least 3 months beyond the duration of the visa) with at least two free pages and a plain copy of the passport (only the page of the passport containing the holder’s personal information).
  4. Payment of consular fees in cash (payable on the day of the appointment, see Consular Fees Table)
  5. ID card – for foreigners valid cédula de extranjería or carne de residencia (in both cases only an enlarged, legible copy).
  6. Letter in original from local denominational congregation/organization (based in PANAMA or one of the ACCREDITATION STATES) indicating:
    1. the applicant’s personal details, legalized by the Apostolic Nunciature in Panama/accredited countries (for Catholic worship) or notarized in Notary (for other denominations);
    2. religious status;
    3. an indication of the purpose of the trip, the date of the start of the stay in Italy, the duration and the express authorization to remain in Italy for the time indicated.
  7. Letter from the Confessional Congregation/Organization in Italy (in original) with legalized signature from the Vatican Secretariat of State (for Catholic worship) indicating:
    1. The applicant’s full details and role;
    2. The religious motivation for the trip;
    3. The start date of the stay in Italy, its duration and location;
    4. which will provide financial coverage and accommodation for the duration of the stay in Italy;
    5. To provide medical and hospital care throughout their stay in Italy.
  8. In the case of Religious Confessions other than Catholic: The letter from the congregation operating in Italy, which must also indicate the requirements in item 7, must also be legalized by the highest religious authority in Italy according to the religious confession to which it belongs.
  9. Medical insurance with 30,000 euro coverage in the Schengen States for the first 10 days after departure. NOTE: Insurance must be made with agencies within the country of residence or directly in Italy; reservations and/or purchases made through Internet sites are not accepted. Insurance must be in the name of the applicant.
  10. Booking a round-trip flight with final destination Italy. If applying for a type D visa, the reservation can also be a one-way. NOTE: Airline reservations must be made directly by the airline or a travel agency in the country of residence or directly in Italy (reservations made online are not accepted). The airline reservation must be in the name of the applicant.

NOTES:

  • The procedure is strictly personal. The Embassy has not authorized any agency or intermediary to apply for the visa.
  • The Embassy of Italy reserves the right to request any other documentation deemed necessary.
  • Submission of the required documentation does not necessarily result in the granting of a visa. The visa (if granted) may be granted with the date of entry into Italy indicated in the congregation’s letter (see points 6 and 7). Those wishing to enter Italy before that date may enter as tourists (without a visa) for a maximum of 3 months if their nationality falls among those exempted from requiring a tourist visa.
  • Failure to submit any of the above documents may result in rejection of the visa application.
  • If the visa is type “D,” once the holder arrives in Italy, he or she must apply for a Permesso di Soggiorno from the relevant Italian authorities within the first eight working days.