Italy business visa from India: the official document checklist, decoded

The checklist, as published

Condensed from the official document linked above; wording is the mission's, shortened. Where the mission names an official form it is listed under "Forms". Always download the current version from the source link on the day you apply.

1. Application form fully completed and signed by applicant.
2. One recent passport-size photograph (white background).
3. Passport: issued within previous 10 years, valid at least 3 months after intended stay, at least 2 blank pages.
4. Overseas medical insurance, minimum coverage EUR 30,000 for emergency hospital and repatriation expenses.
5. Travel itinerary with travel dates including return flight reservation/bookings and proof of accommodation; mention other countries covered.
6. One set photocopy of applicant's passport and previous Schengen visas.
7. Proof of accommodation: confirmed hotel bookings.
8. Sending company's economic status: registration certificates (or board membership/medical institution letter), bank statement last six months, IEC number if applicable.
9. Letter from Indian company/institution: purpose, applicant's professional status, activities and business relation with Italian company; signed by authorized person.
10. Financial means: salary slips/certificates last 3 months; ITR with barcode last 3 years; income tax challan receipts last 3 years.
11. Personal bank statement last six months, original stamped by bank, or online print stamped and signed by branch manager.
12. Additional suggested: credit card copy with statement of credit limit.
13. Invitation letter from Italian company in Italian (attached form), signed by authorized person, with photocopy of signatory's picture ID.
14. Visura camerale (chamber of commerce extract) of the Italian company.

Forms named by the mission

• Letter of Invitation Business facsimile 'Lettera di invito per AFFARI', to be completed on the inviting company's letterhead
• Processing time Declaration (waiver declaration) PDF
• Declaration on Travel Health Insurance PDF
• Visa Application Form English/Italian (VFS PDFs)

Notes the mission attaches

• VFS New Delhi: applicants are required to submit, along with the checklist, an invitation letter that clearly motivates the urgency of travel and mentions the dates of the required activity in Italy.
• Apply under 'Business - holding previous Schengen visa' or 'Business - first issuance'; business visa covers conference, negotiation or exploratory visits, no paid work.
• New Delhi jurisdiction only; Mumbai, Kolkata and Bangalore consulates publish their own business checklists on their VFS pages.
• The Embassy reserves the right to ask for a personal interview or additional documents; applications should be submitted at least 15 days prior to travel.

What each item is for

Every Schengen checklist is Article 14(1) of the Visa Code made specific: (a) purpose of the journey, (b) accommodation, (c) means of subsistence for the stay and the return, (d) information enabling an assessment of your intention to leave before the visa expires. Read the list above with those four heads in mind: bookings and invitations answer (a) and (b); bank statements, salary slips and tax returns answer (c); employment, business, family and property papers answer (d). Our documents guide explains each head, and the cover-letter guide shows how to make them agree.

For business the counterpart's letter is the anchor: who is inviting, why, for how long, and who pays. Consulates verify it by phone; a counterpart who cannot be reached is the classic route to ground 12 on the refusal form.

Processing time, as stated by the mission

"You should apply for your visa between 15 and 180 working days before your planned departure date. Processing time for the short term visa is 15 working days (extendable up to 45)." (source) The Visa Code sets 15 calendar days from an admissible application, extendable to 45 (Article 23).

Fee, as stated by the mission

"VFS Italy India New Delhi visa fees tab (2026-08-17): visa fee (categories A, B or C) EUR 90 = INR 9,940; applicants aged 6 to 12 EUR 45 = INR 4,970; under 6 free; VFS service charge INR 652 inclusive of all taxes; courier INR 912; courier assurance INR 782; premium lounge INR 5,734 per application." (source) The euro amounts are fixed by Article 16: EUR 90 adults, EUR 45 children six to eleven, free under six.

Italy's record for applications lodged in India

In 2025 Italy decided 53,423 applications lodged in India and refused 12.7% (all-India average 15.7%); 89.2% of visas issued were multiple-entry. Its consulates: Bengaluru (12.4%), Kolkata (13.4%), Mumbai (10.1%), New Delhi (16.7%). Which one handles you depends on your state of residence: see the Italy country page.