Italy tourist 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. Cover letter.
5. Overseas medical insurance, minimum coverage EUR 30,000 for emergency hospital and repatriation expenses (photocopy).
6. Travel itinerary with travel dates including return flight reservation or ticket; mention any other countries covered during the trip.
7. Copy of applicant's passport and previous Schengen visas.
8. Employment evidence, employee: original approved letter on company headed paper, latest 3 months pay slips, latest 3 years ITR.
9. Self-employed: full business certificate of incorporation, last 3 months business bank statement, latest 3 years Income Tax Return.
10. Students: original school letter dated within 30 days, stating applicant's name, school name/address/phone, signed by Head of Department.
11. Financial means: salary slips/certificates last 3 months; ITR with barcode last 3 years; income tax challan receipts last 3 years.
12. Personal bank statement last six months, original stamped by bank, or online print stamped and signed by branch manager.
13. Alternatively: original + photocopy of bank guarantee (fidejussione bancaria) from sponsor in Italy covering stay expenses, with personal bank statements.
14. Additional suggested: credit card copy with statement of credit limit.
15. Proof of accommodation: confirmed hotel bookings.
16. Minors: form signed by both parents; birth certificate; legalised consent of non-travelling parent(s); death certificate if applicable; parents' IDs.

Forms named by the mission

• Visa Application Form English/Italian (VFS PDFs, printed back-to-back, one per applicant)
• Processing time Declaration (waiver declaration) PDF
• Declaration on Travel Health Insurance PDF
• Data protection declaration PDF

Notes the mission attaches

• Italy in India has four jurisdictions with separate VFS pages and checklists (New Delhi embassy, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore consulates); this entry is the New Delhi embassy list.
• Consulate General Mumbai tourist checklist (revised March 2024) differs: 2 photographs, 3 months salary bank statement, minimum 10 days insurance, leave sanction letter, US/UK visa copies.
• VFS New Delhi overview: apply under 'Tourism - holding previous Schengen visa' or 'Tourism - first issuance'; the passport submitted should be at least 6 months valid from the date of travel (the checklist PDF itself says 3 months after intended stay).
• Applicants under the tourist category must provide hotel bookings; passports must be machine-readable.
• Photo spec (VFS): one recent colour photo not more than 6 months old, light background, full face 80% zoom, non-smiling, stuck on the form.
• Must apply in the country of continuous residence for the last 6 months; the Embassy reserves the right to ask for a personal interview or additional documents; submit at least 15 days before 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 tourism the itinerary is the anchor: coherent dates, cities and bookings that stay live through the decision. Cancelled-looking reservations are the classic route to ground 10 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.