Frequently Asked Questions

1. What should I do after submitting the visa application?
   You can check the status of your application by logging on to the website (www.italyvac-ru.com) on the fourth working day in St Petersburg or call our helpline on +7 812 6550289 ---. Between 0900 - 1700hours, Monday to Friday.
   
   
2. What could the status be?
   Once the Visa Officer has assessed your application, s/he will make the decision to issue your visa; refuse your visa; or invite you for an interview.
   
   
3. What will happen if I am called for an interview?
   The Consulate General of Italy will contact you directly and let you know the date and time of interview.
   
   
4. I am a travel agent, however, I am not on the list of the Consulate General of Italy. Can I submit the application to the Italy Visa Application Centre?
   Even if you are a Non-Accredited Travel Agent, you can still submit your application to Visa Application Centre.
   
   
5. Where will my interview be held?
   Your interview will be conducted at the below mentioned address.
   
   The Consulate General of Italy
   Teatralnaya Pl. 10,
   190068, St Petersburg
   
   
6. What do I need to carry for the interview?
   You need to carry all your original documents.
   
   
7. What will happen after the interview?
   The officer at the Consulate General of Italy will let you know the status of your application.
   
   
8. If the visa is refused:-
   Your passport will be handed over to you at the Italy Visa Application Centre where you applied.
   
   
9. I need to apply for a study visa, kindly let me know the procedure.
   We only accept Tourist visa applications. All other categories of visas are handled by the Consulate General of Italy. Please call or write to them directly.
   
   
10. I've heard that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has an Office for Relations with the Public (URP). How can I get in touch with the office? Do I need to phone the main switchboard?
    
    The Office for Relation with the Public phone line is open every day from Monday to Friday, from 8.30 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. The office itself is open to the public from Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you wish to write to the office, the address is:
    
    Piazzale della Farnesina 1, 00194 ROMA.
    Email: relazioni.pubblico@esteri.it
    Telefono: 06 36911 Fax: 06 3236210
    
    
11. Does the Office for Relation with the Public answer all the letters it receives? What sectors does it deal with?
    The URP answers all incoming letters. One of its institutional tasks is to reply to requests for information from the public by providing "first level information" of a general nature. When the URP receives a letter, its first step is to check on whether it can reply directly. If this is not possible, the URP forwards the request for information to the relevant Office, and informs the person involved immediately.
    
    
12. 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 http://www.esteri.it. The surety policy is NOT a mandatory document. It is needed when the customer cannot prove by other means (--bank statements --travelers cheques --credit card copy with the statement of the credit limit) that he has adequate funds. Only in this case the person inviting the customer must provide the surety policy. For tourism visas, applicants also need to have an invitation from an EU citizen. This should be in the 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 Euro 30.000 (thirty thousand). Some exceptions are foreseen.
    
    
13. 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.