Please sign in to post.

Italian Visas

My family is planning to live in Florence, Italy for a year beginning in July 2008. Our children will go to a local Catholic school. My husband and I do not intend to work while we are in Italy, so we don't need a work VISA.

My understanding is that we need to apply for a 1-year selective residence visa from the Italian consulate in San Francisco. The website is very confusing about how we do this. Does any one know how one goes about doing this? How soon do we need to submit our application and what documentation do we need to submit with our application? Do we need a Visa for each of us or can we apply for some sort of family Visa? Any and all information you can provide about this topic would be most helpful.

Posted by
4555 posts

The absolute best source for this information is the Italian consulate in San Francisco. Each case is different, so any advice you may find here (highly inlikely in any event) may not apply to your situation. You will certainly need proof of funds to support yourselves for the year, at the minimum. And if you still haven't applied for a visa now, and plan to leave in July of this year, don't be surprised if you have to postpone your departure until the paperwork comes through.

Posted by
223 posts

you should read through the forums at expattalk.com - lots of answers from others in simmilar situations :-)

Posted by
805 posts

I agree completely. Call the Italian Consulate in SF and ask them. It's their job to assist you in such matters.

Posted by
2 posts

Unfortunately it is not that simple. I have read the website and it is not clear on the questions I raise. The Italian consulate website also says they will not answer questions about obtaining Visas over the phone. I have sent them numerous e-mails and they have yet to answer my questions. It is rather frustrating.

Posted by
805 posts

Do a google search for folks who live abroad in Italy. I'm sure there's more than a few websites where this information exists.