A Stress-Free Guide to Getting an Italy Schengen Visa in New York

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“Do I need a visa for Italy? And how do I get an Italy visa in New York?” You’re probably here because these questions have popped into your mind as you’re planning a trip to Italy. Between the forms, required documents, and the confusing appointment process, it can get overwhelming fast. Where do you even start? 

Luckily for you, I’m here to break it all down for you! I have just gone through the process of applying for an Italy visa in New York. Initially, I just wanted to hire a travel agency to do everything for me. Until I realized…they were asking for hundreds of dollars to just fill out the visa application! We’ll have to still work on everything else ourselves. I’m shocked. What is this highway robbery?   

And that’s what led me to do all the research. Here’s an easy-to-follow guide, from my experience, to take you through the process step by step. The in-person interview section is tailored for New York applicants.

Let’s do this!

My Tricky Scenario

Before we begin, I’ll explain our situation and how it affected our application, in case you’re facing similar challenges. This will prevent a lot of your future headaches from having to dig into the web for answers.

On a recent trip to Italy, we had to apply for the Schengen tourist visa for 2 out of 7 people in the group. Not too bad, right? Nope. The two (my grandparents) that needed a visa were the trickiest of the bunch to apply for an Italy tourist visa. 

Why? Because of these reasons:

1. Green card holders with a Chinese passport (requires visa)
2. Retired with no income (no financial proof, requires a financial sponsor)
3. Both grandparents were over 70 years old (not eligible for A LOT of travel insurance because of age limit)

So if you’re in the same situation, keep reading! 

Do You Need A Visa for Italy?

So who needs to apply for a visa to Italy?

Schengen Visa vs National Visa

For starters, there’s the Schengen visa and the National visa. What’s the difference you ask?

Schengen visa is for short-term visits. You’ll be able to travel to any of the 28 Schengen Countries for a maximum of 90 days (within a 180-day period). This short-term visit can be for tourism or business. 

National visa is for long-term stays over 90 days. It could be for work, study, family, and many other reasons. 

I’ll be focusing on the visa process for tourism in this post. 

Italy Visa for US Travelers

If you’re a US citizen, congrats! You can visit Italy for tourism or business visa free for up to 90 days (in a 180-day period). Although, this might change soon once ETIAS (a new travel requirement for visa-exempt visitors) comes into effect. Luckily, ETIAS is on hold until at least the end of 2026. 

For US green card holders, your visa requirement to Italy all depends on the country of your citizenship. This questionnaire can quickly determine whether you need to apply for a Schengen visa. It’ll even list the documents you’ll need to bring to your visa appointment at the consulate!

How to Schedule An Appointment for Italy Visa

Let’s talk about the biggest headache of the visa process: scheduling an appointment with the General Consulate of Italy. That’s right! Appointment slots fill up weeks in advance as soon as they’re released!

Seriously, it’s like a fight to grab an open appointment slot. That’s why, once you’ve decided on your trip, don’t wait! Schedule that appointment ASAP. You can figure everything out afterwards. 

Honestly, this is where we almost gave into the travel agency that wants to quote us $200 just to help with the visa appointment scheduling. That’s right, just “scheduling”, since we’re required to go to the in-person interview ourselves. Until… I found the secret to booking an appointment slot. 

The system releases new appointment slots at midnight every day. This is where most people get it wrong. It’s based on midnight in Rome! That means you need to convert it into your own time zone. For example, midnight in Rome is 6 PM in NY. To be the first to grab a slot, you’ll need to refresh the webpage at 6 PM.  

Steps to Scheduling Your Italy Visa Appointment

So here’s all the steps you should follow to schedule your Italy visa appointment!

1. First, create an account on Prenot@mi portal.
2. Since there are multiple Consulate General of Italy throughout the USA, select the location that has jurisdiction to your state. 
3. There is an option for single booking or multiple bookings. If 2 or more people need to apply for a visa, select multiple bookings. Only one appointment is required in this case. 
4. You can reserve only one appointment at a time. If you want to change your appointment to a different location or time, you need to cancel your current reservation. 
5. Important: The appointment must be confirmed 3 to 10 days before the scheduled date. 

That’s it! You’ve scheduled your visa appointment! Now, you can gather up the rest of the documents while waiting for the important day. On the day of your appointment, dress up nicely to leave a good impression at the in-person interview.

Where to Apply in New York

In New York, you can apply for a visa to Italy at the Consulate General of Italy.

• Address: 690 Park Ave, New York , NY 10065
• Provide service to: residents of NY, Connecticut, NJ (select counties only*), Bermuda
• Website to book an appointment online: Prenot@mi

* eligible New Jersey counties: Bergen, Hudson, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Union, Warren, Essex, Middlesex, Monmouth, Hunterdon, Mercer, Somerset

Consulate General of Italy’s FAQ for more information. 

Processing Time and Visa Fees

Visa fees: €90 (subject to change, always check for the latest amount)

• Only money order or certified bank check 
• Payable to: Consulate General of Italy

Processing Time: 7-15 days depending on nationality and type of visa

In my case, they sent my grandparents’ passports and visa the very next day!

What Documents Are Required for A Schengen Visa in New York

• Entry visa application form
• Recent passport photo taken within the last 6 months
• Valid passport
  • Expiration date must be 3+ months after the visa dates
  • You must also have 2 empty VISA pages
• Proof of legal status in the US (expiration must be 3+ months after visa dates)
  • Green card
  • Long term visa (no B1/B2)
• Copy of your return ticket (proving you’re leaving the country after trip date)
• Travel insurance with a minimum of €30,000 for medical expenses. Must be valid throughout Schengen area.
  • I always use SafetyWing for my travels because I can add in additional countries at anytime.
  • For seniors over 70, you can find travel insurance through Insurte.
• Proof of accommodation 
• Proof of financial means (the applicant has enough money to cover for all trip expenses and back)
  • Bank statements 
  • Employment letters
• Proof of residency (showing you’re at the right consulate): any of the following
  • Driver’s license
  • Last 3 months of utility bills
  • Federal State Income Tax Return
• Photocopies of all original documents
• Visa applicant fee
• Pre-paid Priority Mail envelope with the applicants address filled out

If you need to get one last minute, there’s a post office 2-3 blocks from the Consulate (NYC). There’s also a third-party shipping company that’s only one block away. They’ll print out the label for you for an extra $10 service fee! Don’t fall for it like I do. This is totally unnecessary. You can definitely handwrite the label.

How to Apply for Schengen Visa Without Income (Financial Proof)

The application process definitely gets trickier if you don’t have a proof of income or bank statements showing you have the funds to cover for all your trip expenses. 

In cases like these, you’ll be required to show that you have a sponsor for the trip. There’s someone that is providing the funds for you to travel. Explain in a cover letter your circumstances, the purpose of your trip, your source of travel funds, and your strong ties to your country of residence. You’ll also be required to provide proof of relationship between you and the sponsor. 

In my case, my grandparents were retired (no income) and they have no bank statements to show. However, 7 of us were going on a family trip. My aunt was the sponsor in this case. Their parent-daughter relationship is easy to prove with a birth certificate. We provided my aunt’s bank statements as well as 3 months of paystubs. 

FYI, sponsors are not required to show up at the in-person interview. 

What to Expect for the Appointment at the Italy Consulate

First, dress nicely for the interview! You want to leave a good impression. 

Make sure you get to the consulate early! You risk being refused entry if you’re late. 

Note: We can’t go through the main entrance on Park Ave for visa services. Instead, circle around the building and find the side entrance on the 69th street. Press the doorbell and wait for the staff to verify your name and appointment time before buzzing you in. 

Only one person can accompany applicants inside. As a result, I accompanied my grandparents into the consulate as a translator, while my aunt (the sponsor) waits outside.

Once inside, the process went quickly. Seriously, I didn’t even get to sit before we were called. Only one applicant is allow to approach the service window at a time. Submit the paperworks all at once and answer questions regarding your trip plans (dates, purposes, people on the trip). Once the interview is done, you’ll get your fingerprints taken. And that’s it! 

Now you just have to get ready to receive your passport in the mail! 

Final Thoughts

And just like that—you’re ready to tackle the Italy visa process like a pro. A bit of effort is needed, but just think of the rewards: enjoying pasta in Rome, exploring Venice, and shopping till you drop in Milan. You’ve got this.

Now that your visa checklist is sorted, why not dive into the fun part? We’ve crafted detailed itineraries just for you!

• 3 Days in Rome for First Time Visitors
• The Perfect 2 Days in Venice on a First Visit