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Whether you’re fascinated by the Roman Empire or dreaming of a perfect Cacio e Pepe, make sure you meet all the Italy visa requirements from Qatar. In this guide, we cover the basics: types of visas, required documents, fees, and processing times.
Who Needs Visa for Italy
Qatari citizens need a valid visa to visit Italy. Non-Qatari citizens might not need it for a short trip (up to 90 days) if they are citizens of the Schengen area or other 60 countries outside the European Union, including the USA, Canada, the UK, Japan, New Zealand, and Australia.
To check if you need a visa, use a simple questionnaire on the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs site.
Checklist for Italy Visa
Here’s a provisional checklist you can use to prepare yourself for visiting the VFS Global Centre to apply for an Italian visa:
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Passport valid for 3 months beyond intended stay, with at least two blank pages.
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Schengen visa application form, completed and signed.
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Two passport-sized photos (35 mm x 45 mm) with a white background.
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Copy of a valid Qatar ID.
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Round-trip flight itinerary ticket.
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Proof of sufficient funds — bank statements for the last 3-6 months.
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Proof of accommodation in Italy — hotel reservations or an invitation letter.
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Travel insurance with a minimum coverage of 30,000 euros
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Supporting documentation related to your social and professional status.
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Appointment at the Italy Visa Application Centre
Fees and Processing Time
Here we’ll explain, in general terms, what kind of visas you can apply for in Qatar. After you find one that suits your situation, go straight to the next section — «How to Apply for an Italian Visa from Qatar.»
|
Type of visa |
Fee |
Processing time |
General info and recommendations |
|
Tourist |
— 80 euros (335 QAR) for adults — 40 euros (168 QAR) for children aged 6-12 — Free for children under 6. |
15 days minimum |
A short-stay visa that’s valid for 90 days. If, for any reason other than professional activity, you would like to stay in Italy longer than 3 months, you should apply for a long-stay visa, which will serve as a residence permit. |
|
Transit |
— 80 euros (335 QAR*) adults — 40 euros (168 QAR) for children aged 6-12; — Free for children under 6. |
15 days minimum |
Required when you don’t intend to stay in Italy and you will travel outside the Schengen area. You will also need to provide a valid visa for the country of your final destination. A transit visa obliges you to remain in the international zone of the Italian airport. If you have to change airports or leave the international zone, you must apply for a short-stay visa. |
|
Business |
116 euros (487 QAR*) |
15 days minimum |
You will need to provide documentation proving the actual position of the economic-commercial operator (e.g., operating licence, company registration certificate) as well as a schedule of the stay with business contacts and their contact details in Italy, or a letter of invitation from the Italian company. |
|
Student |
50 euro (210 QAR*) |
15 days minimum |
You’ll need proof of enrollment or acceptance to a university, school, or course to complete your checklist of documents required for the application. You will also need the accommodation certificate — it must be submitted in its original form (no photocopies or documents sent by Posta Elettronica Certificata can be accepted). |
|
Working Holiday |
116 euro (487 QAR*) |
15 days minimum |
This type of visa allows young travellers (aged 18 to 30, except for Australian and Canadian citizens who can apply up to the age of 35) to stay and work in Italy for up to 1 year. This option is available only to citizens of countries that have a bilateral working holiday agreement with Italy, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Korea. Upon arrival in Italy, you must apply for a Permesso di Soggiorno (residence permit) within 8 days to validate your visa. |
|
Digital Nomad |
116 euro (487 QAR*) |
15 days minimum |
Non-EU citizens working remotely can apply for this visa if they earn at least 28,000 euros annually (approximately 116,000 QAR) and have at least six months of experience working remotely. The digital nomad visa is valid for one year. Upon arrival in Italy, you must apply for a Permesso di Soggiorno (residence permit) within 8 days to validate your visa. |
How to Apply for Italy Tourist Visa from Qatar
1. Use a short form to check if you need a visa, and if you do, review the list of required documents for your application. Prepare those documents.
2. Go to the application page on the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs site. Complete the application form, then print it and sign it.
3. Book an appointment at the Visa Application Centre in Doha online. It’s open from Sunday to Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
4. Visit the application centre and apply. Provide biometric data, if required.
5. Pay your fees. You will need to pay a service fee of 30 QAR per applicant. You’ll also have to pay a visa fee, depending on the type of visa you apply for.
6. Track your application. You can track its progress online through the VFS Global site — it typically takes up to 15 days, but for citizens of certain countries (see the full list here), the processing time may be extended to up to 25 days due to prior consultation.
7. Collect your documents. And have a great trip!
