ITALY TOURIST VISA FOR PHILIPPINE PASSPORT HOLDERS

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Ciao! A common greeting in Italy, the country of romance and history. So, what is Italy known for? Foods like pasta and pizza, artwork like Michelangelo’s Statue of David, landmarks like the Colosseum are amongst the most famous things Italy is known for. But Italy’s culture has also worked its way into an abundance of modern movies, art and fashion, too.

In order for Filipinos to travel to this gorgeous country, one must need a Schengen Visa for Italy to make it possible. In this article, I will guide you on how to apply for a Italian Schengen Visa with your Philippine Passport.

Who is eligible to apply for an Italian short-term visa?

If you plan to apply for your Schengen Visa at the ItalianVisa Application Centre, your main destination and the maximum period of stay in the Schengen States must be in Italy. Apply only at the Embassy of Italy only if ANY of these is true and you must provide proof to support that Italy is:
  • Your main destination – Sa Italy lang kayo pupunta and will not visit any other country.
  • The country with a maximum period of stay– you will visit multiple Schengen countries, but you will stay the longest in Italy.
  • Your country related to the main purpose of travel– you will visit multiple Schengen countries, but the main purpose of your journey is in Italy. (Example: you will attend a wedding or a conference in Italy, but you plan on going out to other Schengen countries while you’re there.)
  • The State of first entry– you will stay in multiple Schengen countries for the same number of days, but Italy is your first point of entry, meaning, Italy will be your first entry. 

Note: You can’t apply at the Italian Embassy when the only country you’re visiting is France. You can’t apply at the Italian Embassy if you’ll be staying in France for one week and in Italy for two days.

Important Documents to Prepare

1. A duly filled out and signed Italian Visa application form through this link.

2. Two current biometrical passport photos (35-45 mm width)– have your passport photo taken. The embassy is very strict on their photo specifications. Fortunately, they have a page on their official website dedicated to explaining this. Bring at least two copies or more, just in case. One photo should be glued to the application form. The second photo will be returned to you.

  • Taken with nothing covering the face, without sunglasses or contact lenses, or a head covering unless worn for religious or medical reasons.
  • The subject should have their mouth closed (no grinning, frowning or raised eyebrows). 

After which, paste your photo on each of the electronic visa form that you completed online (1 original and 1 photocopy of the form).

3.  Original Passport and a Photocopy of it as well as the Bio Page– The embassy requires that your passport is valid for at least another three months on the date the visa application is submitted. It also must have two empty pages for them to stamp your passport. If you have renewed your passport, bring your old one/s with you. These are needed especially if you have previous overseas trips.

Look: 33 Countries Where Philippine Passport Holders Can Visit Without a Visa

4. Proof of travel/ Travel plan (travel destination, route, proof of accommodation, and itinerary) – a copy of the roundtrip airline booking with dates and flight numbers specifying entry and exit from Italy. With the necessary documents needed, this should clearly state the purpose of your travel. You just need to show a flight itinerary from the Philippines that should cover your entry and exit to and from Italy and to all Schengen countries of destinations, including your exit and entry from MANILA TO MANILA (EX. MANILA-ITALY-FRANCE-ITALY-MANILA). 

      • cover letter addressed to the Italian Embassy Consul. If you are a first-time traveler to Italy, please submit an informal declaration through a cover letter explaining your willingness to return to the Philippines before the expiration of your visa: What exactly will be an incentive for you to return to the Philippines, and can you submit proofs for these circumstances?
      • Your day-to-day itinerary – be specific in indicating the place you will visit and the tours you will join or take. A good convincing itinerary requires planning and time to create. If you need help how to create one, watch my video: https://youtu.be/kME1VdZdRiw 
      • Flight reservation – Reservation ONLY. Do not pay for your flight reservations until your visa is approved. You can avail of my services for a dummy ticket so that I can assist you with your flight reservations. Get a flight reservation here.

5. Proof of accommodation or Hotel reservations – you would need to show hotel bookings, but this does not mean that you must pay for your hotel reservations this early. 

    • For Tourist, you would need to show Hotel Bookings, Hostels, Airbnb or apartment.
    • If you’re staying to a friend or family’s house, make sure you have:
      • an informal Invitation Letter from both:

        Document of identity, proof of citizenship/permit of stay from the inviting person: either a photocopy of the sponsor’s passport/  residence card/  registration of residency
        your host/ relative/ partner who is based in Italy– the content should include the host’s exact address of residence, the purpose of your travel, and the full duration of your travel and stay at your host’s country.

6. Travel Insurance – the coverage must be applied during the entire duration of the trip in Italy and must be valid for all Schengen countries. Coverage sum must be AT LEAST EUR 30,000 (Php 2.5 million or USD 50,000). I highly recommend Pioneer Insurance which you can avail yourself through me. Feel free to directly inquire through JASTravel on Facebook and I would be very glad to assist you. 

For the list of recommended Schengen insurance companies in the Philippines, you can also check it through https://www.vfsglobal.com/Italy/Philippines/pdf/New-Insurance-Visit-Family.pdf . And it is also great to know that Pioneer Insurance is one them!

7. Proof of vaccination– As most European countries have decided to welcome vaccinated travelers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This means that the following vaccines are accepted in Italy:


8. Proof of Funds or Financial Capacity – these documents are necessary to prove that you can either support yourself or your sponsor can cover your expenses financially during the whole duration of your travel.

    • If applying as a Tourist or as a Visitor without a Sponsor – this means that you will cover all your expenses during the entire duration of your travel.
      • Bank statements – must show records of the past six months. A bank statement shows your transactions in your account at a specific period. It will show debits (withdrawals, payments, taxes, service fees) and credits (deposits, interest earned.) Bank Statements can also be seen online especially if you have a registered account. There is no signature for the manager or a bank officer.
      • Bank Certificate – it is a confirmation by the branch manager or a bank officer that you have an existing account in their bank. It shows the account number, the type, and other details such as the opening date of your account, your account balance as of the date of request, and your average daily balance. 
      • Other proof of income (supporting documents) – although it is not really required, you can submit invoices and pay slip equivalent to prove that you earn enough to support this trip financially. 

    • If applying as a Tourist or as a Visitor with a Sponsor – this means that your host and/or sponsor (family, friend, partner, or fiancé) pledges to take full responsibility to cover all the expenses that you will incur during the whole duration of your travel.

If you maintain a bank account for a long time, better maintain it. Kahit na may sponsor ka, of course, plus points pa din sa visa application mo if idadagdag mo din bank statements mo, payslips from our employer, and other proof na financially capable ka din and most importantly, it proves deep rootedness as well.

Sponsorship Letter which should state the fact that he/ she is inviting you to come over, your relationship with each other, and that he/ she is willing to sponsor you during your trip. Of course, it needs to have documentary proof. 

Original Affidavit of Support, legalized by the Italian municipality where the sponsor is registered 

The sponsor’s copies of: passport including the biodata page and travel history (passport stamps) and Resident ID card

Recent proof of income of the sponsor (3 last months’ salary slips, etc.)

If your sponsor is from Italy, make sure to request: Proof of Sponsorship called Dichiarazione Garanzia Eo Alloggio (in Italian) you can download it here- https://vistoperitalia.esteri.it/Moduli/it/DICHIARAZIONEALLOGGIOGARANZIA.PDF

To know more about additional requirements that you would need from your sponsor, check out my YouTube video: https://youtu.be/SEad8VHVkLk

9. Proof of Civil Status – Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Death Certificate of the spouse, etc. These documents must be issued on security paper (SECPA) by the Philippine Statistics Authority, see http://www.psaserbilis.com.ph

Note: The birth certificate does not need to be authenticated by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.

10. Evidence of your rootedness in the Philippines – Evidence of deep-rootedness a.k.a. strong family and social ties to your home country, is one of the most critical requirements when applying for a Schengen Visa. It is what the Consul will look for in your visa application. So how do you prove that you are firmly established in the Philippines and that you will go back to your home country?

    • For Employees: 
      • Employment or Work contract and bank account statements or payslips showing the transfer of your last six-monthly salaries 
      • Certificate of Employment which should include the employer’s full name, complete address, telephone number with area code, details regarding the position, income, and employment duration
      • Approved letter of approved leave signed by your employer (Leave of Absence letter)
      • Optional: Signed No Objection Certificate which states that your employer has no objection for you to travel to Italy and that they have approved your leave request
      • Most recent Income Tax Return 2316 (ITR) 
      • Optional Supporting Documents:
        › Government Mandated Contributions – SSS, Pag-ibig, Philhealth Contributions
        › If with existing loan – SSS Loan or Pag-ibig Salary loan
    • For Self-Employed:
      • DTI Business Name Registration Certificate
      • Barangay Business Clearance
      • Mayor’s Business Permit from your Municipality where the business address has been registered
      • Business activity of your company for the last 6 months – invoices and bank transactions
      • Most recent Income Tax Return 2316 (ITR)
    • For Retirees: 
          • Pension statement for the last 6 months
          • Retirement Certification
    • Others (No work, No Business, etc.): Family as Proof of Rootedness:
          • For Solo parents:
            › A copy of your birth certificate- PSA Authenticated
            › A copy of your child/children’s birth certificate- PSA Authenticated
            › Solo parent ID
            › Barangay Certification as Solo parent
            › Notarized Affidavit of Solo Parent with Undertaking
            › Money remittances to support your dependents
          • For those who are supporting or watching over the health/well-being of the family:
            A copy of my parent’s birth certificates- PSA Authenticated
            › If parents are already Senior Citizens: a copy of their Senior Citizen ID and Barangay Certification as Senior Citizens
            › If parents have sickness/ illness: Medical history of parents (diabetes, hypertension, etc.)
    • For Minors
          • Affidavit of Support by parents or Legal Guardian with their proof of means
          • Proof of Enrollment and certificate of leave of absence
          • DSWD Travel Clearance

Helpful tips: Additional document requirements for a minorhttps://youtu.be/aVUq5nbmQig

Step-by-Step Guide on How to Apply for a Italian Schengen Visa

STEP 1: Determine whether you will apply for a TOURIST VISA or a VISIT VISA by going to this link and have a look at the checklist of requirements to gather all the documents that you need to submit. Each application must comply with the guidelines applicable for your visa category. 

Tourist visa requirements is almost the same for visit visa requirements.

ItalyTouristVisa.png

STEP 2: Gather all your documents for whichever category of visa you will apply for. Your application should be supported by a handful of paperwork, which I will discuss in detail in the next section.

Note: Once you have completed all your documents based on the checklist, make sure to secure another copy for each document. 

STEP 3: Once your requirements are complete, you can lodge your application at VIA PH application center. For short term visa, they are the one tasked by the Italian Embassy to collect the documents and biometrics. You can go there Monday to Thursday from 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM and Friday from 8:00 AM to 1:30 PM. No appointments are necessary.
    • VIA Center Makati Address: 3rd Flr Allegro Center, Chino Roces Ave, Makati, 2284 Metro Manila, Philippines
    • VIA Center Cebu Address: 1004, Keppel Bldg, Cardinal Rosales Avenue Cor Samar Loop, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu

STEP 4: Show up on your appointment date at and bring all your documents as well as a photocopy of each. They will then collect your documents as well as your Passport, get your biometrics, and collect the Visa Fee.

STEP 5: Wait for the result and collect your passport. You will be notified when your passport is ready for collection from the visa center where you applied.

Quick Facts

  • Validity of Visa : Short-stay Schengen visas allow people to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days every six-month period
  • Processing time: The average processing time is 2 weeks, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic, where visa staff work on a skeletal schedule, it may take between 2 to 4 weeks.
  • Where to lodge your application:
    • VIA Center Makati Address
      3rd Flr Allegro Center, Chino Roces Ave, Makati, 2284 Metro Manila, Philippines 
    • VIA Center Cebu Address
      1004, Keppel Bldg, Cardinal Rosales Avenue Cor Samar Loop, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu
  • Embassy’s Information: Embassy of Italy, Manila
    • Address: 5/F Tower B, One Campus Place, McKinley Hill, Taguig City
    • Contact Number: 0063 (0)2 8892 4531-4
    • E-mail Address: visti.manila@esteri.it
    • Website: ambmanila.esteri.it
  • Visa and Service Fees:
    • Above 12 years old: PHP 4,510 (80 Euro)
    • 6 to 11 years: PHP 2,260 (40 Euro)
    • Children under 6 years: Free of charge
    • Additional Visa processing and biometric fee: Php 1,350 per applicant (inclusive of return courier & all applicable taxes)

Recap and Tips

So, just a quick recap and a reminder, please don’t forget these TIPS: 

Helpful tips: You can also watch my Vlog about how to apply for Italy Tourist Visa on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Go3oXCI6Bw

So, that’s it! I hope that I was able to guide you on how to apply for an Italy Schengen Visa with your Philippine Passport. If you ever need help, you can avail my visa application bundleand I will be glad to help you through the process!

One thought on “ITALY TOURIST VISA FOR PHILIPPINE PASSPORT HOLDERS

  1. Hi Miss,

    I have been watching you vlogs on youtube. In fact I only referenced your videos when I applied for my first Schengen Visa for Italy. Unfortunately, it was denied as I had no sufficient means of subsistence and proof of ties here in the Philippines. I was invited by my Italian partner (we are gays – unmarried) in December 2022 and he promised to cover all of my travel expenses which the documents I submitted from him were enough. I did not file for an appeal as I know I still have to improve my situation.

    These the are the plans that I have for this year before I will apply for another short-term visa in June or July 2023.

    1. I am saving money with a targeted amount of Php 177,000.00.
    2. I acquired an apartment unit. Someone pawned it to me for 2 years. I have the contract that I am the owner of this unit for a period of 2 years. Currently, this apartment is rented by somebody.
    3. I will acquire another property in March 2023. It’s a farm land over a hectare. This property will be pawned to me for 5 years.
    4. I have a job and I will try to get an approved leaves
    5. I will travel to Thailand in April just to get a passport stamp.

    Please let me know if with the plans I have, will I have a higher chance to get a Schengen Visa approved? I just want to be reunited with my partner.

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