Leaders in Italian immigration Law & VISA services
Distinctive beauty, new lifestyle opportunities, and different experiences: we can’t list everything Italy has to offer. Do you have Italian ancestors and are you looking to obtain Italian citizenship? Are you planning to move to Italy to reunite with your family, to work, to retire, to invest or others? Our team of immigration lawyers are here to guide you in analysing all the requirements and in obtaining your visa, residency or citizenship according to your specific situation and needs.
If you wish to know whether you are eligible to be acknowledged as Italian based on your Italian ancestry, take our assessments:
Italian visa application
Apply for the type of short or long-term Italian visa that best suits your needs, and request your residence permit.
Applying for an Italian visa requires thorough preparation, adherence to specific guidelines and knowledge of the relevant legal provisions. The type of visa you need will depend on the purpose of your trip. The application process always involves:
- filling out a Visa application form to be found on the Consulate’s website,
- preparing relevant supporting documentation,
- attending an appointment with the Italian Consulate,
- paying the fees amounting up to 116 EUR.
However, long-term Visas often require the preliminary step of requesting a Certificate of No Impediment, so-called “Nulla Osta” in Italy.
Our immigration attorneys will provide support with the collection of all the documents you need and the completion of all correct procedural phases to ensure that you accurately file your application.
Italian visa options
Depending on your needs and specific circumstances, you can identify the correct Visa application.
By browsing our website, you can explore all Italian visa options and their related requirements.
Moreover, our team of Italian attorneys specialized in Immigration and International mobility law will guide you in identifying the right visa for your specific case. They will handle your residence permit application. And they will provide the guidelines you need throughout the whole process.
Foreign nationals willing to enter and circulate within the Schengen area:
- who are not nationals of a country whose citizens can enter the Schengen area for reasons related to business, tourism for up to 90 days every semester without a visa, based on specific international conventions;
- who do not have a valid residence permit issued by any of the Schengen States.
On the following official source of the EU, you can find the list of Countries from which a Schengen Visa to enter Italy is mandatory, and those from which a Visa is not required (always considering the passport of the traveller and not the mere country of departure)
In general, the following documents are often required.
- A completed visa application form, signed by the applicant.
- A recent passport-sized photo.
- Proof of travel arrangements, such as flight reservations.
- Proof of accommodation arrangements in Italy, such as hotel reservations or a rental agreement.
- Proof of financial means to support oneself during the stay in Italy, such as bank statements or a tax return.
- Proof of health insurance coverage in Italia.
However, this is general information that may not always suit your specific Visa application and your specific circumstances. Additional documentation – such as a letter of invitation from a business partner, proof of enrolment in an Italian educational institution or a job offer from an Italian employer – will be necessary to support your application, depending on the purpose of the trip and the type of Visa you qualify for.
- Short-Term visa processing time usually varies between a few days to a month.
- Long Term Visa processing time usually varies between a week to 3 months.
You can find more specific information on each type of Visa and its average processing time on the specific page of this website.
Other immigration services
Family reunions and family cohesion
If you intend to reunite with a close family member and obtain a residence permit in Italy for this reason, visit the section dedicated to the Family Unity of this website.
The conversion of your residence permit
You already have a residence permit in Italy but you would like to change your status, obtain a permanent residence permit, obtain the possibility of working after entering Italy as a student, discover these and other options available in the section of this website dedicated to Conversions of Residence Permits.
Italian citizenship
Apply for Italian Citizenship based on your continuous residency in Italy, your Italian ancestry, your marriage with an Italian citizen or other legal grounds.
International protection
Check out the requirements to apply for international protection based on Italian, European and International Law.
”Delighted”
I am delighted with the expertise and service Avv. Derossi and Dott.ssa Cabrera provided to reacquire my Italian Citizenship. Both Avv. Derossi and Dott.ssa Cabrera always responded promptly, professionally, and accurately to any of my inquiries via email or phone. Avv. Derossi and Dott.ssa Cabrera made themselves available anytime via phone. My case may have been unique due to the lengthy process with the US Department of State while I had entered Italy with my dog. The delay with the US Dept. of State made me anxious about managing the situation without overstaying my visa. Dott. ssa Cabrera’s consultation and securing an appointment with the competent authorities in the City of Parma ensured that everything went smoothly. I will recommend Lexia to any future clients.
Franco
”Excellent”
I engaged Lexia to help with the lengthy process of gaining Italian dual citizenship for myself and several family members via a petition to the court in Rome. While the process was at times difficult and time consuming, especially as it related to document collection, I would like to say that the attorneys at Lexia were very helpful and very professional. The lead attorney in my case was Pietro DeRossi and he did an excellent job. He was professional, very patient with all my questions, and easy to work with. He successfully petitioned the court and was able to secure our dual citizenship. As part of this process I also interacted with several other attorneys/staff at Lexia with varying degrees of frequency. My only complaint, and it’s not such a big complaint, would be that I wish the process were a little less expensive. Then again, we do now have Italian passports!
Separate from the dual citizenship process, I would also like to note that Lexia was helpful in trying to find solutions to lender collateral/title issues based on Italian law. Here again, the attorneys at Lexia were very professional and knowledgeable.
If the need arises, I will likely use Lexia again.
Marc
”Supportive”
Pietro has been a supportive, professional friend through the complex steps of obtaining an Elective Residency Visa. I can only say the most positive things about his performance during this process. He is caring, clear, on-point, and professional under all circumstances. I recommend him to others without any reservations.
McGahey
Find your way through Italy
As a non-EU national, there are many possibilities to enter Italy. Whether you want to travel or whether the goal is to study, start a new life, set up a business or join your loved ones, we can give you all the support you need.
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