Italy is one of the most beautiful European countries which is why it attracts many visitors every year. Among the landmarks one can visit in Italy there is also the small city of Vatican which is known as the home of the Catholic Religion. Visitors are one of the reasons why the Italian immigration authorities issue short-term visas.
These visas are usually issued for specific purposes and among them, the religious visa is one of the most sought by people all over the world. Below, our immigration lawyers in Italy explain the procedure of obtaining a religious visa. You can rely on us for assistance obtaining various types of visas, including Italian religious visas.
If you are interested in Italian citizenship, our lawyers are at your service.
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Who can apply for a religious visa for Italy?
The religious visa is available for those seeking to enter Italy for religious purposes. The persons who can obtain such a visa are:
- priests;
- religious men (monks);
- religious women (nuns);
- other persons who work in the religious field.
The procedure for obtaining an Italian religious visa is not complicated, however, being a special type of visa, specific documents and authorizations are required.
The Italian religious visa is also known as a missionary visa because it is issued to those coming to Italy for specific religious activities.
Our immigration lawyers in Italy can offer detailed information on the requirements related to obtaining a missionary visa and the steps to complete during the procedure.
Documents required for an Italian missionary visa
The list of documents which need to be filed with the Italian Consulate or Embassy in the applicant’s country contains:
- the visa application form which needs to be downloaded (various forms are available based on the duration of the stay);
- recent photographs in a passport size are mandatory when applying for a religious visa for Italy;
- the valid passport of the applicant which needs to be at least 3 months valid at the time the application is filed;
- the flight ticket (a round trip ticket is required) or other proof of means of transportation is also requested;
- documents attesting to the religious profession of the applicant (such as a letter issued by the parish or congregation the applicant belongs to);
- information about the religious event or mission the applicant will participate to in Italy;
- an invitation letter from an Italian church or mission can also be presented as supporting evidence;
- health insurance for the duration of the stay and proof of financial means for support during the stay;
- other documents depending on the country of origin of the applicant could be required.
Our specialists in immigration to Italy can offer more information on how to apply for a religious visa for Italy. We can also advise those who want to convert their religious visas into Italian residence permits if they decide to move here or have obtained employment in the country. Employment is also a suitable way to ensure Italian citizenship.
The procedure of obtaining an Italian religious visa
The procedure related to obtaining a religious visa for Italy will start with a visit of the applicant to the Italian Consulate or Embassy in his/home country. If the applicant also wants to apply for the visa at that moment, the above-mentioned documents must be presented.
Once the documents are filed, the visa will be issued in approximately one week.
Our immigration lawyers in Italy advise those who want to apply for various types of visas in their home countries to research the documents required thoroughly. If they feel more comfortable, they can send their request to us and we will guide them on the application procedure for the religious visa.
We can also help you apply for a residence permit and Italy citizenship by investment.
What to consider when applying for a religious visa in Italy
Those who want to come to Italy based on a religious visa must consider a few aspects. Among these are:
- the religious visa can be issued for a period of less than 90 days or more than 90 days;
- the application forms and health insurance requirements are different for the two types of visas;
- if an invitation letter is filed when applying for the visa, the Italian church or congregation will become the sponsor of the applicant;
- in the case of students coming to Italy for religious purposes, a student visa is required, not the religious one;
- the visa application procedure can be expedited based on a fee imposed by the Italian Consulate or Embassy.
The procedure of obtaining a religious visa for Italy is not complicated as long as all the documents are in order, however, people from certain countries could encounter language difficulties, which is why a satisfactory level of English is advised prior to applying for the visa.
Feel free to contact us if you need assistance in applying for a religious visa for Italy. If you have questions about the residence permit in Italy, we are at your disposal for details.
You should know that you can obtain a permanent residence permit as well. If this is something that is of your interest, if you plan to remain here indefinitely, you should know that, at some point, provided that you meet the basic requirements, you can also apply for citizenship in Italy.
Citizenship is generally acquired by naturalization, the process through which a person lives here as a permanent resident.
If you want to move to Italy for the purpose of becoming a citizen, you can request all the necessary information from our team of lawyers.
Citizenship will imply that you are familiarized with the Italian society, culture and history, that you know the Italian language, and that you are part of the Italian tax system as well, these being some of the basic requirements.
Citizenship can be obtained through many legal pathways – it is open to persons who arrived on humanitarian grounds, those who arrived for employment, those who relocated to be close to their family members, to businessmen, etc.
The simplest way to citizenship for investors is to apply for the Golden Visa in Italy, which can grant them access to permanent residency.