Visas

Before getting started, it is useful to check the requirements for an entry visa to Italy as needed. Please visit the page vistoperitalia.esteri.it or click on the following link for all informations about general rules and practical instructions about visas for Italy:

ATTENTION – IMPORTANT NOTICE!

• Pursuant to Council Implementing Decision (EU) 2024/1341 of 29 April 2024, suspending certain articles of the Visa Code for Ethiopian citizens, please note that it is necessary to submit the visa application and all supporting documentation having in mind that the standard timeline for processing the application is 45 days. Therefore, users are strongly recommended to submit the application taking into account the aforementioned timeline.
• Visa applicants shall come in person on the day of their appointment, and cannot delegate others, to submit their own visa application form (duly filled and signed) and all the supporting documents and provide their fingerprints (when required).
• Fingerprints will not be collected in the following cases:
  • children younger than twelve years of age;
  • applicants who are physically unable to be fingerprinted;
  • Heads of State and Head of Government as well as of National Governments members, including their accompanying spouses and members of their official delegation.

  VISA APPLICATION FORMS AND DOCUMENTS TO BE PRESENTED

  The supporting documents to be attached to the visa application are detailed on the following pages:

  • Short term visa, which includes the following visa categories:
    • Tourism visa
    • Business visa
    • Sport visa
    • Medical visa
    • Official
    • Study visa
    • Dependent work visa

    The visa application and all the supporting documents shall be submitted in hard copy at the time of the appointment. Documents submitted by email or fax will not be filed.

    Make sure to be able to submit all necessary documents on the day of your appointment.

    You are kindly requested to provide both original documents and a copy of them.

    In special cases the embassy avails itself the right to require further documents.

    HOW DO I APPLY FOR MY VISA?

    VFS Global’s Visa Application Centre (VAC) is the external partner of the Embassy of Italy in Addis Ababa in charge of acquiring short-term visa applications (Schengen visas up to 90 days). Such service is available for residents in the three countries of accreditation of the Embassy of Italy: Ethiopia, Djibouti and South Sudan.

    It is possible to book appointments online 24/24 by visiting the website https://visa.vfsglobal.com/eth/en/ita/

    If no appointments are available, the VFS offers the possibility of applying without an appointment, through the ‘walk-in’ system.

    The contact details of the centre are as follows:

    • Address:Haimi Apartment Hotel (1st floor, Home number 74), Bole Sub City, Woreda 3, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
    • Working hours: The centre operates on Wednesdays and Fridays from 09.30am to 12.00pm.
    • Tel: +251 960 43 7204 (from 08:00 to 15:00).
    • Email:info.italyet@vfshelpline.com

    To file your visa application trough the VFS Global visa application centre, we invite you to book your appointment through the VFS booking platform.

    Visa applicants not willing to file their visa application at the VFS Global centre, may still submit it at the Visa Section of the Embassy of Italy, appointments can be booked by sending an email to the following address: addisabeba.enquiry@esteri.it.

    WARNING! Visa applicants are requested NOT to show up at the Visa Section of the Embassy of Italy in Addis Ababa unless they have received the appointment confirmation by email, duly printed.

    • each applicant shall book one appointment for each person. Please be informed that groups of people who have booked a single appointment will result in the acceptance of only one application.
    • if you cancel your appointment, you will not be allowed to reschedule it by phone, email or in person. You will need to make a new by sending a new email to addisabeba.enquiry@esteri.it.
    • For special cases or in situations of proven urgency, please contact the visa section at the following email address: addisabeba.enquiry@esteri.it

    Lastly, please note that the following categories of applicants should apply for visas exclusively at the visa section of the Embassy of Italy in Addis Ababa, making an appointment by emailing addisabeba.enquiry@esteri.it, and NOT through the VFS agency:

    1. spouses, stable partners, parents (mother/father) and children of Italian citizens accompanying/accompanying the Italian/EU citizen for periods of less than three months;
    2. spouses, stable partners, parents (mother/father) and children of Italian citizens who intend to reunite with the family member permanently residing in Italy;
    3. representatives of the government of Ethiopia, Djibouti and South Sudan on an official mission, with supporting Note Verbale from the relevant Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
    4. representatives of embassies, African Union, United Nations and International Organizations holding diplomatic or service passports, traveling on official missions with a supporting Note Verbale from their respective organization;
    5. people requiring visas for medical treatment;
    6. applicants holding an expired or stolen Italian residence permit (permesso di soggiorno);
    7. people requiring visas for family reunification.

    HOW DO I COLLECT MY VISA?

    if you filed your visa application throug the VFS Global visa application center:

    • you will receive an appointment from the VFS staff on the date of submission of your visa application

    if you filed your visa application to the Visa section of the Italian Embassy (through the online booking system):

    • you will receive an appointment from the staff of the Embassy on the date of submission of your visa application

    Applicants who have been issued a visa are requested to carefully read the information concerning “Rights and duties of foreign citizens entering Italy” available at the following links:

    • Rights and duties of foreign nationals for entry or short-stay of up to 90 days in the Schengen Area
    • Rights and duties of foreign nationals for long-term stays in Italy (over 90 days)

    PROTECTION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH REFERENCE TO THE PROCESSING OF PERSONAL DATA