• permits entry for an alien to spend a long stay for an indefinite period with adoptive parents, when an adoption authorisation has been issued by the alien's national authorities;

• personal authorisation issued by the Commission for International Adoptions (Law 476 of 31.12.1998)

Business (Schengen)

• permits entry to an alien wishing to enter the Schengen Area on business, to make contacts or conduct negotiations, to learn or ascertain the use and operation of capital goods purchased or sold under industrial cooperation or commercial contracts;

• documentation attesting to the business status of the applicant;

• documentation attesting to the specific business purposes of the visit; documentation of the inviting company; means of subsistence; travel ticket; availability of accommodation.

Medical treatment (Schengen / National)

• permits entry for a short of long stay, but always for a definite period, to an alien requiring medical treatment at public or licensed private Italian health care facilities. It may also be issued to an accompanying person assisting the sick alien, provided that such person has adequate means of subsistence;

• declaration from the chosen medical facility, stating the type of treatment, the starting date, the length of treatment and the likely cost; a certificate from the medical facility confirming that at least 30% of the total treatment cost has been paid in advance; sufficient resources to pay the balance of the treatment costs; a travel ticket. Authorisation from the Ministry of Health, or a specific Regional Government Resolution, in the case of treatment to be received within the framework of Authorised Humanitarian Action Programmes.

Diplomatic (National)

• issued to an alien holding a diplomatic or service passport to serve at their country's diplomatic/consular missions in Italy or to the Holy See, for the purposes of accreditation or notification. It is also issued to close family members;

• an official request submitted with a Note Verbale by the alien's Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Diplomatic/Consular Mission having competence.

Accompanying family members (National)

• permits entry by an alien intending to accompany to Italy a relative who is an Italian national, or a national of a European Union country, or of a country signatory to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, or a relative who, while being an alien, holds a visa for paid employment, self-employment, study or religious purposes for a period of not less than one year, for the purposes of a long stay, according to the conditions set forth in Sections 28 and 29 of the Consolidated Act, Law 286/1998;

• the alien may request a visa for family members as indicated in Section 29 of Law 286/1998 by exhibiting the "Nulla Osta per Familiare al Seguito" (Clearance for the Entry of an Accompanying Family Member) issued by the "Questura" (central police station) having jurisdiction over the territory. This "Nulla Osta" is not required from the "Questura" for the purposes of granting entry to a non-Italian relative of an Italian national (EU or EEA). The "Questura" is responsible for ascertaining that the person concerned qualifies for entry, by issuing a declaration to this effect.

Sports visa (Schengen)

• permits entry for a short term stay to aliens who are intending to take part in sports events.

• the Italian Olympic Committee or the Sports Federation concerned shall submit the application in the case of recognised sports; in all other cases, the applicant must meet all the requisite conditions for the issue of a tourist visa.

Invitation (Schengen)

• permits an alien to enter the Schengen Area for a short-term stay. The invitation is issued by public or private, but well-known, organisations, institutions or agencies, for the purpose of attending specific or important political, scientific or cultural events, with the accommodation expenses paid by the inviting entity. An alien may also be issued with it by the Italian Judicial Authorities if they wish to summon the person concerned;

• a formal invitation from the inviting Institution, undertaking responsibility for the alien's accommodation expenses; a travel ticket; and the writ of summons issued by the Italian Judicial Authority

Self-employment (Schengen / National)

• permits entry for a short-term or long-term stay to an alien aged fifteen years and above, provided that they have completed their compulsory school education, and wish to practise a trade or profession as a self-employed person;

• the statement issued by the administration concerned attesting that "there are no reasons to oppose the issue of authorisation or challenge the qualifications" of the applicant; attestation regarding the references issued by the Chamber of Commerce or the professional or trade association as relevant; contract and certificate of registration in the company's registry; declaration of liability issued by the competent Labour Inspectorate; statement by the principal, guaranteeing that the person will be paid above the minimum level provided for exemption from paying part of health care costs; a copy of the last balance sheet deposited with the Companies Register; evidence of available appropriate accommodation; "Nulla Osta" (Clearance) from the competent "Questura".

• Statement issued personally to the alien concerned signifying consent by the National Olympics Committee (in the event of a self-employed athlete). A copy of the contract, with the notarised signature of the manager; a statement of liability; a certificate of professional qualification; the provisional "Nulla Osta" (Clearance) from the competent "Questura"; appropriate accommodation (for self-employed performers).

Salaried/paid employment (Schengen / National)

• permits an alien over the age of 15 years who has completed the minimum compulsory schooling period, to enter for a short or long stay, to take up paid employment

• autorisation for the alien to take up employment, dated within the previous six months, issued by the competent Direzione Provinciale del Lavoro - Servizio Politiche del Lavoro, complete with the "Nulla Osta" from the local "Questura". Specific personal permission issued by the National Olympic Committee (in the case of a salaried athlete). Authorisation to work, dated within the previous six months, issued by the Direzione Generale per l'Impiego, Segreteria Collocamento Spettacolo (employed performers); documentation attesting the position or post held by the alien; official request for entry visa

Mission (Schengen / National)

• permits the alien to enter Italy for a short term or long term stay, to occupy a government post, namely as a national civil servant, employee with a public corporation or agency, or an international civil servant, sent to Italy to perform a political, governmental or public function, or a private citizen who, because of the importance of the work performed and the purpose of the stay, may be considered to be of public utility in terms of relations between their own State and Italy. A similar visa may be issued to close family members living with the visa holder.

Religious grounds (Schengen / National)

• permits alien clergymen who are already ordained priests or the equivalent belonging to the denominations included in the list drawn up by the Ministry of Home Affairs, to enter for a short term or long term stay to perform their religious or pastoral work

• documentation attesting to their clerical status; documented guarantees regarding the religious character of the event or the activities mentioned as the grounds for requesting a visa; travel ticket; means of subsistence or, in the event that these are guaranteed by a religious entity, an appropriate statement to this effect issued by that entity

Re-entry (National)

• granted only to aliens who are legally resident in Italy and are momentarily and for contingent reasons without a stay permit (due to theft, loss, etc.) and wish to re-enter Italy, or aliens whose stay permit has expired (but not by more than 60 days);

• loss or theft report submitted to the local police authorities; declaration by the alien confirming the right to continue a long stay in Italy

Residence of choice (National)

• permits foreign nationals wishing to settle in Italy, and who are able to maintain themselves independently without working

• documentation regarding the availability of a home to be chosen for residential purposes; access to independent financial means which can reasonably support continued residence in the future (large income, pensions, allowances, ownership of real estate)

Family reunion (National)

• permits entry into Italy to an alien for the purposes of a long term stay to live with a relative who is an Italian national - or a national of a European Union country, or a country signatory to the Agreement on the European Economic Area - or with a foreign national who has a visa for paid employment in Italy, or for self-employment, study, or residence for religious reasons, of not less than one year, on the conditions provide by Sections 28 and 29 of Law 286/1998

• the foreign national may request a visa for relatives as indicated in Section 29 of Law 286/1998, by exhibiting the "Nulla Osta al Riconguiungimento Familiare" (Family Reunion Clearance Certificate) issued by the local "Questura" police station. A "Nulla Osta" is not required for a foreign national who is a relative of an Italian citizen (or an EU or EEA national): possession of the eligibility requirements must be certified in this latter case by an affidavit

Study (Schengen / National)

• permits an alien intending to attend university or vocational training courses or study courses at recognised Institutes in Italy to enter Italy for a short term or long term stay

• they must aged 14 years and over; documented guarantees must be supplied relating to the course of study; access to the statutory means of subsistence; an insurance policy to cover health care treatment. For any study which requires the exercise of medical activities, it is necessary for the Ministry of Health to issue a certificate beforehand attesting to the person's qualifications to practise

Airport transit visa (Schengen)

• this is only granted to nationals of countries given in Annex 3 of the CCI, and permits a foreign national to gain access to the international area for transiting passengers in an airport during stopovers on an international flights or flights, without entering the territory of the contracting party issuing the visa;

• a valid passport or equivalent travel document, bearing, where necessary, the entry visa for the country of final destination; an air ticket or seat reservation

Transit (Schengen)

• permits the alien to transit through the territory in the Schengen Area during the course of a journey from a third State to another third State. This can only be granted if the alien has guaranteed access to the State of final destination, and if transit is deemed reasonably necessary through the territory of one of the contracting parties

• meeting the minimum eligibility for the issue of a short term tourist visa; an entry visa for the country of final destination

Transport (Schengen)

• this permits aliens intending to go to Italy for a short period or periods to perform a professional activity or trade connected with the transport of goods or passengers, overland or by air (lorry drivers, charter flight or private aircraft crews);

• documentation attesting to the professional qualification of the applicant; documentation relating to the activities to be performed during the stay for which the visa is requested

Turism (Schengen)

• permits aliens intending to enter Italy and other Schengen Area countries for a short period for tourism purposes;

• adequate means of subsistence (credit cards, bank guarantees, insurance policies, etc.) which shall not be less than the amount required by law; return tickets (or booking); documented availability of accommodation (hotel reservation, statement of hospitality, etc.); invitation letter signed by an Italian or a legally resident foreign national in Italy offering the applicant accommodation in Italy

Working holiday visa (National)

• permits entry for a long stay to aliens from countries with which Italy has concluded specific agreements in this area

• the eligibility criteria and conditions for obtaining the visa depend upon the provisions of the specific international agreements governing it