Holy See Visa

Holy See Visa FAQs

• add remove Do I need a visa for Holy See?

  The Vatican (also known as Holy See) does not require its own visa even if it is an independent city state. The visa that one will need to gain entrance is the Italian visa. It will be your entry ticket to Rome since you will have to go through the Italian borders before you can get to the Vatican.
  Holy See does not have any visa requirements of its own. All Indian travellers visiting Holy See must enter via Italy. Therefore, even though there are no border formalities in Holy See, Indiantravellers are required to hold a valid Italy Visa or any other Schengen country visa. Simultaneously anyone visiting a Schengen country can enter Holy See with a valid Schengen visa.

• add remove Is Holy See (the Vatican) part of the Schengen territory?

  Although not a member of either the European Union or the European Economic Area, the Vatican City maintains an open border with Italy and is treated as part of the Schengen Area. Since the Vatican City is only accessible via Italy, entering the Vatican City is not possible without entering the Schengen Area first; hence Schengen visa rules apply de facto. Nevertheless, as the Vatican City has no tourist accommodations (hotels or rental apartments), it is therefore virtually impossible to stay overnight as a tourist.

• add remove So, in order to visit Holy See, I must apply for an Italy Visa (Schengen visa)?

  Yes. You must apply for an Italy visa or any other Schengen country visa.
• add remove What is an Italy Schengen visa?

  An Italy Schengen visa is a special kind of visa which allows you to travel among all the Schengen countries including Italy for a maximum period of 90 days. This is a traveller’s dream which lets you travel to all the Schengen countries on one visa.

• add remove The Schengen Visa is valid for which countries?

  Schengen Area comprises of the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

• add remove How long can I stay in Holy See on the basis of my Schengen visa?

  The Schengen Visa is a short stay visa and takes the form of a sticker affixed to your passport. The definition of “short stay” is a stay of "90 days in any 180 days period". This means that the total duration of stay is of maximum 90 days in 6 months.

• add remove Will all Schengen Visas be granted for 90 days?

  No, not necessarily all Schengen Visas will be granted for 90 days. You may get the Schengen Visa only for the number of days that you present in your travel itinerary and your flight & hotel bookings.

• add remove Can I apply again for a Schengen Visa if my application has been refused earlier?

  You are free to apply again for a Schengen Visa if your application has been refused earlier.

• add remove What is the Schengen Visa cover letter?

  The Schengen Visa cover letter is a letter which summarizes your intent to travel to a country that is part of the Schengen area. In your cover letter you should explain:

  • The purpose of your trip
  • When and where you intend to travel
  • How your trip is going to be funded
  • Day-by-day itinerary for your trip
  • Duration of the trip

• add remove How long before the start of the intended visit should I apply for the Schengen Visa?

  You may only submit your Schengen visa application 90 days before your date of departure.We recommend that you apply at least 20 working days before the date you wish to depart as certain types of travel purpose may take longer than usual to process.

• add remove How long does it take to obtain the Visa?

  Typically, a Schengen Visa takes approximately 10 to 15 days for processing.However, the processing time is dependent on several factors and can change without notice at the embassy's discretion.

• add remove Is it mandatory for me to take an appointment for a Schengen Visa?

  Yes, an appointment is mandatory for Schengen Visain order to provide your biometrics and submit your visa documents.

• add remove I am traveling to multiple Schengen countries. From which Consulate should I apply for my Schengen Visa?

  Schengen Visa must be applied from the Embassy/Consulate of the country where you will be staying for maximum number of days. If your stay has equal number of days in each country, then you must apply to the Embassy/Consulate of the country which you will be entering first.

• add remove What is the difference between a single-entry Schengen Visa and a multiple-entry Schengen Visa?

  A single-entry Schengen Visa allows entry to the Schengen area only once, meaning you are not permitted to re-enter the Schengen Area after leaving, while a multiple-entry Schengen Visa allows multiple entries into the Schengen Area within the visa’s validity period (90 days total within 180-day period).

• add remove Do I have to present any other document at the Schengen externalborders apart from my travel document with the Schengen Visa?

  The short-stay visa does not automatically entitle you to enter the Schengen area. At the border (or during other controls) you may have to show the visa but also provideadditional documentation, for example; sufficient evidence that you have sufficient meansto cover the stay and the return trip. It is therefore recommended that you carry withyou copies of the documents which you presented when applying for the Schengen visa (e.g.letters of invitation, travel confirmations, other documents stating the purpose of yourstay).

• add remove Do I have to apply in person for the Schengen Visa?

  Yes, applications by mail will not be accepted. The Schengen visa application should be presented in person because biometrical data must be recorded.

• add remove What are the eligibility criteria for an Italy visa application?

  To enable the authorities to process your application, you must clearly state:

  • Why are you visiting Italy
  • How long you intend to stay in Italy
  • How will you support yourself during your time in Italy
  • What is the purpose of your visit to Italy
  • Type of passport you hold and for how long it is valid
  • Where do you intend to travel following your visit to Italy
  • If you have a permit to Brunei the country you intend to travel to after your stay in Italy

• add remove How do I receive my Italy visa online?

  The visa will be stamped on your passport.

• add remove What should be done if my Holy See visa gets rejected?

  In the case of a Holy See visa rejection, the Embassy will state the reason for rejecting your visa application. You may also appeal against the decision if you find it necessary.

• add remove What is the easiest way to get a Schengen Visa for Indians?

  Contact our Visa Experts and apply for your Schengen visa instantly with minimum documents and lowest visa fee. No need to visit our office and no need to deal with the Embassy. We do it all for you.

• add remove Are you still having doubts about the Holy See Visa process?

  Please feel free to contact us for all your Holy See Visa worries. We have you covered across India with presence in all the major cities like Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Lucknow and many more.
  

  Important Notice:

  The information provided here are subject to change without prior notice. For confirmation on visa requirements and fees, you may consult with the nearest Italy Embassy or Consulate in India.