ItalyBusiness and self-employment
Italy business visa (Schengen type C)
Schengen visa (type C) for business (affari)
In short
Business trips to Italy for meetings, negotiations, fairs or training of up to 90 days need a Schengen visa in the business category, with an invitation from the Italian company and your company documents. You apply to the Italian mission responsible for your place of residence, directly or through its external service provider.
checked 25 October 2026
Key facts
- Maximum stay
- Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Fee
- €90Adults EUR 90; children aged 6–12 EUR 45; under 6 free. The mission states the currency and method of payment; an external service provider, where used, charges a separate service fee. No surcharge for urgent processing; the fee is refunded only if the application is inadmissible.
- Funds required
- €269.60 for the stayItaly uses a fixed table: a lone traveller staying 1–5 days needs a lump sum of EUR 269.60; 6–10 days EUR 44.93 a day; 11–20 days EUR 51.64 plus EUR 36.67 a day; over 20 days EUR 206.58 plus EUR 27.89 a day (lower per-person amounts for groups). Means for the return trip and accommodation come on top.
- Work
- Business activities only.
- Where to apply
- Italian embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence, or its external service provider.
Who uses the business category
Entrepreneurs, managers and employees travelling for commercial contacts, negotiations, trade fairs or company training. Paid work for an Italian employer is not covered and needs a work visa based on a nulla osta.
Business documents
The business checklist adds an invitation from the Italian company describing the purpose and dates, a letter from your employer and the company's registration and tax documents, alongside the standard identity, employment and bank documents.
Required documents
Identity
- Schengen application form, completed, dated and signed at item 37 and on the last page
- One recent ICAO photo, light background, 35 × 40 mm
- Passport issued in the last 10 years with two blank pages, valid at least three months after you leave the Schengen area (some mission checklists ask for more)
- Copy of your national ID card; non-nationals: residence permit in the country where you apply
Travel
- Travel and hotel bookings
Money
- Bank statement for the last three months, stamped and signed by the bank, plus payslips, tax returns or pension records
Work
- Employees: employer letter and proof of social insurance registration; self-employed: proof of business activity, tax registration and company registration
- Invitation letter from the Italian company with purpose and dates
- Employer letter on letterhead and company registration documents
Insurance
- Travel medical insurance of at least EUR 30,000 covering emergency care, hospitalisation and repatriation
Fees
EUR 90, paid as the mission indicates, plus any external service provider's fee; Italy charges no extra for urgent cases.
Multiple-entry visas
Frequent business travellers with a good visa history can ask for a longer, multiple-entry visa; the mission decides based on the documented need.
How to apply, step by step
- Check which Italian embassy or consulate covers your place of residence.
- Download the official checklist for "business" from the mission website and fill in the Schengen application form.
- Book an appointment with the mission or with the external service provider it authorises to receive applications.
- Lodge the file in person, give fingerprints and pay the visa fee as the mission indicates, plus any service provider fee.
- The mission examines the application and decides; a service provider only receives files.
- When collecting the passport, check every detail on the visa sticker immediately; Italy treats this as the applicant's duty.
Frequently asked questions
Can I work on site for an Italian client?
No, only business activities are covered; employment needs a nulla osta and a work visa.
Which mission handles my file?
The Italian embassy or consulate responsible for your place of legal residence.
Is a trade fair visit a business trip?
Yes, attending a fair falls under the business category.
Official sources
- Italian missions in Türkiye – checklist: business
- Embassy of Italy in Ankara – where to apply for a visa (provinces, iDATA, Prenot@mi)
- Embassy of Italy in Ankara – visa fees and payment
- Italian missions in Türkiye – EU harmonised list of supporting documents for Türkiye
- European Commission – applying for a Schengen visa
Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.
Other visa types for Italy
Visits and short stays
- Tourist visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
- Family and friends visit visa Maximum stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period
Study and training
- Student visa Maximum stay: 91 to 365 days on the visa; then a residence permit in Italy
- Researcher visa
Work
- Work visa Maximum stay: 91 to 365 days on the visa; then a residence permit in Italy
- EU Blue Card Validity: Two years for an open-ended contract; for fixed-term contracts, the contract length plus three months.
- Digital nomad visa Maximum stay: 91 to 365 days on the visa; then a residence permit in Italy
Family
- Family reunification visa
- Spouse and partner visa Validity: Residence card for family of EU citizens and family permit for family of Italian citizens: five years.
Residence
- Retirement visa Maximum stay: 91 to 365 days on the visa; then a residence permit in Italy
- Permanent residence Validity: 10 years for adults, 5 years for minors; the status is permanent.
Protection
- Asylum and international protection Validity: Asylum-seeker permit: until the decision; refugee and subsidiary protection: five years, renewable; special protection: two years, renewable.