Portofino (Santa Margherita Ligure) in September

Visa needed before you fly for up to 90 days, about ₹11,590

1. Apply for a Schengen short-stay (type C) visa at a VFS Global Italy centre in India, 4-8 weeks before you fly (no earlier than 6 months). Apply to Italy if it is your only or longest stay in Schengen. The fee is €90 (about ₹9,600; €45 for children 6-11) plus the VFS service charge, and it is not refunded if the visa is refused.
2. At the appointment give your fingerprints and photo (skipped if you gave them for a Schengen visa in the last 59 months). Processing takes about 15 working days, but appointments in spring and summer can be three weeks out.
3. If you have lawfully used two Schengen visas in the last three years, ask for a multiple-entry visa: under the EU's 2024 cascade rules for Indians you can be given a two-year visa, then a five-year one.
4. On your first arrival in the Schengen Area your fingerprints and face are scanned at passport control (the EU Entry/Exit System, in full use since April 2026) instead of a stamp. Allow extra time: queues at Rome and Milan can be long.

Carry: Passport issued within the last 10 years, valid at least 3 months after you leave the Schengen Area, with two blank pages; Completed visa application form and two recent photos (35 x 45 mm); Travel insurance with at least €30,000 medical cover, valid in every Schengen country for the whole trip; Return flight booking and a day-by-day itinerary; Hotel bookings for every night; Bank statements for the last 3-6 months, income-tax returns, and a leave letter from your employer (or business or college papers).

One Schengen visa covers Italy and every other Schengen country (France, Switzerland, Germany, Spain and more) for up to 90 days in any 180. ETIAS is only for visa-free travellers, so it does not affect you. Fees, appointment waits and VFS charges vary by centre and season: check visa.vfsglobal.com for your city before you book flights.

Checked 2026-10; confirm with the embassy before you fly.