Italy

Permits & entry — Indian passport holders require a Schengen visa; applications are submitted through VFS Global, which forwards documents to the Italian consulate for decision. Apply at least 8 weeks before departure — 12 weeks for any May–September travel — because VFS appointment slots open exactly 3 months before the travel date and fill within days during peak season, so book the slot the moment the window opens. Required documents: confirmed hotel bookings, return flights, travel insurance with a minimum €30,000 cover, and 3 months' bank-stamped statements. The adult visa fee is €90 (increased from €80, effective 2024–2025) plus VFS service charges. As of April 10, 2026, the EU Entry/Exit System (EES) is fully operational at all Italian airports and ports: on first entry to the Schengen area every Indian passport holder has four fingerprints and a facial image registered at the border — no pre-registration required, no cost, but allow an extra 30–60 minutes at passport control on that first visit; biometrics are stored for 3 years, so subsequent entries are faster. No protected-area or inner-line permits are required anywhere in Italy, but timed-entry tickets for the Colosseum, Vatican Museums, and Uffizi are effectively mandatory from May through September; Vatican Museums no longer sells tickets at the gate under any circumstances — online pre-booking is the only way in — and walk-up entry at the Colosseum and Uffizi is unreliable during peak months.