Italy Tightens Visa Rules From January 11; Biometric Fingerprints Becomes Mandatory

Study Abroad: Italy is tightening its long-term Schengen visa rules from January 11, 2025. The visas are for study and employment purposes.

Italy has announced changes in its long-term Schengen visa rules. These visas are for study and employment purposes. From January 11, 2025, biometric fingerprints will be mandatory for long-term Schengen visas.

Citizens planning to visit Italy for the long term are advised to visit the nearest embassy in their home country to submit their biometrics including fingerprints.

This is already applied to the short-term visa applicants, now, international students will also need to submit the fingerprint, reports Schengen.News.

“Following the entry into force of Decree-Law 145/2024, as of January 11, 2025, it will be mandatory to collect the fingerprints of applicants for both Schengen visas (type C) and national entry visas (type D). Applicants will, therefore, be required to appear in person when submitting their visa application,” said the Italian Embassy, as reported by Travel Trade Journal.

Italy Visa Rules Tightening For Enhanced Security

It is in line with Italy's ongoing efforts to increase the security of the country after increased criminal inflirtation reported in recent times. This new rule will be applicable to all long-term visas for self-employment, employment, family reunification, study, investment and retirement purposes.

This will increase the travel expense of the applicants as they need to travel to the nearest Italian consular office to submit their fingerprints.

“This is a simple procedure that takes only a few minutes. Since biometric data will be stored for 59 months, applicants will not need to provide fingerprints again for any subsequent visa applications, and it will not be necessary to apply in person for future visa requests,” said the Italian Embassy.

One of the expected disadvantages will be a longer visa application process which is already lengthy, especially for countries receiving more applications. Italy is one of the emerging study-abroad destinations for Indians. Its breathtaking landscapes, rich cultural heritage and iconic sites make it an attractive choice for international students. Also, it is home to some of the prestigious and oldest institutes which offer programs in a range of subjects including architecture, economics, applied sciences, medicine and the arts. The country offers various scholarships for international students.

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