Visas
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Saudi citizens require an entry visa to travel to Italy. The Consular Section of the Italian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General of Italy in Jeddah issue Entry Visas (VSU) for short-term stays (for a maximum stay of 90 days in a period of 180 days) for the Schengen area only if the sole or main destination of the trip is Italy. The other Schengen partners retain the right to reject at the border visitors with a Schengen visa in violation of this provision.
The Italian Embassy and the Consulate General in Jeddah have support centers in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam for submitting visa applications.
The Consulate General in Jeddah is competent for the districts of Mecca, Bahah, Asir, Jaizan, Najran, Medina, Northern Region and Qurayyat.
IMPORTANT:
Each applicant must complete and sign the visa application form and is also responsible for the truthfulness and completeness of the accessory documentation submitted. It is also recommended not to share your personal data with third parties. The Consulate General in Jeddah DOES NOT RECOGNIZE the activity of any travel agency or intermediary who claims to be able to obtain appointments and visas for an additional fee in addition to the cost of the visa.
Please report any suspicious activity by emailing visti.gedda@esteri.it, for subsequent reports to the local and Italian judicial and police authorities.
The Consulate General of Italy in Jeddah will continue to deal directly with requests for national visas, long-term visas (study, family reunification) and diplomatic and official delegation visas.
BIOMETRIC DATA
Applicants must appear in person at the time of the visa application to submit the documentation and to deposit the biometric data. This is a simple procedure that takes only a few minutes. Biometric data information will be retained for a maximum of 59 months.
Exemption from the obligation to collect fingerprints is provided for a limited number of visa applicants: children under the age of 12 and persons for whom collecting fingerprints is physically impossible. Heads of State and members of the Government, together with members of the accompanying delegation and spouses, are also exempted during official visits.
Starting from 11 January 2025, Italy will also require the collection of biometric data for national visas (type “D”).
VISA APPLICATION PROCESSING TIME
For Schengen Visas (type “C”), the legislation provides for a maximum processing time of 15 days, extendable to 45 days if necessary (art. 23 of the Schengen Visa Code), while for National Visas (type “D”) the processing times – generally 90 days – are reduced to 30 days for visas for family reasons and subordinate work, and extended up to 120 days for self-employment.
Applicants are advised to apply for a visa well in advance of the planned departure date (at least 15 days before departure). The visa application can be submitted a maximum of six months before the planned departure. It is also necessary to pay attention to the expiry date of your passport, which determines the maximum validity date of the visa.
Furthermore, non-Saudi citizens must present a copy of the Iqama, valid for at least three months after the planned return date.
USEFUL INFORMATION
Obtaining a visa does not automatically entitle you to enter the Schengen area.
Visa applicants are reminded that possession of a visa does not automatically confer the right to enter the Schengen area and that visa holders may be asked, upon arrival at the external border of the Schengen area or during other checks, to provide information about their means of subsistence, the duration of their planned stay in the Schengen area and the purpose of their trip.
Starting from 1 June 2024, foreign family members of Italian/EU citizens who intend to join the family member permanently resident in Italy and who will therefore travel to Italy for the purposes of “family reunification”, must apply for a National Visa for family reasons (type “D” – 365 days – multiple entries). For this purpose, the issuing of the SUI nulla osta is not required. Please note that this provision only concerns the family members identified in art. 2 of Legislative Decree 30/2007: spouse, registered partner and direct descendants under 21 or dependent / adopted / dependent direct ascendants (including those of the spouse/partner). Once arrived in Italy, family members must apply for a residence permit for “family reasons” within 8 working days of entering the territory.
OPENING HOURS OF THE CONSULATE OF ITALY IN JEDDAH:
The Consulate Visa Office is open from Sunday to Thursday. From 11:00 to 12:00 by appointment to be made by email visti.gedda@esteri.it
For any further information, the Visa Office can also be contacted at the following telephone number:
00966126421451 (extension: 123) between 13:30 and 15:30
Download the information provided pursuant to the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679
AR-IT Visa Form – AR-IT National Visa Form
Invitation letter for business visas (to be filled out in Italian, preferably on the letterhead of the inviting company, with the stamp and signature of the inviting person)