Visa for Italy from Nigeria: price, documents and processing time 2026

Yes. A Nigerian citizen needs a Schengen short-stay Type C visa before entering Italy for tourism, a family visit or a short business trip. The stay is capped at 90 days per 180-day period. If your trip spans several Schengen countries, apply to the consulate of the country where you will spend the most nights.

The published fee is the government charge alone. Two or three other lines are added before the visa is in the passport, and they are what makes the final bill.

• Government fee90 EUR

  Schengen scale: €90 for an adult, €45 for a child aged 6 to 11, free below 6. Some facilitation agreements set a lower rate, the consulate confirms which applies to you.

• Application centre feeCapped at €45

  The Visa Code caps an external provider’s service fee at half the visa fee. It is charged on top, and it is not refunded either.

• Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top

  Never compulsory. An intermediary fills the form for you, it does not change the decision or the processing time.

• ExtrasVariable

  Courier return, SMS tracking, compliant photo, insurance, sworn translation or legalisation, depending on what the post requires.

We only display amounts published by an official source. Confirm the total before paying anything.

Gather a passport valid for at least three months beyond your planned exit from the Schengen area, the completed form, two recent photos, a hotel booking or invitation, a return ticket and strong financial evidence. Travel insurance covering a minimum of €30,000 in medical costs and repatriation is mandatory. The visa fee is normally €90 for an adult; check the current rate on the official portal.

Prepare the application on the official Visto per l'Italia portal, then submit it at the authorised partner centre (commonly VFS Global in Lagos or Abuja) to hand over documents and give biometrics. Book your appointment as soon as your trip is planned, since slots fill quickly in Nigeria. You may apply up to six months before departure.

• Your application goes to the state that is your main destination. If Italy is where you spend the longest, it handles the file, whatever the entry point.
• With no main destination, the competent state is the one you enter first.
• If Italy has no consulate in Nigeria, another Schengen state may act on its behalf under a representation arrangement, or the file goes to the post accredited for your country.

Then the application goes to the post accredited for Nigeria, often in a neighbouring capital, or to a state acting on its behalf. Confirm which post is competent with the official source before travelling to a third country to apply, a rejected file at the wrong counter costs the trip and the fee.

The regime follows your nationality, not where you live. If you reside in Nigeria but travel on another country's passport, the rule on this page is not yours. Filing usually still happens from your country of residence, at the post competent for it, but the requirement itself comes from your passport.

Processing usually runs 15 to 45 days and can lengthen in summer or busy periods, so apply early. Show strong ties to Nigeria (employment, property, family) and an itinerary consistent with your funds to reassure the consulate you will return. Keep a full copy of your file and avoid non-refundable tickets until the visa is granted.

Applying at the consulate of a country that is not your main destination is the most common cause of refusal. Thin or inconsistent financial evidence, plus insurance below €30,000, also lead to rejections. Finally, confirm whether Nigerian documents need translation and that your declared travel dates are accurate.