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

Yes. For a tourist trip to Italy, Saudi nationals must hold a short-stay visa issued by the Italian mission before boarding. The visa grants a stay of 90 days per 180-day period at most; this should not be confused with the validity period of the visa or with the processing time. The official portal of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (vistoperitalia.esteri.it) sets out the conditions in detail.

• Government fee90 EUR
• Application centre feeCapped at €45
• Agency or online serviceOptional, added on top
• ExtrasVariable

Prepare the signed application form, a valid passport, recent passport photos, travel insurance covering medical costs for the whole stay, and proof of accommodation, financial means and purpose of travel, such as a hotel booking and bank statements. The official fee recorded is 90 EUR. For the precise list of documents and any service charges, refer to the official portal or the Italian mission.

Start by finding the Italian mission responsible for your place of residence (embassy, consulate or designated application centre) and book an appointment according to its instructions. Then complete the application form, gather the supporting documents and attend the appointment in person to submit the file and, where required, provide your biometric data. The decision to issue the visa rests with the Italian consular services.

• 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 Saudi Arabia, 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 Saudi Arabia, 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 Saudi Arabia 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.

The recorded processing time is 15 to 45 days after a complete file is submitted, and it varies with the season and each applicant’s situation. Do not buy non-refundable tickets before the visa is granted and use a flexible reservation for the file. Once you have your passport back, read the visa sticker carefully: validity dates, number of entries and number of days of stay granted.

Incomplete files, insufficient financial evidence and insurance that does not cover the whole trip are frequent grounds for refusal. Many travellers also mistake the 90 days per 180-day period for the validity of the visa and end up overstaying. Finally, do not trust services that promise a guaranteed visa or a faster appointment for a fee: only the Italian administration decides.