Going to Italy is the dream of many people, whether it is for vacations, studying, working, or with family. Before you can go to this amazing Country, you need to have a valid visa. The Italy visa application process can look daunting, but it does not have to be complicated and can be made simple. After submitting your visa application, it is time to track your application. Tracking your Italy visa application will ensure you are notified at each stage of the process.
It will also allow you to respond promptly if more documents are needed. Knowing how to track your Italy visa application status online will give you peace of mind and help you avoid surprises. It does not matter whether you applied through VFS Global, an embassy, or a consortium; online tracking is available. This guide is your complete guide on where, how, and when to track your Italy visa status accurately and easily.
Varieties of Italy Visa Types and Processing Time
Before looking into various tracking procedures, it is important to first know the different types of visas that allow entry into Italy. There are many categories of visas in Italy, including: tourist, business, student, family reunification, and work. Each type of visa has requirements, a validity period, a purpose for travelling, and a maximum length of stay. The type of visa, the nationality of the applicant, and what is currently happening at the consulate or embassy can affect the processing time for visas.
Overall, the processing time for short-term Schengen visas is about 15 working days, while long-term national visas could take up to 90 days. Understanding the type of visa will help to give an idea of the realistic timelines. It will also provide the framework for which tracking method would best suit your application.
Common Visa Types for Italy and Average Processing Times
Italy has a few different visa types, such as a Tourist visa, Business visa, Student visa, Work visa, Family Reunion visa etc. Short-term visas (Schengen) usually take 10-15 working days to process, while long-term national visas can take 60-90 days.
| Visa | Purpose | Processing Time (Average) |
| Tourist visa | Travel, sightseeing | 10-15 working days |
| Business visa | Meetings, conferences | 7-10 working days |
| Student visa | Long-term education | 30-60 days |
| Work visa | Employment in Italy | 30-90 days |
| Family reunion visa | Reunification with family | 30-120 days |
| Transit visa | Transiting through Italy | 5-7 working days |
Guide to Tracking Your Italy Visa Application Online
Once you submit your visa application to an Italian embassy or consulate, or a VFS Global center, you can track your visa application online. You will be given a reference number, or tracking ID, during the application submission process, which you can use to track your application. Tracking your application online is simple and prevents the need for multiple visits or phone calls to obtain information about your family’s application status, as it is all available online. You will get real-time access to specific details about the progress of your application.
Stages of Visa Application Tracking
After a visa application is submitted, it goes through several processing stages until a decision is made on the application. Each processing stage indicates the location of your application in the visa pipeline. Understanding what each of the stages indicates will help reduce anxiety about the process and help you keep realistic expectations throughout the waiting period. This information is commonly available online on the tracking portal and is updated regularly throughout the application process.
How Long Will it take for my Italy Visa Tracking to update?
After you have submitted your application, you will typically start to see updates in the Italy Visa Travel system within 2-5 working days. Updating in the visa center to their system and additional time is allocated when documents arrive in peak periods, like summer holidays or periods of festivals, as there may be a large number of applications arriving at the same time. You may also find that each embassy follows its process in a slightly different manner, which may also cause variations in timing.
It is important you check the portal, but do not check too often because it does not update in real time. Always keep a note of your tracking reference number, submission receipts, and other emails, as they may be useful if you need to inquire or escalate any delays involving your application. A little patience and being prepared for the delay will be better for your expectations in the meantime.
How to Deal with a Delay in an Italian Visa Application
It can be extremely frustrating and stressful to experience delays when applying for an Italy visa, particularly if you have strict time requirements in place. If your status continues to show under process for more than three weeks with no movement, you need to take action. In this case, it is best to contact the embassy or VFS center directly and seek an update or clarification on your current situation. Please also make sure that you submitted everything accurately and in its entirety. Do not make any non-refundable flight or hotel reservations until you receive your passport and visa back.
Advantages of Using the Online Italy Visa Tracking
Although there are many substantive benefits to the online Italy visa application tracking status system, one of the benefits is that applicants now have more control and more knowledge of their submission. Online tracking provides transparency for applicants by giving them real-time accountability of their application. In addition, online tracking is extremely convenient, and applicants can see their status anywhere and at any time.
Tips For A Simple Know-Your-Italy-Visa Tracking
To have a smooth process for tracking your visa application, please consider the several easy steps to follow. The first thing to do is keep your submission receipt, submission date, and tracking ID in a safe place where you can easily get to them in the future if necessary. The second thing to do is to only ever check your status from an official website or official online portal and NEVER check through an unofficial website, because the unofficial website may be a scam or could have misinformation.
Wrapping up
Obtaining a visa to Italy is a vital milestone; however, there is something even more vital to the process—tracking. The Italy visa application online tracking status system allows you to track every step of your application with real-time updates and transparency. Tracking not only provides timely information whenever your visit is for tourism, education, employment, or family, but it also helps to keep you on your toes without any false assumptions.
A tracking number must be securely retained to ensure tracking access is not interrupted. Avoid fraudulent companies and misinformation that might mislead your Italy visa application. There is an official visa application process, by using official websites such as VFS Global, and a mind that will stop you from being misled.
FAQs
How can I check my Italy visa application status online?
To track your Italy visa application status online, you can use the VFS Global official page or the embassy’s website for the specific country or region. Simply select your country or region. On the portal page, enter your tracking reference and date of birth. The tracking system will notify you of available current status of your visa online. Be mindful to enter the correct information to ensure tracking.
What do I do if my Italy visa tracking number works?
If your tracking number and date of birth are all correct and nothing is available in the tracking system, please try again in a few hours from the last time you attempted to track your status. There may be some time delays within the tracking system. If you are still having issues, please contact the VFS center or the embassy in which you applied. Also, please make sure to keep any submission receipts for reference.
How long does it take for Italy visa tracking to update online?
In pretty much 2-5 working days, your Italy visa application tracking status will start giving updates online. This allows time for the application centre to process and register your documents. Under busy circumstances, public holidays, etc. The time it takes for your online tracking update will be longer. It is important that you just be patient and check to see the system from time to time.
If I apply as a family, can I track a few Italy visa applications?
Even if you apply as a family or group, you would normally have separate tracking ID’s per applicant. Therefore, you must track each reference number by itself, giving you the privacy you want, and the relevant correspondent and accurate information for each application. Please remember to keep all of your reference numbers so you won’t have trouble tracking your visa application.
What does it mean to display “Application Under Process” in the Italy visa tracking?
If you are tracking your Italy visa application status online and see “Under Process”, it means a consular officer is reviewing your documents. This is just a part of the timeline of the visa process. The term doesn’t guarantee the approval or rejection of your application, and simply indicates that your application is now under review for processing. The “under process” phase may take a few days or weeks to complete.
Will I be notified when my Italy visa and passport are ready for pickup?
Yes, if you opted for notification by SMS or email, most applicants will be notified. You may also want to continue to track your Italy visa application tracking status online for live updates and manually check for updates. When the tracking status changes to “Passport Ready for Collection,” that means the process is complete. When you finally collect your passport, just remember to bring your identification.
What can I do if no updates in the Italy visa tracking for over 3 weeks?
If your tracking status for the Italy visa application has not changed for over three weeks, contact the visa center or consulate for updates. It is possible for a number of reasons, including high volumes of applications, missing documents or additional background checks. Have your receipt and tracking number to hand you may need them.