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Airport Transit (Schengen/short term visa)

Nationals of the following Countries are requested to obtain – before their departure – an airport transit visa, which does not allow the holder to leave the airport, when flying to their final destination through an Italian airport:

AFGHANISTAN, BANGLADESH, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO, ERITREA, ETHIOPIA, GHANA, IRAN, IRAQ, NIGERIA, PAKISTAN, SENEGAL, SYRIA, SOMALIA and SRI LANKA.

Exceptions: the above nationals are entitled to transit through the international transit zones without an airport transit visa:
1. if they hold a valid visa for the United States of America;
2. if they return from the USA after having used the visa (however, the return has to occur within latest four days after expiration of the validity of the visa);
3. if they hold one of the following residence permits:
– Form I-551 permanent resident card (valid for 2 to 10 years)
– Form I-551 Alien registration receipt card (no expiry date);
– Form I-327 Re-entry document (valid for 2 years – issued to holders of a I-551);
– Resident alien card (valid for 2 or 10 years or no expiry date. This document guarantees the holder’s return only if his stay outside the USA has not exceeded one year);
– Permit to re-enter (valid for 2 years. This document guarantees the holder’s return only if his stay outside the USA has not exceeded two years);
– Valid temporary residence stamp in a valid passport (valid for one year from the date of issue).

Please note that the advance parole and the approval notice (I-797) are not valid documents for being exempted by the airport transit visa.

Documents check-list

  • Visa application form (please print), signed by the applicant in front of a Consular Officer at the Consulate General of Italy in Chicago;
  • One recent passport photograph, on white background, full face and front view, stapled/glued to the application form. Scanned or photocopied photos will NOT be accepted;
  • Valid Passport + copy of the page with photograph and expiration date. The passport or travel document must be valid at least three months after the visa expiration date. Please make sure the passport has at least two blank pages to affix the visa;
  • Valid visa for the United States (plus a copy);
  • Entry visa, if applicable, for the third country of final destination (plus a copy);
  • Original airline round-trip tickets or ticket to the Country of final destination (plus a copy);
  • Applicants under the age of 18 must present a notarized consent of both parents together with notarized copies of both parents’ picture I.D. and a copy of the applicant’s birth certificate showing parents names;
  • Visa fee (under Consular Fees on home page): (non refundable) in the form of Money Order or cashier’s check, payable to the Consulate General of Italy in Chicago, with applicant’s name and address as the remitter;
  • Return envelope: required in the event that applicants cannot collect the passport with the visa in person. Please provide envelope of UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICES EXPRESS MAIL or PRIORITY MAIL with a tracking number, pre-paid and self-addressed.
  • Consent to send by mail

Please note: This Consulate General reserves the right to request further documentation.