Italy is among the most requested Schengen visas in Azerbaijan, and one reason is the cheap flights: Wizz Air goes direct from Baku to Rome and Milan, and the fare is sometimes lower than a ticket to Istanbul. A cheap ticket does not shorten the queue at the visa centre, though: in summer an appointment at VFS Global for Italy falls weeks away.
This article covers the process, the documents, what the Italian embassy pays attention to, the flight options and the visa rule for combining Italy with its neighbours.
Italy visa: the essentials
| Visa type | «C» type Schengen visa |
| Consular fee | 35 euros; free under 12 |
| Where documents go | The VFS Global centre in Baku |
| Centre’s service charge | About 21 euros |
| Processing time | 15 days; 30–45 in high season |
| Direct flights | Wizz Air Baku–Rome and Baku–Milan |
How to get an Italy visa
The Italian embassy has delegated intake of Schengen applications to the VFS Global centre in Baku. You first complete the form on the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ visa portal, then book an appointment on the VFS site. On the day you hand in the documents, give fingerprints, pay the fee and service charge, and your passport goes to the embassy. The official visa types and document lists are on the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ visa portal, which builds an individual list based on the purpose of your trip.
You may apply up to six months before the trip. For a July or August holiday, starting in April or May is normal; starting in June is risky, because both the appointment wait and the processing time stretch out.
Documents for an Italy visa
What the Italian embassy looks at most closely is the hotel bookings: if you are visiting several cities, there must be a booking for every night, and the connections between cities — train or domestic flight — must appear in the itinerary. On a Rome–Florence–Venice route, a missing booking for one city makes the whole application incomplete.
Read next: Spain visa: the summer queue, the documents and the fine print for the islands
How to get from Baku to Italy
Wizz Air flies direct from Baku to Rome and Milan, which has made Italy one of the cheapest European destinations to reach. There are several flights a week and the journey takes about five hours. Turkish Airlines and Pegasus offer daily connections through Istanbul. Baku–Rome fares on Wizz Air are very low when booked early, but baggage and seat selection are paid separately — factor that in when you compare the real total.
Italy is a classic destination for group travel: the Rome–Florence–Venice line, or Milan and Lake Como at New Year. In an Italy tour package the hotels and intercity transfers are already fixed, which also solves the itinerary requirement in the visa application — the operator supplies every booking on a single document.
Frequently asked questions about the Italy visa
How long does an Italy visa take?
Officially 15 days, and 30 to 45 in summer. With the VFS appointment wait, the whole process can run six to eight weeks in high season.
Does an Italy visa cover the Vatican and San Marino?
Yes. Both are small states reached only through Italy, and a Schengen visa is enough; no separate document is needed.
Can you apply with a Wizz Air ticket?
You can, but Wizz Air issues a paid ticket rather than a reservation. If the visa is refused, the money may be lost. So either use a reservation service or choose a refundable fare.
In closing
An Italy visa is an ordinary Schengen process; the difficulty is the season and the full-itinerary requirement. Apply early and show a booking for every night, and there is no problem. The Viza.az team books the VFS appointment, documents the itinerary with the bookings in full, and provides the reservation service.
Read more about Italy as a destination and our service fees, or fill in the application form.
Note: the information here is accurate as of the publication date. Fees, visa centre procedures and flight schedules can change, so check the official pages again before applying.
