Applying for an Italian visa from Tunisia: instructions

If you are a Tunisian citizen or a foreign resident in Tunisia (depending on your nationality) and you wish to travel to Italy, you need to apply for a Schengen visa for Italy.
This short-stay visa (90 days maximum within any 180-day period) allows free movement within the Schengen area, which includes 29 countries, including Italy.

Follow our guide to apply from Tunisia.

Where to apply for your Schengen visa for Italy from Tunisia?

The Italian Embassy in Tunis, Tunisia, has outsourced the visa application collection process to its partner company: Almaviva Visa Services (AVS).
However, the decision to grant or deny a visa remains solely with the consular services of the Italian Embassy.

Contact details of AVS

• Address: Rue Alphonse Laveran n° 8 - 1002, Tunis
  (Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 08:30 to 19:00)
• Phone number (Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 19:00)
  (from Tunisia: prefix 00216):
  • 70 103 710 (for tourist visas and other types)
  • 70 103 714 (business visas)
  • 70 103 712 (active only during university pre-registration periods)
  • 70 103 715 (visas for spouses of EU citizens)

How to apply for your visa for Italy from Tunisia?

1. You need to create a personal Almaviva account by providing an email address and setting a password
2. You must fill out a visa application form
3. You gather the required documents to attach to your visa application
4. You book an appointment online or by phone with Almaviva Visa Services (AVS)
5. At your appointment, you submit your visa application with the required supporting documents
6. If your file is complete, your biometric data (photo and fingerprints) will be collected, and your file will be transferred to consular services for processing
7. You can pay the visa fees and service fees on-site in cash, or you have the option to pay in advance via a postal account whose details will be provided when you create your personal account.
   In either case, a receipt will be given to you, and you must present it on the day of your appointment or when you return to collect your passport
8. You can track the progress of your application by logging into your personal account
9. Once your application is processed, you will receive an SMS and an email inviting you to pick up your passport and visa, if granted, at the AVS center

How to fill out the Schengen visa application form

After determining the type of visa you need based on your travel project to Italy, you must fill out an application form.
You can obtain it directly from the consular services (check the opening hours) of the Schengen country you wish to visit.
But generally, you can download it from the website of each embassy, consulate, or visa application center (in this case, the AVS center).
Sometimes, you may be asked to enter the information online and then print it. But you can also fill it out clearly and legibly by hand after printing it.
Follow our guide to correctly fill out the form.

What documents to submit with your Schengen visa application for Italy?

The required documents vary depending on the applicant and the purpose of the trip. Therefore, the list below is not exhaustive:

• Your passport which must be valid for more than 3 months beyond the planned stay, with two blank pages
• The residence card for foreign nationals residing in Tunisia
• The completed and signed visa application form
• A recent passport-sized photo (less than a week old), color, with a white background
• Copies of your previous visas
• A round-trip flight reservation
•  Accommodation proof: hotel booking, an invitation (you can download a "dichiarazione garanzia" model from the Italian Embassy in Tunis) with a copy of your host's ID, etc.
• A bank statement for the last 6 months
• Proof of your professional situation: these vary depending on your status (employee, civil servant, retiree, student…)
• A travel insurance certificate: it is mandatory and must meet several criteria to be validated

Important! Keep the originals, as they may be requested by border authorities when you arrive in the Schengen area.

To learn more about the required documents, please consult the AVS website

How much does a Schengen visa application for Italy cost?

You must pay the visa processing fees + service fees. Payment should be made in local currency and only in cash (unless you chose to pay in advance via a bank account number provided by AVS). A payment receipt and a reference number corresponding to your application submission will be given to you.

• Schengen Visa Type C application fees (short stay of less than 90 days)
  • 261.200 DT* (80 €) for adults and those over 12 years old
  • 130.600 DT (40 €) for children from 6 to 12 years old
  • Free for children under 6 years old
     
• Service fee of 68.300 DT, approximately 21 € for each application

_{*The applicable visa fees are in accordance with the current exchange rate. They are subject to change. Please note: even in the event of visa refusal, no fees will be refunded.}

What are the expected processing times for a visa application and when will you get a response?

It is advised to submit your application 6 weeks before your planned departure date. You can submit an application as early as 6 months before and no later than 15 calendar days before the trip. The processing time for a Schengen visa application is 15 days.

Attention! This processing time may be longer if documents or information are missing or if the application is made during peak periods (school holidays, summer season).

For nationals of other Maghreb countries, here are some useful links:

• For a visa application for Italy from Algeria
• For a visa application for Italy from Morocco

COVID: What are the entry requirements for Italy?

As of June 1, 2022, travel restrictions due to the pandemic have been lifted in Italy. Providing proof of vaccination, recovery from Covid, or negative test results is no longer required.
Important! Entry requirements may vary depending on the evolution of the health situation. Therefore, we recommend that you check the website of the Italian embassy closer to your departure to find out about the measures in place at that time.

Do Tunisians need a visa for a short stay in Italy?

Tunisians are among the nationals who are required to apply for a visa to enter Italy. This is a Schengen Type C visa (short stay of less than 90 days), which allows entry to the Schengen area covering 29 countries, including Italy.

Where should you submit your visa application for Italy from Tunisia?

Visa application submissions are done by appointment only with Almaviva Visa Services (AVS) in Tunis. You can book an appointment either online on their website (24/7) or by phone. The call center is open from Monday to Friday from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM and on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

How much does a Type D (long stay) visa for Italy cost when applied for from Tunisia?

The cost of a Type D visa (more than 90 days) for Italy is 116 €.