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To get an Italy visa from Dubai, you file at VFS Global in The Gate, DIFC, if your UAE residence visa is from Dubai or the Northern Emirates. This applies when your passport needs a Schengen visa. The adult fee is EUR 90, the child fee EUR 45. The Italian Consulate General in Dubai decides, usually within 15 days and at most 45.
Two centres, two Italian missions
Italy is one of the few countries that splits the UAE between two different operators:
| Your residence visa issued in | Centre | Mission that decides |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah | VFS Global, The Gate, DIFC (Zone C) | Consulate General of Italy, Dubai |
| Emirate of Abu Dhabi, including Al Ain | BLS International | Embassy of Italy, Abu Dhabi |
Source: Consulate General of Italy in Dubai, visa page and notices, checked .
The consulate itself sits in the World Trade Centre, Sheikh Rashid Tower, 17th floor. You do not hand in a tourist visa file there. Searches for "vfs italy dubai" and "italy visa application center dubai" both point to the DIFC centre.
Recent notices from the Italian consulate
Two notices from the Dubai consulate matter for your timing. In it warned of a Visa Information System shutdown from to . A notice dated said services would resume gradually from , and business visas would return with their own slots. The same notice warns that availability is "subject to change".
So before you book, open the consulate's news page and look for anything newer. A notice can change slot supply overnight.
Fees for an Italian Schengen visa
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Visa fee, adult | EUR 90 |
| Visa fee, child 6 to 12 | EUR 45 |
| Child under 6 | Free |
| VFS Global service fee | Set by VFS, not on the consulate page |
Source: European Commission, Applying for a Schengen visa, checked .
What Dubai agencies charge for Italy
Published agency prices for help with an Italy tourist visa run from about AED 325 to AED 1,200 (published prices of 4 Dubai agencies, checked ). One agency lists a separate, higher price when it also secures the appointment. Where inclusions are listed, the EUR 90 fee is not covered.
What goes in an Italy file
- Passport with at least 3 months' validity after you leave Schengen and two free pages.
- UAE residence visa and Emirates ID. Your residence visa decides the centre, so it must be the current one.
- The national Schengen application form for Italy, filled and signed.
- Photos in the size the checklist gives.
- Travel medical insurance with EUR 30,000 cover for all Schengen states.
- Return flight reservation.
- Proof of accommodation for every night: hotel bookings, or an invitation if you stay with someone.
- Recent bank statements and a salary certificate or employer NOC with your leave dates.
- For business trips: an invitation from the Italian company and a letter from your UAE employer.
Italy's checklist is published through VFS. Use the version on the VFS Italy UAE page, since it is the one staff check against.
Steps for an Italian visa from Dubai
- Confirm Italy is your main stay. Italy plus a few days in Switzerland is fine. Two nights in Rome and six in Paris is a French file.
- Download the checklist and form from VFS Italy UAE.
- Book the appointment at The Gate, DIFC. See the Schengen visa appointment guide for timing.
- Submit, pay and give biometrics.
- Wait for the decision and collect your passport.
How long it takes
The EU standard is 15 days from a complete file, with up to 45 if the consulate needs more. Italy does not publish a shorter figure on the pages we read. With the gradual restart after March, leave more room than the minimum, and file 6 to 8 weeks before a summer trip if slots allow.
Reasons Italian visas get refused
- Accommodation that does not cover the whole stay, or bookings cancelled after the visa.
- An itinerary where Italy is not the longest stay.
- Thin financial proof for the length of the trip.
- Business trips without a clear invitation from the Italian side.
- Filing at the wrong centre for your emirate.
How it works with us
Send your passport copy, Emirates ID, and dates by WhatsApp, or use the form on this page. Your visa adviser checks your emirate first, since that decides whether you go to DIFC or to BLS in Abu Dhabi. Then we check that Italy is the right country for your plan. You receive one total price before paying. We prepare the form, the bookings file and a covering letter, and book your slot where VFS allows. You go to the centre for biometrics. DubaiVisaDesk.com is a private visa service. The Consulate General of Italy or the embassy makes every decision.
If Italy refuses, the visa fee is gone and so is the VFS fee. Before you pay us, the adviser writes down which part of our price, if any, you would get back.
Official sources
- Consulate General of Italy in Dubai, visas: VFS in DIFC for Dubai and the Northern Emirates, BLS for Abu Dhabi, consulate address.
- Consulate notice on services resuming: gradual restart and business visa slots.
- Consulate notice on the VIS shutdown: February shutdown dates.
- European Commission, Schengen visa: fees and decision time.
Combining Italy with a neighbour? Read Switzerland visa from Dubai, France visa from Dubai or Greece visa from Dubai. All rules for the group are on the Schengen visa from Dubai page.
