Italy, a European country, is full of marvellous architecture, sculptures, vineyards and delicious pizza! It is also a country that lies in the Schengen area and you just need a Schengen visa to travel there. Italy is taking efforts to reduce the Schengen Visa waiting time for Indian citizens!
Italy Is Taking Efforts To Reduce Schengen Visa Waiting Time For Indians
SchengenVisaInfo.com reported that to shorten the time Indians must wait to obtain a Schengen visa, Italy is taking specific measures. Vincenzo de Luca, the Italian ambassador to India, stated that Italian officials are actively trying to shorten the waiting time for Indians applying for Schengen visas.
Similar to other countries that issue Schengen visas, Ambassador de Luca noted that Italy is currently dealing with a substantial flood of applications and is making every effort to move the process along as quickly as possible.
The ambassador stated in an interview with Business Line that compared to the same period last year, the number of Indians granted Schengen visas increased by 38 per cent during the first seven months of the current year. He emphasised that the current processing period after the application is received is 48 hours for both business and tourist visas.
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There Is An Increase In Applications
The ambassador also disclosed that initiatives are being taken to increase the number of visas given to Indian experts. He stayed away from providing a precise number, saying that the government is currently assessing the need for workers throughout the country’s numerous industries.
Last year, they increased the number of work licences for Indians to 15,000. Further, they anticipate an even larger allocation of permits this year. He also highlighted the rise in Indian students choosing Italy as their country of study. Around 5,000 student visas have so far been issued to Indian nationals this year.
He continued by revealing that Italy and India were in the process of negotiating a mobility agreement that was expected to open doors for nurses and medical professionals.
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While applying, Indian candidates need to show proof of lodging, a roundtrip itinerary, proof of purchasing travel health insurance, and evidence of having enough money to cover their expenses, among other things.
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