Italy to Require Fingerprint Collection for Long-Term Visa Applicants Starting January 11, 2025

As of January 11, 2025, all applicants for long-term Schengen visas to Italy will be required to visit the nearest Italian embassy or consulate in their home country to provide biometric data, including fingerprints. This new measure extends a requirement already in place for short-term visa applicants and applies to a wide range of visa categories, including employment, study, family reunification, retirement, and investment purposes.

International students planning to study in Italy are also subject to the new fingerprinting rule. These students must book an individual appointment at their respective Italian consulates and appear in person for the biometric data collection. The implementation of this measure follows the enactment of Decree-Law 145/2024, which mandates fingerprint collection for both Schengen visas (type C) and national entry visas (type D). This change necessitates the personal appearance of all visa applicants when submitting their applications.

The Italian government has introduced this measure as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance security following reports of criminal infiltration in recent years. The authorities view this as a necessary step to safeguard the integrity of the visa application process and strengthen national security.

While the procedure itself is straightforward and takes only a few minutes, it imposes additional administrative and financial burdens on visa applicants. The requirement to appear in person at a consulate entails increased travel expenses, particularly for those living far from consular offices. Additionally, applicants may face income loss from taking time off work to attend these appointments.

One advantage of the new system is that biometric data will be stored for 59 months, eliminating the need for applicants to provide fingerprints again for subsequent visa applications during this period. For future visa requests within this timeframe, applicants will not need to appear in person.

However, concerns have been raised about the potential for this measure to exacerbate delays in visa processing. Many Italian consulates are already experiencing long waiting times, particularly in countries with high application volumes. The introduction of mandatory fingerprint collection may add further strain to the system, increasing overall processing times for applicants.

This development follows an earlier set of security measures approved in October 2024, with additional changes expected in 2025. While the new requirements provide an added layer of protection for Italian authorities, they also introduce new challenges for those seeking long-term visas, reflecting a significant shift in Italy’s approach to visa application procedures.

By fLEXI tEAM