Can I invite a family member or a friend to Italy for a short period?

The foreigner, to support the application of the Schengen visa (tourism visa) of a family member or a friend, can fill out the invitation letter, so the applicant can have more possibilities to receive the tourism visa

How can I fill out the invitation letter?

The invitation letter contains a first part, where the person who wants to invite a friend or relative must add his personal data.

Before adding the personal data of the person who will come to Italy, the form asks if this person will stay in the apartment or house of the person filling the invitation letter.

Do I have to put my address?

In case the person wants to host his friend or relative in his apartment, he needs to add the address where he will stay.

Which info do I have to put about the person I want to invite?

At this point, the person filling out the form has to add the personal data of the relative or friend, which type of relationship there is between the person filling the form and the person coming to Italy, and for what reason he is coming and when he will arrive and when he will leave.

Is there something else I have to fill?

At this point, to support more the application of the Schengen visa, the person who is filling the form can tick some options:

• If you want to support financially the visit of your relative/friend, in this case, you need to attach to the letter also your busta paga, CUD or tax declaration,
• If you want to buy health insurance for your relative/friend, that in any case is mandatory for the Schengen visa
• If you want to support your friend/relative financially with a fideiussione bancaria (bank guarantee), in case you can’t show your income in any other way
• If you are hosting your relative or friend you have to communicate it to the authorities with the dichiarazione di ospitalità
• And last but not least, that you know all the criminal responsibilities regarding the art.12 D. Lgs. N.286/98 e s.m.i

What else?

At the end, the person who is filling out the invitation letter has to sign the document as well as put the date on it and also write which documents he is attaching to the form.

You can find the invitation letter here.

At this point, the invitation letter can be used by a friend or relative who wants to come to Italy, but pay attention, because some Italian embassies abroad request also a “Firma autenticata” on the invitation letter, that the person who is living in Italy, can do at the comune of his city.