The US government allows more than 30 countries to enjoy the visa exemption, meaning the foreign citizens of these countries are exempt from getting a visa to enter the United States of America. Fortunately, Italy is on the list as well!
According to the visa waiver program (VWP), Italian nationals are no longer required to have a visa to visit the US. They can get the ESTA - an electronic system of travel authorization. Here's how to get an ESTA without visiting the US embassy.
US ESTA for Italians
ESTA is a travel document that can be used to enter the USA. The program was launched in 2009 to promote tourism by making it easy and quick for specific countries to get an ESTA, including the nationality holders of Italy.
The best thing about ESTA is that any Italian passport holder can apply for it. They can get an ESTA from the comfort of their home without visiting the US consular affairs. In other words, no more wasting your time following complicated visa application procedures, submitting documents in person, or scheduling an interview with immigration officials.
Getting an ESTA from Italy
ESTA is a multiple-entry document that is valid for 2 years. It allows visa applicants to stay in the US for up to 90 days. It can be attained for different purposes, including business and tourism purposes. Best of all, it is a completely streamlined process and takes less than 15 minutes to complete.
To get an ESTA, Italian applicants are required to:
Fill out the ESTA application form
Pay the MRV fee
Submit the application
That's it! It's that simple to get an ESTA. You don’t have to visit the US embassy. All you need is stable internet!
Application Steps
Italian citizens that wish to get an ESTA are required to fill out the ESTA application form. The form will ask the applicant a few basic questions, such as:
Full name
Contact information
Gender
Age
Date of birth
E-mail address
Phone number
Applicants are also required to provide passport information, including the passport number and expiration date. You might have to provide information about criminal history, health background, and employment history.
Required Documents
While applying for an ESTA, you don’t have to worry about printed documents. There are only a handful of visa requirements that Italian citizens should fulfill, including:
A valid passport
An email address
A debit or credit card
Processing Time
Compared to a traditional visa, getting an ESTA is easy and quick. On average, an ESTA e-visa applicant can get the ESTA within 72 hours. However, there are some scenarios where it takes a little longer to get an ESTA due to secondary checks and high demand. This is the main reason why we recommend applying for an ESTA at least one week before the actual departure date.
Other Valid Visa Options for Italians
All Italian passport holders, including holders of ordinary, diplomatic, or service passports, are eligible for ESTA. However, if, for some reason, you are unable to get an ESTA, you can always apply for a traditional "stamp" or "sticker" visa.
The United States government offers different types of nonimmigrant visas for different purposes. Two of the more popular visa categories include:
B-1 Visa
If you want to enter the country for business purposes, you can apply for a B-1 visa. This visa category allows an Italian citizen to stay in the foreign country for professional and commercial purposes, such as:
Attending a business meeting
Participating in short-term training programs
Meeting with business associates
Establishing a contractual relationship
B-2 Visa
Alternatively, if you want to enter the country for tourism, you are required to get a B-2 nonimmigrant visa. You can also get a B-2 visa if you want to enter the country using the ESTA. Unlike ESTA, a B-2 visa allows you to stay in the country for 180 days. In addition, it is valid for up to 10 years after the issue. B-1 and B-2 visa holders can only apply for a transit visa.
US Embassy in Italy
To enter the US, all Italian citizens are required to have a travel document. The better option is, of course, getting an ESTA. You don’t have to visit the US embassy or schedule a visa interview to get an ESTA.
That being said, if you are not eligible for ESTA or want to stay in the country for a longer period of time, you are required to get a traditional visa. The US offers different types of visas for foreign nationals. No matter which visa category you select, you need to visit the US embassy to apply for a traditional visa.
The US Embassy Address
Via Vittorio Veneto, 121
00187 Roma TM
Italy