Italy Visa Fees from UK 2026: Complete Cost Breakdown

Introduction

Understanding the full cost of an Italy Schengen visa from the UK is very important before you apply. Many applicants only look at the visa fee and forget about service charges and extra costs. This often leads to confusion and last-minute issues at the VFS centre.

In this guide, we explain Italy visa fees from the UK for 2026 in simple terms. You will learn the official consular fees, VFS Global service charges, optional costs, and real total cost examples. All information is based on official Italian authorities and VFS Global guidance and written for UK residents.

Italy Schengen Visa Fees 2026

Standard Italy Visa Fees

Italy follows the standard Schengen visa fee structure set by the European Union under official EU visa fee regulations.

Adults aged 18 and over pay a visa fee of €90.
Children aged 6 to 12 pay €45.
Children under 6 years old are free of charge.

Visa fees are fixed in euros but paid in GBP at the VFS centre using the official consular exchange rate at the time of application

VFS Global Service Fee (UK)

Mandatory VFS Service Charge

In addition to the visa fee, applicants must pay a VFS Global service fee.
The current VFS Global service fee for Italy visa applications in the UK is £12.51.

This fee covers administrative handling, document intake, biometric collection, and transfer of the application to the Italian Consulate. Full details are available on the VFS Global Italy UK portal.

Children under 6 are exempt from the visa fee and are often exempt from the VFS service fee as well for Italy applications in the UK. Final confirmation is made at the VFS centre during submission.

All VFS service fees are non-refundable.

Italy Long-Stay (Type D) Visa Fees

National Visa Fees

If you are applying for a long-stay Italy visa, different fees apply depending on the visa category.

The standard national visa fee is €116.00 for long-stay visas such as work or family reasons.
The study visa fee is €50.00.

These visas fall under Italian national immigration law rather than Schengen short-stay rules, as outlined by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Other Costs to Budget For

Additional Mandatory and Optional Costs

Travel insurance is mandatory and must cover at least €30,000 for the entire Schengen area. Costs typically range from £20 to £30 per week depending on provider.

Applicants must also budget for:

• Flight reservations

• Accommodation bookings

• Passport photos (£5 to £10)

• Document translation if required (£20 to £50 per document)

Optional VFS services such as courier return, SMS updates, or premium lounge access are available at extra cost.

Total Italy Visa Cost Examples from UK

Example 1: Single Adult Tourist

Visa fee: €90 (around £75).
VFS service fee: £12.51.
Travel insurance: £30.
Photos: £8.

Estimated total cost: around £130 to £145.

Example 2: Family of Four

Two adults: €90 each.
One child aged 8: €45.
One child aged 4: €0.

VFS service fees may not apply to the child under 6.
Family insurance and photo costs apply as usual.

Estimated total cost: around £360 to £400, depending on insurance and optional services.

Who Gets Italy Visa Fee Exemptions?

Some applicants are exempt from paying the visa fee.

These include:

• Children under 6

• Family members of EU or EEA nationals travelling together

• Researchers travelling for scientific purposes

• School pupils on organised educational trips

• Diplomatic passport holders

Fee exemptions apply only to the visa fee, not optional services.

How to Pay Italy Visa Fees in the UK

Accepted Payment Methods

Visa fees are paid at the VFS centre, usually by debit or credit card.
Cash may be accepted in some cases, but card payment is preferred.

American Express cards are not accepted.
Cheques and bank transfers are not accepted.

Accepted Currencies:

VFS Global UK accepts payments in GBP (preferred) or EUR only. Other currencies (USD, AED, INR, TRY, etc.) are not accepted.

Can You Get Italy Visa Fees Refunded?

Refund Policy

Italy visa fees are strictly non-refundable.

This applies even if:

• Your visa is refused

• You cancel your trip

• You miss your appointment

VFS fees are refundable only in case if you cancel the appointment not later than 72 hours before the appointment.

Conclusion

Planning your Italy visa budget correctly helps avoid surprises at the VFS centre. The total cost for a single adult is typically £130 to £145, while families should budget £360 to £400 depending on the number of applicants and optional services.

If you are struggling to find VFS appointment availability, Visard helps UK residents by monitoring VFS Global every 3 seconds (28,800 checks/day) and sending instant Schengen Telegram alerts when slots open.

Pricing:

• Notifications: £35 (1 country) or £65 (all Schengen countries)

• Auto-booking: Not available for Italy from UK

Average time to secure appointment: 4-7 days.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is Italy visa fee from UK in 2026?

The adult Schengen visa fee is €90, paid in GBP at the VFS centre.

Is Italy visa fee refundable?

No. All visa and service fees are non-refundable.

Are children free for Italy visa?

Children under 6 do not pay the visa fee and are often exempt from the VFS service fee.

What payment methods are accepted?

Debit and credit cards are accepted. American Express is not accepted.