Yes, Indian citizens need a visa to visit Italy. They can apply for a Schengen Visa-Type C, which allows short stays for tourism, business, family visits, or other approved activities for up to 90 days within a 180-day period.

The 90/180 rule is a key guideline for travellers with a Schengen visa, determining how long you can stay within the Schengen Area. It states that you can remain in the Schengen Zone for up to 90 days within any 180-day period. These 90 days can be used consecutively or spread across multiple trips, but your total stay cannot exceed 90 days within any rolling 180-day timeframe.

Here’s how it works:

1. Day counting: Start counting your days from the first day you enter a Schengen country. Each day you spend in the Schengen Area counts toward your 90-day limit.
2. 180 Days: The 180 days are like a rolling window. It keeps moving forward as you move forward in time. So, whenever you want to enter a Schengen country, you must look back over the last 180 days. If you’ve stayed 90 days already within that period, you have to wait until some of those days “fall out” of the 180-day window before entering again.
3. Stay within the 90-day limit: You can use your 90 days all at once or spread them out with shorter visits. Just make sure that when you add up all the days you’ve spent in the Schengen Area during any 180-day period, it doesn’t exceed 90 days.

Example:

If you go to Italy on January 1st and stay for 30 days, then leave and come back on March 1st for another 30 days, you’ve used up 60 of your 90 days. If you want to visit again in May, you can only stay for 30 more days before reaching your 90-day limit within that 180-day window.

To obtain a multiple-entry Italy Schengen visa, especially under the new regulations favourable to Indians, follow these steps:

• Build a travel history: Obtain and properly use two Schengen visas within the last three years.
• Apply for multiple-entry: Once you’ve met the travel history requirement, apply for a multiple-entry visa. This visa may initially be valid for up to two years. Proper use of this visa can lead to eligibility for a five-year multiple-entry visa.
• Check passport validity: Ensure your passport is valid to cover the entire duration of the multiple-entry visa you are applying for.
• Provide justifications: Your application should clearly outline the need for multiple entries, such as frequent business travel, family visits, or other ongoing travel needs.
• Utilise the cascade regime: Under the EU’s “cascade” regime, Indian nationals can progress from a two-year visa to a five-year visa, gaining travel privileges similar to those of visa-free nationals if all conditions are met.
• Understand EU regulations: The Visa Code Regulation (EC) No 810/2009 governs Schengen visas. The new “cascade” system facilitates easier access to long-term visas for Indian nationals with an established travel record.

Yes, you can apply for a Schengen visa even if you overstayed a previous one. However, you must be prepared to explain the circumstances of the overstay and provide evidence that it was unintentional or unavoidable. A clear and honest explanation, supported by relevant documents (such as medical records if the overstay was due to health reasons), can help reduce the negative impact of a previous overstay on your new application.

If you need to extend your stay in Italy for medical reasons, you can apply for a visa extension at the local immigration office. To do so, you will need to provide the following documents:

• Medical certificate: Obtain a certificate from an Italian medical professional explaining the medical necessity for your extended stay.
• Proof of insurance: Provide evidence that your travel insurance covers the additional period of your stay.
• Financial proof: Show you sufficient funds to support yourself during the extended stay.