The VFS Global Visa Application Centre (VAC) is the external service provider appointed by the Embassy of Italy in Addis Ababa to receive short-stay visa applications and long-stay visa applications for university enrolment.
Applications for all categories of short-stay visas (Schengen visas up to 90 days) may be submitted through VFS Global, including visas for tourism, business, sports competitions, religious purposes, and medical treatment.
The service is available to residents of the three countries covered by the Embassy of Italy in Addis Ababa: Ethiopia, Djibouti (please note that the Embassy of France is responsible for processing Schengen visa applications in Djibouti), and South Sudan.
Appointments can be booked online 24 hours a day through the VFS booking platform:
https://visa.vfsglobal.com/eth/en/ita/
VFS Global also offers a walk-in service, allowing a limited number of applicants each day to submit a visa application without a prior appointment (Important Information For Applicants | vfsglobal).
VFS Global Contact Details
Address:
5th Floor, Ranu Real Estate Building, Equatorial Guinea Street, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Email:
info.italyet@vfshelpline.com
For the current year, VFS Global has also been appointed to receive long-stay visa applications for STUDY purposes (university enrolment).
All students holding a pre-enrolment letter issued by an Italian university through the Universitaly portal must submit their visa application through VFS Global. Eligible students will be contacted directly by VFS Global to schedule an appointment.
Please do not send emails to either VFS Global or the Embassy of Italy requesting an appointment.
Applicants seeking a national (D) visa for family reunification or subordinate employment must apply exclusively through the Embassy of Italy in Addis Ababa by sending an email to visa.addisabeba@esteri.it to request an appointment. Requests are processed in the order in which they are received.
In addition to the above-mentioned categories, the following applicants must also apply exclusively through the Embassy of Italy in Addis Ababa:
- Representatives of the Governments of Ethiopia, Djibouti, and South Sudan travelling on official missions, supported by a Note Verbale issued by their Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
- Representatives of embassies, the African Union, the United Nations, and International Organizations holding diplomatic or service passports and travelling on official missions, supported by a Note Verbale issued by their respective organization.
Please note that all applicants, regardless of the type of visa requested (except visas for university enrolment), may always choose to submit their visa application directly to the Embassy of Italy in Addis Ababa by requesting an appointment via email at: visa.addisabeba@esteri.it
IMPORTANT
Visa applicants are kindly requested not to appear at the Visa Section of the Embassy of Italy in Addis Ababa unless they are in possession of a printed copy of the appointment confirmation received by email.
A separate appointment is required for each applicant. Groups who book only one appointment will have only one visa application accepted.
How Can I Collect My Visa?
If you submitted your visa application at the VFS Global Visa Application Centre:
- At your first appointment, after submitting your visa application, you will receive a new appointment from the VFS staff to collect your passport.
If you submitted your visa application at the Visa Section of the Embassy of Italy:
- At your first appointment, after submitting your visa application, you will receive a new appointment from the Embassy staff to collect your passport.
Important Information
- Visa applications and appointment requests submitted on behalf of third parties are not accepted. Applicants must appear in person on the day of their appointment with a printed copy of the completed and signed visa application form, together with all required supporting documents. Applicants must also provide their fingerprints where required.
- Submission of a visa application does not confer any automatic right to obtain a visa. The final decision on the issuance of a visa rests solely with the Embassy of Italy.
- The Embassy of Italy in Addis Ababa works exclusively with VFS Global as its external service provider. Applicants are strongly advised not to use intermediaries or private agencies to book appointments or prepare their visa applications.