Visa for sport events: up to 90 days
Foreign athletes who need to participate to a sport event in Italy shall apply for short-term Sport Competition Visa at the Italian Consulate in the country of residence. This visa allows a stay in Italy up to 90 days for participating in a sport event without continuous athletic activity. An invitation letter from CONI, the relevant Italian Sports Federation, or event organizer confirming the applicant’s participation is required.
Nationals of the following countries do not require a visa for visits up to a maximum of 90 days for participating in sports events:
Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Dominica, El Salvador, Emirati Arabi Uniti, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), Georgia, Guatemala, Grenada, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Macao, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Northern Marianas, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, Santa Lucia, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, St, Vincent e Grenadine, Taiwan, Timor Est, Trinidad e Tobago, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela.
Long term Sport visa
Foreign athletes moving to Italy for sports must apply for a long-term Sport Visa to stay and work professionally with an Italian Sports Association.
Sport Visas are subject to government quotas, allocated to CONI and distributed among Italian Federations.
For example, for the season 2019/20, the Italian Government released 1,090 quotas which are valid for (a) sportsmen entry for work reasons, and (b) the enrolments into sports clubs of foreigners, already in Italy, with a valid Residence Permit (Permesso di Soggiorno).
Italian Sports Associations hiring a foreign national must obtain special authorization from CONI by submitting a Work Permit application. Once CONI grants the quota and issues the Work Permit, the foreigner can apply for the visa at the Italian Consulate in their country.
Sport visa holders must apply for a Residence Permit at the local Police Headquarters within 8 days of arriving in Italy. The permit is valid for 1 year, renewable, and can be converted into a work permit for any sector if eligibility requirements are met.
