Bank Guarantee for a Sports Event: Costs and How to Get It

Q: What happens if the event is cancelled? Will you refund the bank guarantee?

No. The bank guarantee is a financial guarantee, not a cancellation insurance. If the event is cancelled, the cost of the bank guarantee is non-refundable. The combined health insurance (combo) might, however, cover certain aspects: contact us to check your case.

Q: Can I also use the sports-event guarantee for tourism on the same days?

No. The bank guarantee is specific to the event declared in the invitation letter. During your stay you can still visit other cities, but the visa and the guarantee are tied to the sports event you declared to the embassy.

Q: How far in advance of the event should I request it?

At least 30 days before the departure date. The visa typically requires 10-15 days of processing at the embassy, so it is best to move early. We issue the policy within 24 hours of receiving the documents.

Q: If the event lasts 3 days but the visa is for 5, what is the amount covered?

The guaranteed amount is always EUR 3,905 , regardless of the length of the event or the visa. It is a fixed cap set by the rules, not proportionate to the days of stay.

Q: Can I renew the visa for several events in the same year?

Yes. You can apply for a multiple-entry sports visa that covers several trips in the same year. Each event, however, requires a new bank guarantee, because each one is linked to a specific event. Contact us to organise the application.

Q: If I am an EU citizen, is the bank guarantee mandatory?

No. Citizens of the European Union and of the associated Schengen countries (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) do not need a visa to take part in sports events in Italy lasting less than 90 days, so no bank guarantee is required as a financial guarantee. A valid ID document is sufficient. For registration with Italian sports federations, medical certificates or other specific documents may be needed, but not the bank guarantee.

Are you a foreign athlete who wants to take part in a sports event in Italy? Whether it is a marathon, a swimming competition, a cycling race or a football tournament, you will need the sports visa (VSU) and the Bank Guarantee.

The bank guarantee is the document that proves to Italy that you have the financial means to support your stay during the event. Find out how much it costs, which documents you need and how to get it in just 24 hours.

Do you need a bank guarantee for your event in Italy?
Request a free, tailored quote with no obligation.

Request a free quote

Table of contents

What the Bank Guarantee for a Sports Event Is
Who can request it
When it is required
Guaranteed amount
Requirements and documents needed
Cost of the bank guarantee
Combo with health insurance
3-step procedure
Special case: teams and multiple athletes
Frequently asked questions
Legal references

What the Bank Guarantee for a Sports Event Is

The Bank Guarantee for a sports event is a financial guarantee issued by an authorised insurance company (IVASS / Bank of Italy) that proves to the Italian embassy that you have the financial means to cover the costs of food, accommodation and transport during the event.

Unlike other types of visa (tourism, study, work), the sports visa (VSU – Visa for Temporary Stay for Sporting Use) is short in duration (usually 5 to 90 days) and the bank guarantee covers your total stay during the event.

Difference between a tourism guarantee and a sports-event guarantee

Aspect	Tourism	Sports event
Maximum duration	90 days	90 days (in practice 5-30)
Guaranteed amount	EUR 1,500	EUR 3,905 (fixed)
Reason for the visa	Visiting the country	Participation in a sports event
Number of entries	1-2	Possibly multiple (multi-year championships)
Average cost	EUR 100-150	EUR 80-135 (case by case)

Who can request it

The bank guarantee for a sports event can be requested by:

Individual athletes (runners, swimmers, cyclists, tennis players, etc.)
Football, volleyball, basketball, hockey and other team-sport squads
Coaches and technical staff accompanying the athletes
Chaperones and team doctors

In practice: anyone who is formally invited by an organiser of an Italian sports event and holds the nationality of a non-Schengen country.

When it is required

The Bank Guarantee is required by the Italian embassy when you accept an invitation letter from the organiser of a sports event in Italy. When you submit your documents to the embassy, along with the visa application form, you attach the bank guarantee as proof of financial solvency.

Please note: it is always required for non-EU athletes. If you are an EU citizen the process is more straightforward and no visa is needed.

Guaranteed amount

The Bank Guarantee issued through vistoperitalia.it for a sports event has a fixed guaranteed amount:

Guaranteed amount: EUR 3,905

Fixed cap, independent of the length of the event (from 5 to 90 days).

This is the maximum covered regardless of the length of the event, whether it lasts 5 days or 90 days.

Requirements and documents needed

Requesting the bank guarantee requires only a few documents, split between the invited athlete/team and the Italian organising body.

Invited athlete or sportsperson

Copy of the passport (front and back)

Inviting Italian organisation or organiser

ID document of the person in charge or legal representative
Documentation relating to the sports event (programme, regulations, authorisations)
Official invitation letter signed by the federation, sports club or event organiser

For teams, a single bank guarantee covering all the athletes and staff is sufficient: you need each participant’s passport and the complete list of names.

Cost of the bank guarantee for a sports event

The cost of the bank guarantee varies according to the number of athletes and the complexity of the case.

Indicative rates

Teams with several athletes: from EUR 80 per single athlete
Individual athletes: up to EUR 135 (maximum)
Tailored quote: based on the specific case

We do not have fixed rates for each duration. Contact us directly with the details of your event (date, number of athletes, type of sport) and we will give you a tailored quote with no obligation.

Combo: bank guarantee + mandatory health insurance

The health insurance for foreigners is mandatory together with the bank guarantee: without minimum health cover the embassy will not issue the visa. Contact us for a combo quote with a tailored bundle discount.

3-step procedure

Step 1 – Send the documents

Send by email to info@vistoperitalia.it or via WhatsApp at +39 339 71 50 157:

Copy of the passport (front and back)
Number of athletes (if a team)
Event start and end dates (exact days)
Invitation letter from the organiser

Step 2 – Receive the quote

Within 2-4 hours you will receive:

A clear, tailored quote
A data-entry form
Payment methods (bank transfer, card, PayPal)

Step 3 – Receive the policy within 24 hours

After payment, within a maximum of 24 hours you will receive the digitally signed Bank Guarantee, ready to attach to your visa application at the Italian embassy.

Special case: multiple athletes and teams

If you are part of a team with several athletes, the procedure is identical, but with a few differences:

The bank guarantee covers all the athletes with a single policy
The cost is proportionate to the number of athletes and the complexity of the case
One person in charge (usually the captain or the organiser) signs as the “applicant” and all the athletes as “beneficiaries”

Frequently asked questions

No. The bank guarantee is a financial guarantee, not a cancellation insurance. If the event is cancelled, the cost of the bank guarantee is non-refundable. The combined health insurance (combo) might, however, cover certain aspects: contact us to check your case.

No. The bank guarantee is specific to the event declared in the invitation letter. During your stay you can still visit other cities, but the visa and the guarantee are tied to the sports event you declared to the embassy.

At least 30 days before the departure date. The visa typically requires 10-15 days of processing at the embassy, so it is best to move early. We issue the policy within 24 hours of receiving the documents.

The guaranteed amount is always EUR 3,905, regardless of the length of the event or the visa. It is a fixed cap set by the rules, not proportionate to the days of stay.

Yes. You can apply for a multiple-entry sports visa that covers several trips in the same year. Each event, however, requires a new bank guarantee, because each one is linked to a specific event. Contact us to organise the application.

No. Citizens of the European Union and of the associated Schengen countries (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) do not need a visa to take part in sports events in Italy lasting less than 90 days, so no bank guarantee is required as a financial guarantee. A valid ID document is sufficient. For registration with Italian sports federations, medical certificates or other specific documents may be needed, but not the bank guarantee.

Legal references

Reg. EC 810/2009 (Community Visa Code) – Art. 5 (requirements and documents)
Art. 6 Reg. EC 810/2009 (mandatory health insurance)
D.Lgs. 286/1998 (Legislative Decree 286/1998 – Italian Consolidated Immigration Act)

Informational disclaimer. The information in this article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, administrative or insurance advice. The requirements for the visa and the bank guarantee may vary depending on the athlete’s country of origin and the discretion of the competent Italian embassy. To assess your specific case, contact the Italian embassy in your country directly or contact our team for a free, tailored consultation.

Ready to take part in your event in Italy?

The bank guarantee is obtained within 24 hours. Contact us now for a free quote with no obligation.

📞 +39 055 28.53.13

💬 Message us on WhatsApp

✉️ Email us

Cover photo: Pietro Rampazzo on Unsplash

Condividi questo contenuto

Bank Guarantee for a Sports Event: Costs, Requirements and How to Get It in 24 Hours for Foreign Athletes