Do you want to invite a friend, a relative or your partner to Italy from a non-EU country? Then you will almost certainly need a bank guarantee for the tourist visa.
In simple terms: it is a financial guarantee that tells the Italian State “this person will not run out of money during their stay, because someone is taking responsibility for them”.
It’s simple! In this guide we explain everything you need to know, step by step, in clear language. By the end you will know exactly what to do, how much to spend and how to avoid the mistakes that get visas refused.
In Brief: Everything You Need to Know
Price
€135
for 180 days
Issuance
24 hours
document ready
Zero Restrictions
€0
locked on your account
What the guarantee for a tourist visa is (and what it really does)
When a foreign person applies for a visa to come to Italy, the State needs to be sure of one thing: that the traveller has enough money to support themselves throughout their entire stay.
This is not a bureaucratic whim. It is the law: the Consolidated Immigration Act (D.Lgs. 286/1998, art. 4 – Legislative Decree 286/1998) and the Directive of the Ministry of the Interior of 1 March 2000 establish that every foreigner must demonstrate that they have the necessary “means of subsistence”.
This is where the bank guarantee comes into play.
Think of the guarantee as a written, official promise. A bank (or an insurance company) tells the Italian State:
“This person is financially covered. If, during their stay, they do not have the money to support themselves, we will take care of it.”
In practice, the bank guarantee serves to demonstrate three things:
- that the guest will have board and lodging guaranteed for the entire duration of the trip
- that they will not become a financial burden on the Italian State
- that the person issuing the invitation is taking on a concrete responsibility
Please note: Without this guarantee, the Embassy can refuse the visa. Not because the person is not “worthy” of coming to Italy, but because a requirement set out by the law is missing.
Who can arrange the guarantee? The requirements for the person who invites
Not everyone can arrange a guarantee to invite a foreigner to Italy. It can only be done by:
🇮🇹 Italian Citizen
resident in Italy
🌍 Resident Foreigner
with a valid residence permit
Whoever invites takes on a specific, personal responsibility. By signing the guarantee and the declaration of hospitality, you are telling the State:
“I undertake to host this person, to ensure they have safe accommodation and that they will return to their country when the visa expires.”
Important: It is a serious commitment. That is why it is important that the documents are perfect: if something does not add up, the Embassy refuses the visa and you risk compromising future applications as well.
How much the guarantee for a tourist visa costs in 2026
This is the question everyone asks first.
For 180 days (6 months) of guarantee
The Price Includes:
- Issuance within 24 hours
- Free real-time advice via WhatsApp
- Delivery by email with a digital signature (original document)
- No money locked on your account
- No need to open a bank account
Why with us it is different from a traditional bank
| Aspect | Traditional Bank | Visto per Italia |
|---|---|---|
| Money locked | €3,905 frozen | €0 locked |
| Bank account | Opening required | Not necessary |
| Timing | 5-7 days | 24 hours |
| Cost | Variable | €135 fixed |
| Convenience | At the branch | 100% online |
To dig deeper into all the details on costs, read our dedicated guide: “Cost of the bank guarantee for a tourist visa“
How to obtain the guarantee: the 5 steps
Here is what you need to do, in the right order. No appointments, no queues at the bank, everything online.
Step 1 – Gather the documents
You need:
- Your identity document (front/back, legible)
- The passport of the person you want to invite (the page with the photo)
Step 2 – Send everything to us
You can send the documents by email to info@vistoperitalia.it or directly on WhatsApp at +39 339 71 50 157. A clear photo taken with your phone is fine too.
Step 3 – Receive the quote
We reply within a few minutes with the quote and the payment instructions.
Step 4 – Confirm and pay
You can pay by bank transfer, postal payment slip, or credit card via PayPal. As soon as we receive the payment, we start processing your request.
Step 5 – Receive the bank guarantee
Within 24 hours of receiving all the documents and the payment, we send you the bank guarantee by email. The document carries a digital signature: it is an original to all intents and purposes, valid for the Embassy.
In short: documents + payment = guarantee within 24 hours
No counters, no waiting, no money locked.
What the amount of the guarantee must be
You do not decide the amount of the guarantee: it is set by law.
The tables of the Ministry of the Interior (Directive of 1 March 2000) set a fixed initial amount plus a daily amount, which increase according to the length of the stay.
GUARANTEED AMOUNT
For a tourist visa of up to 90 days
(with a 180-day guarantee)
Important: This is the amount the bank guarantees to the Italian State.
It is not the price you pay (that is €135).
Critical warning: Never arrange a guarantee for an amount lower than the one set by the ministerial tables. A guarantee with too low a value is one of the most frequent reasons for visa refusal.
To check the exact amounts based on the length of the stay, you can consult the official table on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website.
Do you also need health insurance?
Yes, they are TWO DIFFERENT documents and BOTH mandatory
They do not replace one another
| Document | What it is for | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Guarantee | Guarantees the money for eating, sleeping and the expenses of the stay | €3,905 |
| Insurance | Covers medical treatment, hospitalisation and medical repatriation | €30,000 |
The health insurance must be valid throughout the Schengen area and must cover urgent medical expenses, hospitalisation and repatriation (including repatriation of remains). It does not cover treatment for illnesses the traveller already had before departure.
You can arrange your health insurance with us too.
Find out more: Health insurance for a tourist visa
Does the guarantee ensure the visa is issued?
No. It is important to say it clearly:
The guarantee is a necessary document, but on its own it is not enough.
The Italian Embassy assesses the entire application as a whole:
- The consistency of all the documents (dates, names and amounts must match)
- The applicant’s personal situation in their country of origin
- The clarity and credibility of the invitation
- The reliability of the person who invites
If done WELL:
With correct amounts and consistent details, the visa is easier to obtain.
If done BADLY:
The application is refused.
The mistakes that get visas refused (and how to avoid them)
Visa refusal is almost never a whim. It is based on precise criteria of the Schengen Visa Code.
Here are the most common mistakes:
1. Migration risk (the most frequent reason)
The Embassy must be convinced that your guest will return to their country when the visa expires. If the invited person does not have a stable job, owns no property, has no strong family ties in their homeland or has little money in their account, the Embassy will assume they want to stay in Italy illegally.
2. Dates that do not match
This is the most common technical mistake. The dates must be identical on three documents: the plane ticket (or reservation), the health insurance, and the invitation letter / declaration of hospitality. If even a single date does not match, the visa is denied.
3. Guarantee with too low an amount
Never arrange a guarantee for the exact minimum amount or, worse, for an amount lower than the ministerial tables. It is always better to cover a figure equal to or higher than 3,905 euros.
4. False or altered documents
Submitting a fake hotel reservation or altered bank statements is a crime. Embassies carry out cross-checks. The consequences are immediate refusal and often a ban on applying for visas in the future.
5. Unclear purpose of the trip
If you apply for a tourist visa but, during the interview, the applicant implies that they are coming to “look for work” or “receive medical treatment”, the visa is denied because the declared purpose does not match the real one.
6. Relying on intermediaries who “guarantee the visa”
No one can guarantee that a visa will be issued 100%. Anyone who asks for money in exchange for this promise is a fraudster. The procedure must be transparent and managed directly by the applicant and by the person who invites.
Complete checklist: what to prepare before you start
If you are the one issuing the invitation, here is everything you need to prepare and send to the person you want to host:
Required Documents
- ☐ Declaration of hospitality completed and signed
- ☐ A copy of your identity document (identity card or passport)
- ☐ If you are a resident foreigner: a copy of your residence permit
- ☐ Original bank guarantee (you receive it by email with a digital signature)
- ☐ Schengen health insurance (minimum coverage €30,000)
- ☐ Flight reservation (or plane ticket)
- ☐ Check that all the dates are consistent across the documents
Tip: Also prepare a short letter (on plain paper) in which you explain what relationship you have with the person you are inviting and why they are coming to Italy. It is not mandatory, but it helps the Embassy understand the context.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
The answers to the questions we are asked most often:
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax or insurance advice. To assess the solution best suited to your situation, consult a qualified professional or contact our team directly. Our advice is always free.
Ready to get started?
Do you need to invite a foreign person to Italy and don’t know where to start?
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