All roads lead to Rome

- We have a very high upper limit. Our centre has four workstations, should it become necessary, we can organise another two. If we count that each worker is able to process 9 thousand applications we are planning to issue more than 30 thousand visa documents annually. Our estimates, however, suggest that this amount would not be demanded.

The Italian Visa Centre issues visas for people from the Perm Krai, the Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk, Tyumen Oblasts, the Yamal-Nenets and Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrugs. These, in our view, are the largest and economically wealthiest regions, in the future we do not rule out the possibility of adding other subjects of the Federation to our "visa district". This issue, however, has to be agreed upon with the Consulate General of Italy in Moscow.

Our goals include, in addition to visa processing, the promotion of Italy as cultural, tourist, and business centre. Our visitors will be able to watch films about the country and read books and brochures. I would like to point out that we are expecting a significant growth of the number of tourists from the Urals to the Apennines. At the moment this number does not exceed 8 thousand; we are planning to drive this number up to 10 thousand. When visa centres for the Czech Republic and France started working in Ekaterinburg the numbers of tourists travelling from the Urals to these destinations have increased straight away. When there is a visa centre people have a guarantee that their trip does not get cancelled due to delays with visa processing.

The overall goal of our work is to bring the Urals regions closer to Italy and Italy to the Urals not only for tourists but also for businessmen wishing to develop their business in Italy and for students going to study in Italian higher education establishments.

- The list includes more than 100 tour operators. It is continually growing, every day we receive phone calls from representatives of tour operators which have not yet been accredited. We explain that they can get accredited by sending their documents to the Italian State Tourism Board [Ente Nazionale Italiano per il Turismo] first and then to the Consulate General of Italy in Moscow. Once they are included in the list of accredited companies, they can apply for visas in our Centre.

- Absolutely. So far we process visa documents in 5 to 10 working days. So far we consulted more than 200 people, a half of them submitted applications, these included 10 people from Tyumen, 10 from Perm, and 6 from Chelyabinsk. The rest are from the Sverdlovsk Oblast. Of course, there is no boom so far, our workload at the moment is only 10% of our capacity. I hope, however, that even working to the full capacity will not affect the processing times. Incidentally, we are expecting to work to the full capacity by the end of April.

- I do not think so, right now the Consulate General in Moscow has a lot of work but there are no delays. On the whole the Italian Visa Centre has been opened in order to avoid these problems. When we were assessing the need for the a visa centre in Ekaterinburg we had found out that there was a big problems with obtaining visas in the Urals. I, for instance, know a lot of people who love going to Italy. Before, in order to get a visa they had to fly to Moscow which is a significant expense and it is not a fact you would be able to submit all documents needed for processing a visa at the first attempt, you might forget something or fill some form out incorrectly. With the Visa Centre being here the scheme is much simpler. The staff in the Italian Visa Centre checks the documents straight away and explain what else is needed. Moreover, we give free consultations by phone, the numbers are 355-61-00 and 355-61-06.

The earliest we take applications for a visa is 90 days, that is 3 months, prior to the planned trip to Italy.

- You can call us and get consultation on this issue as well. Moreover, the list of necessary documents can be found on our website www.cvbitaly.com. After getting all the documents you have to make an appointment and 5 to 10 working days later you get back your passport with Italian visa. The document pack does not have to be submitted in person, a person with notarised power of attorney can do it.

The main "visa list" includes the foreign travel passport with a photocopy of the first page, filled out visa questionnaire, and a standard colour photograph. You also need documents confirming you transit to Italy, this is a booked return ticket for air travel, train, or coach. If you already have your tickets purchases, you can show photocopies but you must have the originals too.

Moreover, you need to have confirmation of your stay in Italy. An invitation to Italy, a hotel booking, or a confirmation from a hotel that you paid for your stay there are considered as such proof. This must stipulate address and telephone of the hotel, the length of stay and applicants' surnames.

Also important is the issue of financial guarantees or solvency.

- I'd like to make it clear that in order to stay in Italy the tourist has to have a certain amount of money. If one person is going to stay 5 days he would need 280 Euro, two travellers for the same length of time would need 215 Euro each. The amount needed for 10 days is calculated as 48 Euro per day per person, for two people - 30 Euro each.

To confirm your solvency you can provide a copy of your Sberbank book, a bank statement certified by the bank, as well as a copy of your bank card with an ATM printout (slip) with the balance. We photocopy the provided documents and attach the copies to the main document pack.

Another proof of solvency is a certificate from the employer that states your position and average monthly income. In this case students get this paper in their higher education establishment and schoolchildren - in their school.

- Of course this includes the receipt for the payment of the consular fee which amounts to 35 Euro per person for a short stay visa. It can only be paid in branches of the Intesa Bank. There five of them in Ekaterinburg - Prospekt Lenina 20 A, ul. Gagarina 31, Karla Libknekhta 16, Repina 22, Khokhryakova 74. They charge a commission of 2.3 Euro for the payment. In the same bank you will have to pay the service fee for the Visa Centre (900 roubles) and transport fee (500 roubles), the total is 1400 roubles.

I would also like to point out that the visa questionnaire has a question about medical insurance. For the duration of your stay in Italy you should take out a medical insurance policy. This can also be done in the Italian Visa Centre. Everybody knows very well how expensive medicine could be in Europe, it is easier to pay 1 euro per day for your trip and be insured for 30 thousand Euro.

- Visa for a child under 6 is processed for free. For older children visas cost the same as for adults, 35 Euro. Moreover, if a child is travelling with one of the parents, a notarised approval of the other is required. Without the agreement of both parents visa cannot be issued. The original and a copy of the birth certificate are also requited.