A new renovated Italian visa application centre has been inaugurated in Guangzhou of China.
The centre was inaugurated by VFS Global, which is responsible for receiving visa applications on behalf of Italy and the Italian General Consul in Guangzhou, Valerio De Parolis, among others.
Equipped with advanced technology, an online appointment management system, and a streamlined biometric data collection system, the new centre will now have the capacity to process more than 500 Italian Schengen visa applications per day, Schengen.News reports.
As explained by the authorities, the main aim of the renovation of this centre is to provide a more efficient experience for applicants. Moreover, the new features of the Italian visa application centre also aim to enhance the security of the visa application process.
Commenting on the inauguration, the Consul General of Italy in Guangzhou, Valerio De Parolis, said that the smooth operation of the visa application process is very important. The same noted that for this reason, they have collaborated with VFS Global to improve the services.
We have collaborated with VFS Global to further improve and optimise an already high-quality service, ensuring that the visa application for Italy also becomes the beginning of a complete and engaging travel experience.
In addition to the above-mentioned, Parlois revealed that the Italian Consulate in Guangzhou has been seeing an increase in the number of applications. As he disclosed, visa applications in the Consulate General of Italy in Guangzhou increased by 80 per cent in 2024 compared to 2023.
Travel Demand From China to Italy Seeing Significant Growth
In the last years, the travel demand from China to Italy has seen a significant increase, with a large number of Chinese visitors reaching the EU country every year.
While 2024 data on visa applications have not been shared yet, it is believed that application by Chinese nationals for an Italian visa increased by 60 per cent in 2024.
As for 2023, statistics published by SchengenVisaInfo, show that a total of 143,648 Chinese nationals applied for an Italian visa. Of the total number of applicants, 136,155 of them were issued a visa, whereas 7,321 of them were rejected the visa.
Chinese nationals planning to apply for a Schengen visa are advised to plan accordingly and submit their application well in advance to ensure a smooth and hassle-free process.
All Schengen member states accept visa applications up to six months before the travel date, but no later than 15 days before the departure date.
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