Italy work visa applicants not required to submit original passports anymore
As of today (28 May), applicants will need to submit only scanned copies and photocopies of their passports during the application process.
From now on, applicants for Italian work visas can submit a photocopy of their passport instead of the original during the initial application stage.
This change aims to reduce the inconvenience caused by passports being held for extended periods, according to the verified Facebook page of VFS Global, the official visa service provider.
"When applying for an Italy Work Visa, applicants in Bangladesh will be required to submit their passports only for scanning and photocopying. The original passports will be returned to the applicants immediately," reads the Facebook post of VFS Global today (28 May).
If the visa is approved, the applicant will need to submit the original passport again for the final issuance of the visa, it adds.
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For more details, visit their website https://vfsglobal.com/en/individuals/index.html.
Previously, many workers faced long delays due to their passports being stuck with the embassy for months. This new policy should significantly improve the application process.
"The passport was supposed to be delivered on 16 August last year after submission on 27 March. Either return the passport or travel to another country. How long will I wait for a visa?" an aspirant named Mahbub commented on VFS Global's Facebook page.
On 21 May this year, Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh Antonio Alessandro advised visa-seekers not to pay anyone for visas, emphasising that the embassy only charges small taxes and processing fees.
"We only take small taxes and processing fees, so applicants should not pay anyone for buying work permits, procuring visas, or getting an appointment. The services are free except for these fees," he said after meeting with State Minister for Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Shofiqur Rahman Choudhury at the ministry.
Ambassador Alessandro explained the delay in visa processing, citing the revelation of forged documents, counterfeit working permits, and fraudulent applications, which have slowed down the process.
The ambassador also mentioned that they are currently receiving a limited number of applications due to pending ones.
In response to the question about the delay in the visa process, the state minister said, "There is a delay due to the submission of many applications at a time. Italy can take at least 7 lakh workers in the future."
