Embassy of India in Rome

Embassy of India in Rome, Italy

EmbassyIndiaRomeItaly

Overview

The Embassy of India in Rome serves as India's diplomatic mission in Italy, San Marino, Albania, and Malta, located on Via Sicilia in central Rome near the Porta Pia and Villa Borghese. The embassy and its Consular Section provide consular services to Indian nationals throughout Italy and the countries under its jurisdiction, process visa applications for Italian residents traveling to India, and facilitate bilateral relations between India and Italy in areas including trade, technology cooperation, cultural exchange, scientific research, defense cooperation, and diaspora engagement. India and Italy share ancient civilizations with over 2,000 years of interaction and trade through the historic spice route connecting Italian port cities with India. The relationship is enriched by deep cultural connections including references to India and the Ganges in Dante's Divine Comedy, Marco Polo's 13th-century travels to India, Mahatma Gandhi's 1931 visit to Rome, and the presence of Indian troops (Rajputana and Gurkha Rifles) in Italy during World War II. Modern bilateral relations are strengthened by cooperation agreements covering culture (since 1976), audiovisual co-production (2005), university partnerships, and conservation projects including the Ajanta and Ellora caves. Italy is home to the second-largest Indian diaspora in Europe (after the UK), with the Italian Parliament recognizing Sanatan Dharma in 2012 and Deepavali as an official festival celebrated annually at the Senate since 2015. The Indian community in Italy includes professionals, students (approximately 4,920 studying in Italian universities in 2020-2021), business owners, and families concentrated in Rome, Milan, Turin, Pisa, and other major cities.
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Visa Services

Italian citizens can enter India using the e-Visa system for tourism (30 days, 365 days, or 5 years), business (365 days), conferences (30 days), medical treatment, and medical attendant purposes. E-Visas are applied for online at indianvisaonline.gov.in and are processed electronically without requiring embassy visits. For visa categories not available as e-Visas (including employment, student, journalist, research, missionary, and long-term visas), Italian residents must apply through the embassy with online application forms, personal biometric enrollment, and supporting documentation. All visa applications must be completed online at indianvisaonline.gov.in, printed, signed (matching passport signature), and submitted in person at the visa counter. Mandatory biometric enrollment (facial and fingerprint capture) applies to all visa applicants except diplomatic/official passport holders and those under 12 or over 70 years of age. Required documents include passport with minimum 6 months validity, two adjacent blank pages, digital/machine-readable passport (handwritten passports not accepted), one color photograph (5cm x 5cm, white background) pasted and uploaded online, all old passports and dual citizenship passports, residence proof, and category-specific documents (business visas require certificates of incorporation for both Italian and Indian companies with authorized translations). Tourist visas require round-trip flight bookings, hotel reservations or invitation letters, bank statements (last 3 months), and travel itinerary. Business visas require invitation letters from Indian companies and assignment letters from Italian companies, both specifying business activities and turnover. Visa applications are accepted Monday-Friday 09:30-11:00 for individual applicants. Processing times vary by visa category. Contact visa.rome@mea.gov.in for visa queries or call +39 06 4884642-5 during consular phone hours (14:30-17:15 on working days). Applications with errors cannot be corrected at the counter; applicants must submit fresh online applications. Journalists and media professionals must apply for Journalist Visas even for tourism purposes and provide undertakings not to engage in journalism work if visiting for tourism.
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Consular Services

The Consular Section (located at Via Sicilia 136) provides comprehensive services for Indian nationals in Italy, San Marino, Albania, and Malta, including passport issuance and renewal, emergency travel documents, Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card applications and services (popular among Italian citizens of Indian origin for visa-free India travel), visa services for family members, birth and death registration, document attestation and legalization for use in India, police clearance certificates, and emergency consular assistance. All consular services require personal presence and biometric enrollment unless previously completed in India. For minors' visas, both parents must sign the application with Estratto di Nascita (birth certificate) verifying parenthood, unless parents' names appear in the minor's passport. Joint parental declarations are required confirming the minor will travel under their responsibility, with signatures matching passports. If minors travel without parents, the accompanying person must provide written responsibility declaration and parents must authorize in writing with passport/carta d'identità copies. Military and police personnel must provide leave approval copies; discharged members must declare discharge year on plain paper. Applications must specify clear job/profession details with complete work address and designation/rank. Consular phone inquiries are accepted Monday-Friday 14:30-17:15 at +39 06 4884642-5. Email contacts: cons.rome@mea.gov.in (general consular), visa.rome@mea.gov.in (visa queries), amb.rome@mea.gov.in (Head of Mission), dcmoffice.rome@mea.gov.in (supervisory officer). The Indian diaspora in Italy includes IT professionals, pharmaceutical workers, electronics specialists, manufacturing and engineering personnel, students (Italy offers many English-language university programs), entrepreneurs, and families. Major Indian companies in Italy include Titagarh Industries, TCS, Mahindra, Ranbaxy, Bombay Rayon, Zydus Cadila, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, Aurobindo Pharma Italia, Himatsingka Seide, Varroc Group, Endurance Technologies, and others primarily in IT, pharma, electronics, manufacturing, and engineering sectors. Emergency consular assistance is available for Indian nationals facing arrest, hospitalization, death, or urgent situations.
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Trade & Export Support

India and Italy maintain significant trade relations with over 600 Italian companies present in India across sectors including fashion and garments, textiles and textile machinery, automotive and automotive components, infrastructure, chemicals, energy, confectionery, and insurance. Italian expertise in luxury goods, automotive engineering (particularly Ferrari, Fiat, Lamborghini, and component manufacturers), machinery, fashion (Milan as global fashion capital), design, aerospace, and precision manufacturing complements India's growing manufacturing sector and large consumer market. Major Italian investments in India span automotive manufacturing, luxury goods, machinery and equipment, chemicals, food processing, and infrastructure. Indian exports to Italy include textiles and garments (Italian fashion houses source from India), pharmaceuticals (India supplies generic medicines), leather goods, jewelry and precious stones, automotive components (Indian suppliers integrated into Italian automotive industry), chemicals, IT services, rice and basmati rice, tea and spices, and engineering goods. Italian exports to India include machinery and mechanical equipment, automotive vehicles and components, luxury goods and fashion products, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, precision instruments, aircraft and aerospace equipment, textiles and textile machinery, iron and steel products, and food products including pasta, olive oil, and wine. Indian companies in Italy include major IT firms (TCS, Mahindra), pharmaceutical companies (Ranbaxy, Dr. Reddy's, Zydus Cadila, Aurobindo Pharma, Sun Pharma), manufacturing (Titagarh Industries), textile firms (Bombay Rayon, Himatsingka Seide, Raymond Zambaiti), automotive components (Varroc Group, Endurance Technologies), and conglomerates (ABG Group, Aditya Birla, Gammon). The embassy supports trade promotion, business facilitation, and commercial connections between Indian and Italian enterprises. Italy's design excellence, manufacturing quality, and innovation combine with India's competitive costs, skilled workforce, and large market for mutually beneficial economic cooperation.
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Investment Opportunities

The embassy provides information on investment opportunities in India for Italian companies and investors. India offers opportunities in sectors including automotive and automotive components (Italian automotive expertise valued), manufacturing and engineering (particularly precision manufacturing and machinery), textiles and fashion (Italian design and Indian production capabilities), pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, renewable energy and clean technology, infrastructure development (roads, railways, smart cities), aerospace and defense, chemicals and specialty chemicals, food processing and agriculture, information technology and digital services, luxury goods and retail, and tourism and hospitality. Italian expertise in automotive engineering, luxury manufacturing, design, machinery, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing aligns with India's 'Make in India' initiative and infrastructure development priorities. Major Italian companies have investments in India including Fiat Chrysler (automotive manufacturing), Pirelli (tires), numerous fashion and luxury brands, machinery manufacturers, and infrastructure companies. The embassy facilitates connections between Italian and Indian business entities and provides guidance on India's Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policies, investment procedures, sector-specific regulations, and business operating environment. India's market of 1.4 billion people, growing middle class, competitive manufacturing costs, skilled workforce including engineering and IT talent, improving ease of doing business, and government incentives including Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes create attractive investment opportunities for Italian businesses. Similarly, Indian companies invest in Italy for technology access, design expertise, market entry to Europe, and brand development, particularly in automotive components, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and IT services sectors.
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Business Support

The embassy actively facilitates Italy-India business relations through its commercial section. Italian companies exploring Indian markets can contact the commercial section for market intelligence, regulatory guidance, sector-specific information, business contacts, and facilitation support. The embassy coordinates with Italian chambers of commerce, Confindustria (General Confederation of Italian Industry), Italian Trade Agency (ICE), and Italian business associations to support bilateral commercial opportunities. Services include business matchmaking, information on investment procedures, facilitation of trade delegations, support for companies attending trade fairs and exhibitions, commercial connections, and networking events. The embassy also supports Indian businesses seeking Italian technology partnerships, design collaborations, investment opportunities, or market access in Italy and the European Union. Key sectors of bilateral business cooperation include automotive and automotive components (Italy's Fiat Chrysler and Indian manufacturers, plus extensive supplier networks), luxury goods and fashion (Italian brands sourcing from India, Italian design combined with Indian craftsmanship), machinery and industrial equipment (Italian machinery exports to India's growing manufacturing sector), pharmaceuticals and healthcare (Indian generic medicines and Italian pharmaceutical technology), textiles and textile machinery (Italy supplies advanced textile machinery to Indian textile industry), food processing and agriculture (Italian food processing technology and Indian agricultural products), information technology (Indian IT companies serving Italian market), aerospace and defense, renewable energy, and infrastructure development. Cultural affinity, design sensibility, and quality focus create strong foundations for business partnerships. Both countries collaborate on innovation, research and development, and technology transfer. Regular bilateral business forums, trade missions, and sector-specific events facilitate commercial engagement.
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Cultural & Educational Programs

India and Italy share exceptionally rich cultural and historical ties spanning over 2,000 years of interaction through trade, philosophy, art, and culture. Cultural connections are evidenced by Piazza Navona's 18th-century fountains representing four rivers including the Ganges, streets named after Maharshi Valmiki and Mahatma Gandhi, and Dante Alighieri's references to India and the Ganges in The Divine Comedy. The Italian Parliament's 2012 recognition of Sanatan Dharma and Deepavali as an official festival (celebrated annually at the Senate since 2015) demonstrates cultural integration. A bilateral cultural cooperation agreement (since 1976, renewed 2004) provides framework for exchanges under Cultural Exchange Programmes (CEP). An audiovisual co-production agreement (2005) facilitates film collaboration. The embassy organizes cultural events celebrating Republic Day (January 26), Independence Day (August 15), Gandhi Jayanti (October 2), Deepavali, International Day of Yoga, and other occasions in collaboration with Italian cultural associations, universities, and institutions including AIT Asia Institute Turin, Italian Hindu Union, CELSO Institute of Oriental Studies, ISMEO (Italian Institute for Mediterranean and Oriental Studies), Istituto Gandhi, International Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS), Italian Association of Sanskrit Studies, and numerous yoga organizations (ISCKON Villa Vrindavan, Ananda Ashram, Centro Studi Bhaktivedanta, Brahma Kumaris, various yoga federations and centers). Indian classical music and dance traditions are appreciated in Italy, with notable Italian practitioners including Ileana Citaristi (Italian-born Odissi and Chhau dancer awarded Padma Shri), Francesca Cassio (music professor awarded ICCR Distinguished Alumni Award), and Antonietta Rozzi (Prime Minister's Award 2019 for yoga promotion). Educational cooperation is growing with approximately 4,920 Indian students in Italian universities (2020-2021) studying in Rome, Milan, Turin, Pisa, and other cities, plus nearly 200 in art, music, and fashion colleges. Many Italian universities offer English-language programs attracting Indian students. Several Italian universities have Indian Studies departments teaching Hindi, Tamil, Urdu, Sanskrit, modern Indian history, culture, art, religion, philosophy, and performing arts. The ICCR signed MoU with University of Naples L'Orientale (April 2021) establishing ICCR Chair for 2021-2026. Italian students receive scholarships under CEP to study in India. Academic collaboration includes university partnerships and MoUs between Indian and Italian institutions. Research cooperation covers history, culture, philosophy, linguistics, archaeology (including Ajanta and Ellora caves conservation), and contemporary studies. Cultural exchanges promote Indian performing arts, fine arts, handicrafts, films, cuisine, and festivals in Italy.
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Service Area

The Embassy of India in Rome has jurisdiction over Italy, San Marino, Albania, and Malta. Indian nationals and residents of these countries requiring consular services should contact the embassy. For visa applications, passport services, OCI services, document attestation, and consular assistance, contact the Consular Section at Via Sicilia 136, 00187 Rome. Visa and consular services hours: Monday-Friday 09:30-11:00 for individual applicants. For phone inquiries on consular matters, call +39 06 4884642, +39 06 4884643, +39 06 4884644, or +39 06 4884645 during designated hours (14:30-17:15 on working days). For visa queries, email visa.rome@mea.gov.in. For general consular queries, email cons.rome@mea.gov.in. For complaints or grievances, contact amb.rome@mea.gov.in (Head of Mission) or dcmoffice.rome@mea.gov.in (supervisory officer). The embassy serves as India's sole diplomatic and consular representation for Italy, San Marino, Albania, and Malta.
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Appointment Information

All consular and visa services require personal presence at the Consular Section. Individual visa applicants are accepted Monday-Friday 09:30-11:00. All visa applications must be completed online first at indianvisaonline.gov.in, printed with uploaded photographs, and submitted in person with required documents. Biometric enrollment (facial and fingerprint capture) is mandatory for all visa applicants except diplomatic/official passport holders and persons under 12 or over 70 years of age. Personal presence is required for biometric enrollment during visa application submission. For consular queries by phone, call +39 06 4884642-5 during designated hours (14:30-17:15 on working days). For visa queries, email visa.rome@mea.gov.in. For general consular queries including passports, OCI, attestation, and other services, email cons.rome@mea.gov.in. Applications with errors or incomplete data cannot be corrected at the counter; applicants must submit fresh online applications. Double-check all information before visiting the embassy. Bring all required documents including original passport, old passports, dual citizenship passports if applicable, photographs (5cm x 5cm, white background), supporting documents (self-attested), and visa fees. For minors, both parents must sign applications with required documentation. Emergency consular assistance for Indian nationals in Italy, San Marino, Albania, and Malta is available through the embassy during office hours.
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Special Notes

The Embassy of India is located at Via Sicilia 136, 00187 Rome, in central Rome near Porta Pia, Villa Borghese, and Via Veneto. The location is accessible via Rome's Metro system (Repubblica or Barberini stations on Line A are nearby), buses, and taxis. Rome has an extensive public transportation network operated by ATAC. Street parking in central Rome is limited and regulated; public transportation is recommended. Visitors must present valid government-issued photo identification (passport) and pass security screening to enter the embassy. Only persons with appointments or official business will be admitted. The embassy observes both Indian and Italian public holidays. Major Indian celebrations including Republic Day (January 26), Independence Day (August 15), Gandhi Jayanti (October 2), and Deepavali (recognized as official festival in Italy since 2012, celebrated annually at Italian Senate since 2015) feature flag-hoisting ceremonies, cultural programs, and receptions attended by the Indian community, Italian officials, diplomats, and friends of India. These celebrations showcase India-Italy friendship and the significant contributions of the Indian diaspora. Deepavali celebrations at the Italian Senate reflect the cultural integration and recognition of the Indian community in Italy. For Italian travelers to India, comprehensive travel information is available on the embassy website including e-Visa applications (indianvisaonline.gov.in), regular visa requirements, health recommendations (consult Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs travel advice for India, consider recommended vaccinations), safety information, and tourist destinations. Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Farnesina) provides travel advisories for India (viaggiaresicuri.it). For Italian citizens and residents of Indian origin, OCI status offers visa-free entry to India, permission for long-term stay, and parity with non-resident Indians in economic and educational matters (excluding political rights and agricultural land ownership). OCI eligibility, application procedures, and benefits are available through the embassy. India's diverse attractions including historical monuments (Taj Mahal, forts, palaces, temples), spiritual centers (Varanasi, Rishikesh, Amritsar), Himalayan regions, beaches (Goa, Kerala), wildlife sanctuaries, cultural festivals, yoga and wellness centers, UNESCO World Heritage sites, and cuisine attract Italian travelers interested in culture, history, spirituality, and adventure. Business travelers visit India's IT hubs (Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune), manufacturing centers, and growing markets for trade and investment opportunities.
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