Italy offers easy visa services to Saudis

The Italian Embassy has teamed up with Al-Etimad and VFS Global to offer convenient and value-added services to Europe-bound travelers applying for Italian visas in the Kingdom.
This partnership with VFS Global, which has a network of visa application centers in the Kingdom, greatly helps to provide high-level customer-oriented services for Saudi and non-Saudi applicants, besides making the application process faster and hassle-free.
Mario Boffo, the newly appointed Italian ambassador, who made his first official visit to the Italy Visa Application Center here, said: “Thanks to our partnership with VFS Global, the Italian Embassy is able to provide a better visa service to Saudi citizens and handle more visa applications as per the highest standards of quality and efficiency. We are enhancing and strengthening the relations between the Kingdom and Italy.”
Boffo pointed out the Italian Embassy issued more 25,000 visas in 2012 and the application trends are on upswing. “In order to enhance the interaction between Saudi Arabia and Italy, we have considerably increased the number of multi-entry and longterm visas (from 1 to 5 years),” said the ambassador, while referring to rich Italian culture, art, and history. “Artistic wonders can be found in Italy, and every corner of the country holds countless surprises,” he said.
The envoy, who personally inspected the visa application process and services offered at the center during his visit, said that the Kingdom and Italy have reported progressively growing relations during the past several years.
Mohan V. Mathew, chief operating officer of Al-Etimad/VFS Global, and Paul Vijayakumar, chief operating officer for Africa and Middle East, were also present along with senior Etimad and VFS executives.
Mathew said it has been Etimad/VFS privilege to service visa applicants to Italy. “We are also looking forward to the opportunity to service applicants from Eastern Province in the near future,” he said. The opening of an Italian visa office branch in Alkhobar will facilitate all visa requests from the Eastern Province and strengthen the Italy’s growing commercial and tourism ties with Saudi Arabia, he said.