Botschaft Indiens in Rom

Die Botschaft Indiens in Rom dient als diplomatische Vertretung Indiens in Italien, gelegen in der italienischen Hauptstadt. Die Botschaft bietet konsularische Dienste für indische Staatsangehörige in ganz Italien, bearbeitet Visumanträge für italienische Einwohner, die nach Indien reisen, und fördert die bilateralen Beziehungen zwischen Indien und Italien. Italien und Indien pflegen starke Handelsbeziehungen, insbesondere im Maschinenbau, in Textilien, Leder und Mode.

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.

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.

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.

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.