Uniform Schengen Visa (Type C)
Plain English
It's the short-stay Schengen visa (Type C) for stays up to 90 days within any 180-day window in the Schengen area. It\'s used for tourism, business, family visits, and similar short trips.
Why it matters
If your country isn\'t on the visa-free list, this is the visa you need to fly to Italy for a short trip. Overstaying it can trigger fines and bans across the whole Schengen area.
Common confusion
Type C is short-stay only. You can\'t use it to start living and working in Italy. For that, you need a National Visa (Type D).
Official source
Ministero degli Affari Esteri