New information – 8th February 2022

The request for a visa (see the details below about what is needed) must be made NO LATER than 3 weeks before the date of the event so please do not delay

We are told that CONI will then provide a protocol number, and players must contact their Consulate to fix a date to attend and check exactly how they are to apply for the visa, what papers are necessary and provide their passport. 

Original information to be followed carefully:

This information is for all teams / National Bridge Organisations requiring visas to enter Italy. Each NBO or Team Manager should complete this Excel form for their whole delegation. 

First of all please check whether you actually need a visa by clicking here and answering the questions. You will then see exactly what is required. If you look through the list of reason for travel you will find one that says “Sports Competition” and you should select that.

If a visa is needed, please read this carefully and follow the instructions exactly. This will enable the Italian Bridge Federation to liaise with the Italian National Olympic Committee (CONI) so that they can assist in obtaining the visas. You can download these instructions as a pdf file by clicking here, and you will also need the Excel form in order to list the participants’ details. We will also issue an invitation from the World Bridge Federation for each participant which you may also present when applying to the Italian Consulate in your own country.

These are the instructions you must follow and it must be NO later than 3 weeks before the date of the event so please do not delay:

In order to apply for an Italian visa, it is extremely important that you follow these instructions exactly.

You should send a letter (click here for an example of the letter required, which should be on your Federation headed paper) with the details below to the Italian Federation, to these email addresses:

Gianluca Barrese, gianluca.barrese@gmail.com, with copies to Gianluca Frola, gianluca.frola@federbridge.it, Marina Madia (secretariat@worldbridgefed.com) and to Anna Gudge (anna.gudge@worldbridgefed.com)

This letter must contain the following information for each of the people in your delegation who requires a visa using the Excel form to provide the information.  The letter must clearly state who will take care of the expenses for the team and be signed by someone in authority from the NBO. The excel form, which must also bear the signature of the same person, must include, for each participant, the following:

• Family name
• Given name
• Nationality
• Date of birth
• Passport number
• Expiration date – this must have an expiry date of at least 90 days after the date of leaving Italy
• Role in the delegation (for example Captain, Player, Coach team official …)
• Consulate where they will apply for the visa
• Hotel where they will stay
• A statement that all costs relating to travel, accommodation and health insurance are borne by the individual concerned or the Federation they represent.

The Italian Federation will then send this information to CONI (the Italian National Olympic Committee) who will assist in obtaining the necessary visa for your players and officials.

Please do not delay in doing this as the process may take some time, and please ensure that ALL the required information is included.

You should use the attached template to provide this information.

The WBF will then send you an official invitation to participate in the Championships which each person should take with them together with their passport and a self-declaration form – click here for an example of this form.