Italian General Consulate In London
Reviews and Complaints

I submitted all the documents that were requested online on the 25th October only to have my online submission rejected on the 15th November the reason given was that my first name didn’t have an apostrophe over the o this is madness I only want to let them know that I have moved address in the UK.

They have offered no help to me very poor customer service.

Nicolo

It's been 2 months since trying to book an appointment but couldn't find any slots.So I went to the vfs centre london to book an appointment for italy visa to visit my Uncle with my whole family as my tickets were booked and I have 20 days left to travel and I haven't done visa yet but they have turned me back saying to check for available slots and they don't book appointments it's the consulate who books appointments,they are the thrid party agents.

So then I went to Italian consulate London,they were too rude saying that they don't do anything here,it's vfs who books the appointments.

Who to trust?They even Don't care that you have spent on the ticket and will get wasted.

Rubbish service!

The VFS portal is very poor and there is no availability in UK touchpoints always to book an appointment for the Tourist visa. Obviously, EU members such as Italy, and Spain do not need any further tourism income or no one cares about it. it is sad to see such behavior with poor VFS outsourcing experience. I will raise this with the government officials as well. (if they care)

Renew passport for myself and first passport for my son. Original applications made at the Bristol office. After waiting 1 year I headed off to London office, to be told that the passports had been issued and sent out to me, but I had not received them. Staff then said that unfortunately they didn't have any proof of postage tracking number, and that if I wanted too, they could provide me with the passport there and then for a fee of a further £206 for both passport. I had also paid for recorded delivery charge with the original application. I tried to make them understand that it was unfair to be charged again for the application considering that I was not at fault, that it had been theirs, but they refused to accept my plea. I had to pay. Waiting for almost 4 hours, the new passport where handed over. It was so stressful and completely unjust to be charged twice. Consulate where unable to provide proof that the original passport had been posted yet I had been penalised for it. Total cost was almost £500. Disgraceful.

I am planning my trip to Venice end of April for three days, I have been trying to book Schengen visa appointment with Vfs for last 6 weeks with no success. Either their systems are down, otp does not generate or bulk bookings are done by agents possibly. They released new appointments last week for 3 and 4th April. I successfully booked the appointment for the 4th April at 10:30 am for London office. After taking my card details the system prompted me to wait for 5 hours before I receive the confirmation. In that timeframe I couldn't not book any other available appointments and after 5 hours I did not receive any confirmation of the appointment. vfs has made it difficult to book any appointments for people. As you have outsourced the services to them please give me a resolution to this issue. They are not responding to any of my issues or complaints.My email address is [protected]@yahoo.com. my name is Amardeep

I am an Italian citizen living in England. I put my passport in for renewal 7 months ago and am still waiting. I have been unable to travel which has caused all sorts of problems. Because I now have no valid documents I have not been able to travel, I have had bank accounts frozen and have been unable to attend funerals abroad. Effectively they have imprisoned me. Words cannot describe the Italian embassy they are a disgrace far worse than any third world bureaucratic country I have ever known. They don’t care and I really wonder what is the point of having them in the UK

I and my sons have been trying to get an appointment at the Italian Consulate in London for 2 YEARS without success. I am an Italian citizen living in the UK and wish to apply for Italian citizenship for my 2 British born sons (through Jure Sanguinis) and my husband. However, despite getting all the necessary paperwork in order over several months, we are unable to get an online appointment. The response is constantly that there are no appointments available! It is utterly disgraceful that the Consulate does not have enough manpower to deal with applications. If we could at least get an appointment in 6 or 8 months time, it would be better than the constant blank 'NO APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE'.

There are never any appointments for any service. The phone lines are manned only when the employees feel like answering them. You'd be lucky to get any email answer ever. The Manchester consulate is even worse, there is no phone line and if like me you need your passport renewed, you're better off getting citizenship for any other country in the world - it will be faster than getting an appointment with the Italians. Absolutely dreadful.

In preparation for the vote of the 25th September this year I was expecting to receive the ballots in time, however these have been deliver just the 22nd of September with the deadline to return them by post to the Italian consulate by 4 PM of the same day. This is not the first time it happens to me and it’s unacceptable and injures my rights as a Italian citizen. I live in central London and it’s not Royal Mail fault.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I'm writing on behalf myself and numerous individuals who are applying for visas to Italy for various reasons. I am confident that our situation is genuine, with the exception of the VFS Global Italian assistants who are clearly unfit for their positions and who show no regard for the rights of others. Instead of helping people to obtain their VISA they waste our time until the last minute.

In my situation, I personally obtained an Italian passport after working for more than 20 years and paying taxes.

But while I write this, someone needs to act to fix this error because, even in Italy, people are free to act however they like without regard for the truth. I'll open my case in the hopes that someone will understand.

I arrived in Italy in November 1992 on a work visa and received my Italian passport in 2013

In 2002, my wife travelled to Italy and was granted permanent residency.

My son was born in 2004 in Rome, Italy, and received a Sri Lankan passport,

In November 2014 I came to the United Kingdom

My wife and son came to live with me in 2015

After 2016 I registered me and my wife and sons’ documents in AIRE London uploaded but somehow my sons’ details was missing and I didn’t have a chance to prove it.

We travelled to Italy in 2016. There were no issues getting into Rome Fiumicino or returning to London.

After the Brexit, I asked some of my friends if I needed to get a visa. They advised me to go to the VFS, where I was told that since I am an Italian citizen, I could apply for an EU member visa and paid £91.42 for (courier and service fees). I also provided a copy of my ticket. The next day, when they asked me for my son's updated birth certificate and our family status certificate, they advised me to download it through SPID. Even though I can register with SPID online and download online, I need an Italian sim card and a valid Italian phone number to do so. Since I've lived in the UK for more than 7 years, how can I obtain an Italian phone number?

Even after I explained the circumstances, they said that my son's documentation is insufficient and that I must obtain it. If it is not registered correctly in AIRE in London, it’s not my fault and I uploaded the documents requested. Most of the time AIRE doesn’t reply back to the emails, Evan now 31st July last email sent no reply, as far as I can see VFS consider only AIRE information

Mean time I always kept replying to all the emails from VFS global every time they needed additional documents from me. While VFS was still asking me for documents I cannot provide, then they told me that I now need to apply for a SHENGAN TOURIST VISA.

Gave me the check list which we completed and brought it back to the VFS on 25/08/2022, and I paid again £135.40 for visa application

 Both Sri Lankan passports

 Valid Permanent residence card

 My son’s original Birth certificate and Stato di famiglia/cambio del ultimo indirizzo from Comune di Roma ,Municipio VII

 Accomodation letter

 Italian citizen passport as we are travelling together

 Proof of our income last 3 months bank statement’s

The woman who was there was really disrespectful and I was felt as I was being discriminated as the woman was raising her voice and kept interrupting me when I was trying to speak. Really disgusting behaviour from a “professional” workplace. She asked to complete different accommodation letter as instructed in the link, (this was not on the checklist and when we explained it to them, they took the documents). I explained to her in accordance with the checklist I had taken with me only then she then took the documents.

I didn't have any certainty until the 29th of July2022, despite the fact that we stated that we were still expecting a visa and that we would be travelling from August 2 to August 9.

On the 1st of August at 1:30 p.m I sent them an email to VFS to ask them of the visa as we were meant to be flying the next day. They replied to the email in 5mins! and asked me the same questions again. Instead given us the visa. My question is why did they wait until we sent them an email about the visa process instead of sending an email earlier on. They asked for additional documents.

*Updated my son's birth certificate issued by the commune di Roma, which I had already sent before!

*Updated flight information, which I didn't do but would’ve costed me an additional £900. We couldn’t afford to change the date and as we weren’t sure if we would get the VISA we didn’t change it.

*Updated health insurance, which I didn’t do but would have costed me £38.

*Updated host letter

** I am really disappointed and angry as an Italian citizen how much lack of the common sense and professionalism, knowledge need to think back the country is going backwards because of the officers like them **

**Even at the end I explained that I’m suffering from an illness so I can’t travel by myself with Parkinson’s disease (suffering for nearly 2 years).

**They should have to explain me in a first instance that we cannot obtain the visa without my son’s birth certificate then I would go to another SHENGAN country to apply for it, or we need to go to Rome to fix it*

*After this happened, I checked the VFS Global reviews and it’s happened for lots of people, I’m not the only person to deal with similar issue. This shows that VFS fails to do their job properly. and waste all our time until last minute

Our reference Re: ITLN/130722/0002/01, ITLN/130722/0002/02

All our loss of travel Rome

Tickets £700 because non refundable

Travel insurance £38

Visa Fees £235

Travel fees £150

Total £1113.00

Thank you for your understanding

Chaminda Wijesuriya

Hi I would like to renew italian passport of my daughter which expired in nov 2021 first they told me we need her registered birth certificate from county she born means india. She is never been india last 12 years we have no family members in india. I took holiday from my job spent more then £2000.00 for that certificate. I spoke one of staff member in london she told me upload website consulate di londra. I did. Then I applied through consulate di peterborough put original certificate and prepaid delivery they sent me back ask go through stato civile. Its almost 8 months my daughter's no passport now they say applied through manchester nobody replying their even email. I am very stressed I lost more then £2500.00 not get passport yet. If you call london office they are very rude please sort out my problem and reply thanks

I posted out all the documents to the embassy first class recorded delivery (in February 2022) and this was signed "received by the embassy. On 23/03/22 at 15.30, I received an email from the qualification office to say that they have received my document and asking if they should the DV for the GCSE only as they cannot do a DV for predicted A Level grades. I replied the next day to say that was fine. On the 20/04/22 I emailed them again to find out what happened to the documents, because when I posted the documents to the embassy, I also included a first class recorded stamped envelope for returning my documents, however every time I check on Royal Mail tracking it does not find it.

The embassy emailed again on 28th April 2022 asking if I still want the DV and I replied yes. Till today, I still haven't received the documents and every time I ring the ask me to ring a different number, going round in circles but no help. I need those documents. I paid £230 to obtain the apostille and I would like to get either the document back or the £230 that Paid

Hi I just saying the whole process of getting a passport started in January tryed to call Bedford to get a appointment didn’t get one till April know nearly 3 months later nearly July still no passport try to ring no answer in London no answer to email and I have family not well and they can’t get me a letter I have a wedding in august too but there is no help or support it’s a shambles I hope I will get to see family before they die and also the wedding in august where I was going to take my sister up the isle coz my dad is not here anymore it’s so sad have tickets booked as well from 3 years ago coz of Covid this is a nightmare and they don’t care about Italian in England with real life problems sometimes I wish I wasn’t Italian coz the is so inhuman x

I traveled to the Italian consulate in Cardiff from London in the middle of march 2022 to have my passport renewed.

I provided payment in cash and all documents as requested, including my old passport.

Today is June 6th. I still don't have a passport. My flat in London is being rented out from July 1st. I am moving to Spain to start a new job and I need to rent a house.

I also have to prepare the documentation for my two cats as they are travelling with me.

According to the Italian consulate in Cardiff this does not warrant for an emergency issue of my passport.

I'm going to find myself in the middle of the road with my two cats lose a job in Spain lose the deposit on the house because according to the Italian consulate this is not an urgent matter.

Words fail me as to how disgusted I feel.

Nothing but utter incompetence coming from your offices, as well as zero empathy from all the staff.

You are the shame and embarrassment of the entire world

Both VFS Global and The Consulate are happy to take &100s of punds off you and not come through with the goods .

Not only did I waste money on 3 attempts to get a study visa, on the second attempt I was told to withdraw my application as they couldnt meet the time frame and refused to refund my fee . I also lost the fees for my course, which I could not complete as it was longer than 90 days, flight fees and a host of other expenses . On the 3rd attempt I gave them 2.5 months to get the visa sorted but failed to do so .

VFS Global Manchester unfortunately did not know their arse from their elbow and hadnt tge foggiest idea what to do, this was 2021 admittedly but was still a poor show .

My 3rd attempt was via London VFS, whilst they were slightly more knowledgeable, all they are at the end of the day is a middle man and should you have a query during the process they can mot answer any of your questions .

A complete embarrassment for such an amazing country, where I would gladly have made my home and had many job offers in .

Hi this is asif adil i've applied for renew of passports of my children and it has been passed 3 months and 3 weeks but I'm still waiting for passports i've sent lots of time emails the passport office replied me the that the passports are in printing process and they will be with you next few weeks but after passing 3 more weeks it is still not arrived

I have been trying for over a month to book an appointment with the VFS office everywhere in the UK. The website keeps saying there are no available slots but says walk-ins are available. I travelled all the way to London for a walk-in appointment, only to be turned away because there are no walk-ins apparently. That would be a good thing to update on the website! Instead of have people spend money in these tough times for nothing! I have emailed the address I was given at the VFS office but I haven’t gotten a response and my trip is literally set for the 27th. I am really frustrated with VFS’ service and extremely bitter that I may not be travelling because I deserve a break from the UK, I’m exhausted.

Needed ungently for my passport to be renewed because I urgently needed to visit sick father in Mauritius. Went to Bristol done everything paid and since August 2021 I had 3 emails without any information about where is the passport. This situation has created anxiety and frustration not knowing who to contact after several attempts of emailing the consulate in Bristol I have no where to go. Regretfully, this situation is making me sick for how poor the system works. None of the information provided is clear or works you cannot reach any human being on the phone it is just appalling.

My father has been taken to the hospital several times and I have not been able to assist and support. My big worry I am hoping is I will have a chance to see him before its too late.

I am only asking to give me my passport so I can visit my family!

Dear Consul General of Italy in London and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy Mr Villani,

I would like to express my great disappointment and utterly dissatisfaction with the service that was provided to me or better to say, with the service that was not provided to me by the members of your Consulate.

After countless emails to the London passport department with barely no communication from the staff of this department I am extremely sad to say that, due to its negligence, out of interest and no cooperation whatsoever from all the employees of this institution, I have lost a life time opportunity due to the lack of professionalism of its members.

I do understand and I do appreciate how busy and pre occupied with all the duties every single one of them are on a daily basis however, I have explained the situation to the passport department over several emails just needing to know the status of it, only one single person replied to me saying that they were aiming to send by the end of March, I then followed up this response and no communication was received by any one from the Consulate whatsoever.

The only thing I've asked was if the passport could and/or would be sent by a certain time since the length of time for a passport to be processed and sent back to its recipient is 10 to 12 weeks and so far, has been 11 weeks, and if they aimed to sent the document by the end of March, why I have not received it?

Perhaps misinformation given to us from your staff?

Maybe inaccuracy of facts, not enough knowledge from the person dealing with my enquiry?

Nonetheless, something should, must and has to be done regarding the lack of commitment from the people that work within this institution, as I am not the first and will not be the last to go through something like this.

Since you hold the most senior position that represents the country and its citizens in the UK, you must re-educate them and ask them to act with more proactiveness, sympathy and efficiency.

I am extremely saddened and distraught by the appalling service this institution has provided to me, I should deserve and must be treated with at least some sort of the dignity and respect to say the least.

I hereby would like to leave my feedback and total unpleasant experience with the passport department of the Italian consulate in London.

I have reached out to you in another media platform however, I haven't hear from you and I am looking very much forward to you response to my email.

With my sincerest thank you.