u/Ok-Lavishness-5073

Hi everyone,

My husband and I are Indian nationals and temporary residents in Canada. We’re planning to visit both Italy and Switzerland, with most of our stay in Italy.

I just wanted to confirm if this is the correct link/portal to apply for an Italian Schengen visa from Canada (I’ve attached a screenshot of the page as well).

Also, I’m a bit confused about bookings—do we need to book flights and hotels in advance for the application, or is it okay to wait until the visa is approved?

And regarding travel insurance, is it mandatory to purchase it before applying, or can it be arranged after visa approval?

Any advice or recent experiences would really help. Thanks in advance!