Italy Visa RequirementsFor Vatican City passport holders
Vatican City is an independent sovereign state located within Rome, Italy. Vatican City passport holders can freely enter Italy visa-free as the two states share an open border. Italy is also a Schengen member giving access to all 26 Schengen countries for up to 90 days.
Great news! Vatican City passport holders can enter Italy without a visa for tourism or business purposes. You can stay up to 90 days.
No visa is required. The borders between Vatican City and Italy are generally open with no formal passport checks for entry to Italy. Vatican City passport holders can move freely within Italy and the Schengen Area.
Italy is part of the Schengen Area. Your stay counts toward the 90-day limit within any 180-day period for the entire Schengen zone. Learn more about Schengen rules →
Entry Requirements
Passport Validity
3 months beyond departure from Schengen
Blank Pages
2 blank pages required
Multiple Entry
Single entry only
Work Permitted
No - requires work visa
Required Documents
Valid Passport
A valid passport from your home country with sufficient validity for your stay in Italy. Most countries recommend at least 3 to 6 months of validity beyond your planned departure date.
Vatican (Holy See) Passport
Valid Vatican City State passport issued by the Holy See. No border formalities apply between Vatican City and Italy under the Lateran Treaties.
Return or Onward Ticket
Proof of your return flight or onward travel out of Italy. This demonstrates your intention to leave the country before your authorized stay expires.
Proof of Accommodation
Hotel reservation confirmations or other accommodation bookings for your stay in Italy. Border officials may ask to see these upon arrival.
Sufficient Funds
Evidence of sufficient financial means to support yourself during your stay in Italy. This can be bank statements, credit card statements, or cash. The amount required varies by country.
Official Travel Authorization Recommended
For official Vatican missions within Italy, carry documentation from your Vatican department confirming the purpose and destination of your travel within Italy.
Travel Insurance Recommended
Travel insurance coverage for your stay in Italy is strongly recommended and may be required. If Italy is in the Schengen Area, insurance with at least EUR 30,000 medical coverage is required.
Current Travel Situation
Vatican City to Italy: What You Need to Know
Vatican City is geographically located entirely within Rome, Italy. The Lateran Treaty of 1929 established Vatican City as an independent state. Vatican passport holders have always had de facto free movement with Italy, and Italy Schengen membership extends this further.
How to Get There
From Italy, all Schengen countries are accessible within the same 90-day visa-free period.
Money & Banking
Italy uses the Euro (EUR), as does Vatican City. ATMs widely available in Rome and across Italy. Cards accepted at most establishments.
Practical Tips
Vatican City is surrounded by Rome. Vatican passport holders are always essentially already in Italy. The Schengen Area access allows travel throughout Europe for up to 90 days within 180 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Vatican City passport holders need a visa to visit Italy?
No. Vatican City passport holders can enter Italy visa-free, and in practice Vatican City is entirely surrounded by Rome. Italy is a Schengen Area member, and the standard 90-day-in-180-day Schengen rule applies when leaving Vatican City to travel elsewhere in Italy or the Schengen zone.
How long can Vatican passport holders stay in Italy?
Up to 90 days within any 180-day Schengen period. In practice, Vatican residents and officials frequently travel within Rome and Italy without any restrictions, though the formal legal framework of Schengen entry rules still applies to the Vatican City passport.
What is the entry situation for Vatican passport holders in Italy?
Italy and Vatican City share an open border under the Lateran Treaty of 1929. Vatican passport holders move freely into Rome and Italy. For travel to other Schengen countries, the passport is presented at external Schengen borders where stamps are applied.
What documents should Vatican passport holders carry when traveling in Italy?
A valid Vatican City passport is the primary document. For clergy and officials on Vatican business within Italy, official documentation from the relevant dicastery or office may be carried for identification purposes, though it is not required for immigration purposes.
What currency does Italy use and how can Vatican visitors manage finances?
Italy uses the Euro (EUR), which is also the legal tender within Vatican City. ATMs are abundant throughout Rome and other Italian cities. Card payments are widely accepted, and contactless payment is common. However, smaller establishments and markets may prefer or require cash.
What should Vatican passport holders know about traveling within Italy?
Italy is home to thousands of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, world-class cuisine, and major Catholic pilgrimage destinations including Assisi, Loreto, Padua, and San Giovanni Rotondo. Italian is the official language. Train travel between cities is convenient and efficient. Rome itself is home to many early Christian basilicas and catacombs in addition to Vatican City.
What is the unique legal relationship between Vatican City and Italy?
Under the Lateran Treaty of 1929, Vatican City is a sovereign state within Italy. Italy recognizes the full sovereignty of Vatican City. Vatican City passport holders have the right of entry into Italy, and Italian citizens respect the Vatican's independence. The relationship is one of the closest between any two sovereign states in the world.