A Complete Guide on Visa for Italy

IMMIGRATION AND VISAS

Passport Requirements:

All travelers need a passport, with the exception of the following:

1. With the exception of Denmark, Iceland, the Republic of Ireland, Norway, and Great Britain, travelers with a national ID card given to residents of Croatia, San Marino, Switzerland, and the Member States of the European Economic Region.
2. Travelers with a Seaman Book provided they are traveling on business, issued by Australia, Austria, Argentina, Brazil, Croatia, Denmark, Belgium, France, Macedonia, Germany, Hungary, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Israel, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Montenegro, Netherlands, Pakistan, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Norway, Serbia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the USA.
3. Travelers with a European Union-issued Laissez-Passer.
4. Travelers with a “Laissez-Passer” issued by the United Nations if they are on business travel.
5. Travelers with a “consular decree” given to Italian residents.
6. Travelers with a travel authorization given by Macao (China Special Administrative Region).
7. With a travel document and a residency permit issued by a Member State of the European Economic Region or by Switzerland, refugees, and people without nationality or citizenship.
8. Travelers with documents issued under the 1954 New York Convention to persons without nationality or citizenship.
9. Travelers with a children’s birth certificate given by Italy.
10. Travelers with a Kinderausweis, a child-issued German identification document.
11. Travelers with travel certificates for the people of Israel released by Israel.
12. Travelers with travel documents given to permanent residents of Kosovo by the United Nations Provisional Administration Mission in Kosovo.

The Validity of Documents:

 On arrival, passports and alternative documents, or any of them, must be valid.

• It accepts expired passports issued to residents of Austria, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland for a period not exceeding five years.
• Passports that have expired are not approved for a definite duration given to residents of Italy.

Additional Information:

Students living in a Member State of the European Union, Liechtenstein or Switzerland and traveling as part of a school community from within the European Union, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, apart from their nationality, do not need a passport, provided that:

• Their names are listed on a ‘List of Travelers’ stamped by the school and accredited in their home country by the authority concerned;
• One of the teachers at that school accompanies the school group;
• A picture of the student must be included in this ‘List of Travelers’.

Information to know:

This kind of ‘List of Travelers’ is not provided by all European Union member countries. Furthermore, the exemption would not extend to the ‘List of Travelers,’ which is only stamped without images by the school.

Issuance of Visa:

Until arrival: Tourists are kindly requested to contact Italy’s nearest representative.

Exemptions from Visa:

A visa must be carried by all travelers except for the following:

1. Italy’s Citizen.

2. Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Latvia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, etc.

3. ‘British Resident’ was supported by British passport travelers.

4. Travelers who stay for no more than 90 days, given that they are:

• Andorra, Antigua & Barbuda, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Argentina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Costa Rica, Croatia, Chile, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Israel, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, San Marino, Seychelles, Singapore, St Kitts-Nevis, Uruguay, USA, Holy see and Venezuela;
• ‘British National (Overseas)’ authorised by travelers with British passports;
• Travelers with licensed British passports:
• British Overseas Territories Resident’ with Great Britain’s ‘right of residency’ label; or
• British Subject, which also includes the ‘right of residency’ mark provided by the United Kingdom;
• Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China) and Macao (Special Administrative Region of China) passport travelers;
• Diplomatic or service passport passengers, given that they are residents of Bolivia;
• Diplomatic or special passport passengers, given that they are United Arab Emirates citizens;
• Diplomatic, official, or service passport travelers who come for tourism only if they are citizens of Fiji, Guyana, or Samoa;
• Citizens of Benin, Algeria, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Ecuador, Egypt, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kuwait, Lesotho, Mauritania, Gambia, Montenegro, Morocco, Niger, Peru, the Philippines, Serbia, Swaziland, Thailand, Tunisia or Uganda with diplomatic, official or service passports;
• Diplomatic, government, service or special passports for travelers, provided they are citizens of Turkey;
• Travelers with diplomatic passports, given they are residents of Moldova, Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Russia, and Ukraine;
• Refugees and individuals without nationality or citizenship with a travel document provided by a Member State of the European Economic Region or Switzerland and a residency permit;
• Travelers with a United Nations-issued Laissez-Passer;
• Travelers with a European Union-issued Laissez-Passer.
• Travelers, irrespective of their nationality, stay for a maximum of 90 days and hold a ‘family member’ residence permit issued by a Member State of the European Union to a member of the family who is a citizen of a Member State of the European Economic Area or a citizen of Switzerland if they are traveling with or traveling to join a citizen of a Member State of the European Economic Area or a citizen of Switz. 
• Travelers with passports with the ‘Knights of Malta’ label.
• Travelers with a residency permit provided by Monaco or one of the Schengen states, irrespective of their nationality.
• Travelers, irrespective of their nationality, residing for a time not exceeding five days in Liechtenstein and carrying evidence of their residency, provided that they are in transit through the Schengen Area and begin their journey to a country outside the Schengen Area other than the means of transport.

(Transit without Visa) TWOV:

TWOV is allowed to allow passengers to begin their journey to a third country on the first available aircraft within 48 hours without leaving the airport, provided that they arrive and depart for non-Schengen countries. Travelers must have tickets for their next trip with verified reservations and other documents.

a. This facility does not extend to Ghanaian and Nigerian citizens;

• The exemptions: Foreign citizens of the Republic of Ireland, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Japan, Romania, the United Kingdom or the United States of America;
• Visa travelers to Canada, Japan, Switzerland, the United States of America, or any member country of the European Economic Region.

b. Citizens of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Congo (Kinshasa), Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Senegal, Somalia, and Sri Lanka shall not be protected by this facility;

• The Exemptions: Foreign citizens of the Republic of Ireland, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Japan, Romania, the United Kingdom or the United States of America;

c. This facility is not available to Colombian citizens;

• The Exemptions: Foreign citizens of the Republic of Ireland, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Japan, Romania, the United Kingdom or the United States of America;

d. This facility shall not extend to Eritrean citizens;

• The exemptions: Foreign citizens of the Republic of Ireland, Bulgaria, Canada, Cyprus, Japan, Romania, the United Kingdom or the United States of America;
• Visa travelers are provided by Canada, Japan, Switzerland, the USA, or any member country of the European Economic Region.

Additional Information:

1. Entry may be rejected on grounds relating to public safety, order, or health; or if travelers do not have a definite means of assistance unless, upon arrival at the airport, the sponsor may serve as their guarantor; or if travelers do not have onward or return tickets and other documentation needed for the next journey. Refusal to enter upon arrival can result in severe problems and costs for passengers and carriers.

The exception: People of the European Economic Area member countries and Switzerland.

2. By applying to the local authorities, travelers may extend their stay.

3. Students living in a Member State of the European Union, Liechtenstein or Switzerland and traveling as part of a school community from within the European Union, Liechtenstein or Switzerland, with the exception of their nationality, do not need a visa on condition that:

• Their names are indicated on a ‘List of Travelers’ stamped by the school and accredited in their home country by the authority concerned;
• One of the teachers at that school accompanies the school party.
• Every student must bring his / her own travel document and proof of place of residence if the ‘List of Travelers’ is only stamped by the school and is neither validated by the relevant authority nor contains pictures of the students.

Information to know:

Travelers who do not comply with the rules on entry or transit will be recalled to their home country at the expense of the airline. In addition, a fine of between EUR 3,500 and EUR 5,500 per traveler would have to be charged by the airline. In the event of a serious violation, the license or permission given to the carrier relating to landing rights could be revoked or canceled.

Customs and Foreign Exchange:

Import Regulations:

1. Travelers arriving with products purchased only for personal use within the European Union are permitted to import:

• 800 cigarettes; 400 cigarillos; 200 cigars; one kilogram of pipe or cigarette tobacco; travelers aged 17 years and over are allowed;
• Ten liters of alcoholic beverages over 22 percent are licensed to travelers aged 17 years and older; 20 liters of alcoholic beverages under 22 percent; 90 liters of wine but no more than 60 liters of sparkling wine; 110 liters of beer.

2. Travelers coming from countries outside the European Union, including the Aland Islands, the Canary Islands, the Channel Islands, and other related areas, are entitled to import:

• 200 cigarettes; 100 cigarillos each weighing no more than three grams; 50 cigars; 250 grams of smoking tobacco; or a proportional mixture of these items are licensed to travelers aged 17 years and older;
• Travelers aged 17 years and older are permitted to consume one liter of alcoholic beverages in excess of 22 percent volume; under natured ethyl alcohol in excess of 80 percent volume; two liters of alcoholic beverages or aperitifs made from wine or related beverages in excess of 22 percent volume; sparkling wines or liqueur wines; or a proportional mixture of these products in addition to four liters of still wine; and 16 litres of still wine;
• Medicines exclusively for personal use;
• Other goods up to a total value of EUR 430 per adult traveler or EUR 150 per traveler below the age of 15 years are approved for air travelers.

Prohibited Goods:

Animal products not originating in the Member States of the European Union, Andorra, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino or Switzerland can’t be imported into the Member States of the European Union, with the exception of small quantities of products originating in Andorra, Croatia, the Faeroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland and small quantities of products originating in other countries.

Export Regulations:

1. For the export of antiques and works of art, like paintings, sculptures, ancient vases, furniture over 100 years of age and the like, or artifacts of historical or archaeological significance, a special permit from the appropriate export department of the Ministry of Culture is required.

2. Only citizens who leave the territories of the European Union are permitted:

• Personal computers, cameras, and video cameras, provided that they have an ownership document released on departure by the Customs Authorities, in order to prevent any customs
• Challenges on return;
• Furs and skin or articles of endangered species provided that a temporary export certificate granted by the National Forest Department is obtained;
• Arms and guns are acquired by obtaining a temporary export permit provided by the local Police Department at the place of residence.

Customs regulations on crew members:

It is appropriate for crew members to import up to EUR 20.

Pets:

1. The special regulation (EC no. 998 of 2003) of the European Parliament and the European Council refers to cats and dogs. For additional details, please contact the nearest Italian Embassy.

2. Birds shall be subject to Decision (EC) No 25/2007. The import permission is needed.

Pets that are forbidden include:

• Imports of ornamental birds from all countries with bird flu infections;
• Importation from Thailand of meat and poultry and their products;
• Importation from South East Asia of eggs and white meat;
• Importation from Croatia, Romania, and all Balkan countries of live birds of any species, eggs, feathers, meat, or their products.

Regulations on Baggage Clearance:

1. A passenger’s baggage should be cleared at the final destination airport in Italy.

Waiver: Baggage of transit passengers whose destination is outside Italy and of passengers leaving from another country in the European Union.

2. Crew members’ luggage is cleared, if available, in the arrival hall of the crew house.

Charge on Airports:

On their departure from the airport, travelers are not allowed to pay any airport fees.

Regulations on Currency Imports:

For currency imports, the same rules apply as for currency exports.

Regulations on Currency Exports:

For travelers coming from or traveling to a country within the European Union, there are no limits on exporting local currency (Euro-EUR) and foreign currencies. As far as travelers coming directly from or commuting to a country outside the European Union are concerned, amounts greater than or equal to EUR 10,000 must be reported in another currency, including draughts of bankers and cheques of any sort.

Arms and Ammunition regulations:

At the first port of entry, arms and ammunition arriving in Italy should be cleared. If the airport security personnel continue their journey to another destination either within Italy or abroad, arms shall be collected upon arrival and delivered for inspection to the police officer. Then the security personnel will take the arms to the connecting flight.

Wild Flora and Fauna:

Italy is one of the members of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Treaty.