Vatican City:Visa Requirements

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Vatican City Visa Requirements Map

Vatican City: Visa Requirements

Visa requirements may change. Always verify the latest information through official government sources.

Visa-Free Entry Requirements

  • Vatican City does not implement a separate visa, electronic entry authorization, or passport control system for ordinary visitors. Since access to public Vatican areas takes place via Italy, the visitor must have legally entered Italy and the Schengen area. Pilgrims and tourists can freely access the public part of St. Peter's Square; entry may be subject to security checks.
  • Visa-exempt short-term travelers must carry a valid passport or equivalent travel document recognized by Italy. The travel document must be valid for at least three months after the planned Schengen exit date, must have been issued within the last ten years, and must contain at least two blank pages. Where recognized by Italy, a valid national identity card or another equivalent travel document may be used.
  • At the border, the purpose and conditions of travel must be explainable. The traveler may be asked for proof of accommodation, hotel reservation or a guest declaration issued by the host; a return or onward travel ticket; an itinerary and documents showing the purpose of visit.
  • The traveler must have sufficient financial means to cover their subsistence during the stay and their return to their country. Financial sufficiency can be proven with documents showing cash, bank guarantee, surety or insurance policy, available credit facilities, pre-paid service documents, or sources of income available in Italy.
  • For one person's travel: for 1 to 5 days, a total of EUR 269.60; for 6 to 10 days, EUR 44.93 per day. For 11 to 20 days, EUR 51.64 flat rate plus EUR 36.67 per day. For travel longer than 20 days, EUR 206.58 flat rate plus EUR 27.89 per day.
  • For each of two or more persons traveling together: for 1 to 5 days of travel, a total of EUR 212.81; for 6 to 10 days of travel, EUR 26.33 per day. For 11 to 20 days, per person a fixed amount of EUR 25.82 plus EUR 22.21 per day; for travel longer than 20 days, per person a fixed amount of EUR 118.79 plus EUR 17.04 per day.
  • Short-term stay is limited to a maximum of 90 days within any 180-day period in the entire Schengen area. Time spent in Vatican City does not constitute a separate period independent of the Schengen stay calculation, since the visitor moves via Italy.
  • Passport data, entry and exit records, facial image, and where necessary fingerprints of short-term third-country travelers crossing the Schengen external border and falling under the Entry/Exit System are recorded electronically. No second immigration record is made at the Vatican border.
  • Visa exemption or legal entry into Italy does not grant the right to enter parts of Vatican City closed to the public. A separate ticket, reservation, invitation, or special entry permit may be required for the Vatican Museums, Vatican Gardens, official institutional buildings, pharmacy, and other controlled areas.
  • For travel of minors, a birth certificate showing family relationship, copies of parents' identity documents or passports, and, if the child is traveling alone or with only one parent, the consent of the other parent may be required. The notarization, translation, or legalization of the document may vary according to the rules of the child's country of residence and the carrier.
  • Travel health insurance has not been published as a universal entry requirement for visa-exempt ordinary tourist visitors. The mandatory minimum insurance coverage for this category is not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • A special acceptance criterion for damaged passports and a requirement for machine-readable or biometric passport for all visa-free travelers is not definitively specified in the Vatican-specific central official source. A vaccination certificate or general health certificate has also not been published as a universal requirement for ordinary tourist entry.

Consular Visa Application Requirements

  • Visitors who need to obtain a visa in advance must apply for a Schengen visa that grants entry to Italy, not a Vatican visa. Even if the visit to Vatican City will only be a short tourist visit, the application is processed through the competent diplomatic or consular mission of Italy, since the traveler must first enter Italian territory.
  • The applicant must select their nationality, country of registered residence, travel duration, and travel purpose on the official visa portal. Based on this information, the system generates the visa requirement, the competent application authority, the fee, and a personalized document list. Documents not included in the personalized list should not be considered universal requirements for all applicants.
  • The Schengen visa application form must be completed in full, dated, and signed by the applicant. For minors, the form is signed by a parent or legal guardian. The online e-Application system may assist in preparing the form; however, completing an electronic form does not mean the visa is issued electronically and does not eliminate the obligation to submit the application to the competent mission or application center.
  • The original of a valid passport or recognized travel document must be submitted. The document must be valid for at least three months after the planned Schengen exit date, must have been issued within the last ten years, and must have at least two blank pages. Copies of the biographical information page of the passport and pages containing previous visas and entry/exit records may be requested according to the checklist of the mission being applied to.
  • If the applicant is applying outside their country of nationality, they must submit a valid residence permit, long-term visa, or equivalent document showing that they legally reside in the country of application. The document may be required to allow re-entry to the country of application after travel.
  • A recent passport-type photograph must be submitted. The exact number, size, background color, printed or digital format, and date of taking of the photograph may vary according to the Italian mission being applied to. A single photograph count and technical specification applicable to all applications is not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • The applicant must submit a transportation reservation showing planned outward and return dates, a detailed travel itinerary, and proof of accommodation covering the entire stay. Accommodation can be proven by hotel reservation, rental agreement, institutional accommodation, or a guest and invitation declaration issued by the host.
  • For visits upon invitation, the name, address, contact details, relationship to the applicant, accommodation address, visit dates, and who will cover the expenses of the inviting person must be stated. A copy of the inviting person's identity document or passport; if a foreigner, a valid Italian residence permit may also be requested.
  • If expenses are covered by a sponsor, the sponsor's signed financial support declaration, copy of identity document or passport, documents showing the relationship to the applicant, bank records, income or employment documents, and legal residence document may be requested. Sponsor support does not preclude separate assessment of the applicant's travel conditions and intention to return.
  • The applicant can demonstrate sufficient financial means with bank statements, salary slips, employment certificate, tax or company records, credit card statements, or other available financial resources. The number of months of bank statements required varies according to the mission and the applicant's circumstances; a single period for all applications is not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • The minimum financial sufficiency applicable for tourist and other short-term applications is: for single traveler for 1 to 5 days, a total of EUR 269.60; for 6 to 10 days, EUR 44.93 per day. For 11 to 20 days, EUR 51.64 flat rate plus EUR 36.67 per day; for travel longer than 20 days, EUR 206.58 flat rate plus EUR 27.89 per day. Lower per-person amounts apply for two or more persons traveling together.
  • For employees, an employer letter showing position, start date, salary, and leave dates, along with salary documents, may be requested. For self-employed persons, company registration, tax records, proof of business activity, and company accounts may be requested. For students, a student certificate showing enrollment and leave status may be requested. The exact document list is determined according to professional status and the mission being applied to.
  • Travel health insurance valid in all Schengen countries and for the entire duration of stay must be provided. The policy must cover emergency medical treatment, hospitalization, and repatriation for medical reasons; the coverage must be at least EUR 30,000.
  • Biometric facial photograph and ten fingerprints are taken from applicants. In-person appearance is required for the first biometric application. Fingerprints may be stored for 59 months and may not be taken again in subsequent applications except in special circumstances. Children under 12 years of age and persons for whom fingerprinting is physically impossible are exempt from the fingerprint requirement. The mission may still summon the applicant for an in-person interview.
  • For minor applicants, a birth certificate, copies of parents' identity documents or passports, and a consent form showing that both parents authorize the issuance of the visa and travel may be required. If the child is traveling with only one parent or a third party, a notarized consent from the non-traveling parent; in case of sole custody, death, or guardianship, a court decision or official document proving this may be required.
  • Documents must be submitted in Italian or another language accepted by the mission being applied to. The requirement for translation, notarization, apostille, or consular legalization varies according to the country of issuance of the document, the type of document, and the mission being applied to. A single method of certification applicable to all documents is not definitively specified in the central official source.
  • The standard short-term Schengen visa fee is EUR 90 for adults. For children aged 6 but under 12, the fee is EUR 45; for children under 6, it is free. Fee exemption or reduction may apply in certain application categories.
  • The general fee for a long-stay Italian national visa is EUR 116, the fee for a long-stay study visa is EUR 50. However, an ordinary tourist visit to Vatican City alone does not constitute a legal ground for a long-stay Italian visa.
  • The equivalent in local currency and the payment method vary according to the mission being applied to or the authorized application center. Cash, bank card, bank transfer, money order, or other local methods may be applicable. The application center may also charge a service fee.
  • The application must be submitted no earlier than six months before the planned travel and, as a general rule, no later than 15 calendar days before. Seafarers may apply up to nine months in advance for duties. Due to appointment availability, the application should be made as early as possible.
  • The short-term Schengen visa application is normally processed within 15 calendar days. The period may be extended to up to 45 days if detailed examination, additional documents, interview, or consultation with other authorities is required.
  • The short-stay C-type Schengen visa allows a maximum stay of 90 days within any 180-day period. The visa may be issued for single, double, or multiple entries. Multiple-entry visas may be valid for one, two, three, or five years if conditions are met; however, the total permitted stay still cannot exceed 90 days in any 180-day period.
  • The validity dates, number of permitted days, and number of entries indicated on the visa must each be checked separately. A long visa validity period does not entitle the holder to an uninterrupted stay for the entire duration of that period.
  • The visa holder may have to present again their passport, visa, accommodation and transport documents, invitation letter, proof of financial means, and travel health insurance at the Schengen external border. The issuance of a visa does not automatically guarantee admission to Italy or to the public areas of Vatican City.
  • At the Schengen external border, passport data, facial image, entry and exit information, and where necessary fingerprints are recorded electronically under the Entry/Exit System. No second visa or EES procedure is performed at the Vatican border.
  • The consulate may request additional documents, current bank records, new reservations, translation, notarization, or an in-person interview during the processing of the application. Submission of the requested documents does not imply that the visa will necessarily be granted.
Population
506(2026 est.)
Official language
Italian
Government type
Elective absolute monarchy
Continent
Europe
Capital
Vatican City
Currency
Euro
Area
0.49 km²
Phone code
+379

Vatican City: Key Destinations

Vatican City is the capital and only city of the sovereign city-state. It is enclaved within Rome, Italy, making it one of the most unique destinations in the world. Most visitors arrive via Rome's airports or central train stations.

As the spiritual and administrative center of the Roman Catholic Church, Vatican City is home to St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums, and the Sistine Chapel. It attracts millions of pilgrims, art lovers, and history enthusiasts each year.

Visitors typically combine a trip to Vatican City with a visit to Rome, as the city-state is easily accessible by metro or on foot from central Rome. A common itinerary includes exploring the Vatican Museums in the morning and visiting St. Peter's Square in the afternoon.