I papers necessary for those traveling to Italy, to be shown to the authorities upon entry to the airport, they differ depending on whether the visitor comes from from a country in the European Union, adhering or not to Schengen area, or if it comes from one State that is not part of the EU.
Let's see what they are and how to present them.
The documents necessary for the entry of EU citizens
EU residents can freely circulate between the various states of the Union, therefore also in Italy, without undergoing border checks.
In any case, it is always necessary to be with a valid ID card to pass the minimum verification checks along with the travel documents when you land at Capodichino Airport or disembark at the port or another checkpoint.
Do you need a passport if you are traveling from Great Britain?
Great Britain officially left the European Union on 31 January 2020 following the referendum called "Brexit". Yes, a valid passport is required to travel to Italy from the UK, even for a simple stopover. The identity card is no longer accepted as a travel document.
The necessary documents for non-EU citizens
Travelers coming from non-EU countries must necessarily bring with them valid passport, which will be requested from them by the competent authorities when they arrive at Capodichino Airport, the Port or another control point.
The passport must have the following requirements:
- be valid for at least three months after the date on which you intend to leave Italy
- be issued within the 10 period of previous years
They must also acquire a residence permit issued by the Italian embassy or consulate of their country. Finally, they must be in possession of documents justifying the purpose and conditions of the stay and have sufficient means of support, both for the period of the visit and to return to their country. To demonstrate this, they can exhibit cash, bank guarantees, insurance policy guarantees, equivalent credit instruments or other documents that demonstrate access to sources of income in Italy.
Here are some other requirements to keep in mind:
- The passport must be valid for the entire duration of the stay in Italy and for the following 3 months
- Minor citizens must have an individual passport.
- If you are traveling with a child under the age of 16, you must be able to prove your parentage or legal guardianship.
- For stays longer than 6 months, a visa may be required.
Is a visa necessary to stay in Italy?
No visa is required or residence permit for all stays of duration equal to or less than 90 days for the countries with which Italy has international agreements, such as the United States, Argentina, Japan and many others.
The visa is, however, mandatory for those coming from countries where there is no international agreement with Italy, such as Afghanistan or Belarus. To check whether your country of origin requires a visa, you can use the specific tool made available by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The visa must be requested at the Italian embassy in your country.
What documents are needed to enter Italy for countries without an international agreement?
In the event that there is no international agreement in force with your country and Italy, here are the documents necessary for entry and for the VISA visa request.
- entry visa application form fillable on the Schengen website
- recent passport-sized photograph
- valid passport with expiry date at least three months longer than that of the visa requested
- return ticket (or reservation), or demonstration of the availability of personal means of transport
- demonstration of possession of economic means of subsistence
- supporting documentation of one's socio-professional condition
- health insurance with a minimum coverage of €30.000, for emergency hospital admission and repatriation costs, valid throughout the Schengen area.
- availability of accommodation (hotel reservation, declaration of hospitality, declaration of assumption of accommodation costs by the inviter)
If you intend to stay in Italy for more than 90 days, you will need to apply for a residence permit. The type of residence permit required will depend on the reason for your stay, for example:
- Work
- Studio
- Family reunification
- Board
Is health insurance necessary to visit Italy?
In Italy health insurance is not requiredto why the health service is public and tourists can access the related services with different methods depending on whether they are EU citizens or non-EU citizens, with the exception of citizens of countries in which there is no international agreement with Italy, such as Afghanistan or Belarus.
If you are from one of these countries, health insurance is required with minimum coverage of 30.000 euros.
EU or non-EU citizens with the right to assistance
Tourists coming from an EU country or non-EU citizens who are entitled to EU assistance on the basis of previous agreements between their country and Italy can access Italian health services if they have the European health card (the European Health Insurance Card or a temporary replacement certificate). They can directly benefit from health services in public and private affiliated facilities (ASL) and in hospitals. The service is price quotation (unless payment of the regional ticket).
Non-EU citizens
Non-EU citizens residing in countries not covered by an agreement that provides free access to Italian health benefit from health services that must be paid according to the rates expected between your country and Italy.
