Visa Requirements for Italian Citizens

Visa requirements for Italian citizens are the applicable for citizens of Italy rules and regulations pre-established by foreign countries that state what documents are needed to cross the border.

Each country states whether or not Italian passport holders need a visa to enter and, if yes, what type of visa they should obtain. Travelers must always adhere to the current visa requirements in place to be able to cross the border with the selected country successfully.

Currently, foreign countries allow Italian citizens to travel internationally on the basis of 4 main types of entry, i.e., with an eVisa, Visa on Arrival, Embassy visa, and visa-free.

eVisas are offered by 36 countries and allow Italian citizens to get their visas in the form of electronic documents obtained online. This option eliminates the need for troublesome Embassy visits enabling travelers to apply for their visas from home.

Visa on Arrival is currently offered by 38 countries, making it possible for Italian passport holders to omit the visa handling process until the day of arrival in the foreign country. Handling a VoA is often connected with waiting in long lines after arrival and the uncertainty of traveling unprepared.

A traditional visa is required when visiting 26 countries from Italy, which is obtained only upon visiting an official institution, such as an Embassy or a Consulate. This visa type is the most difficult to obtain and requires thorough preparation. Handling a regular visa may take even up to a few weeks.

Lastly, Italian citizens can enjoy visa-free entry granted by 119 countries. These destinations allow citizens of Italy to stay on their territory for a short period of time, usually ranging between one and three months.

Italian passport holders should read on for in-depth information regarding each visa/entry type to prepare for their incoming international travels!

Electronic visa

eVisa is an electronic visa easily obtainable online a few days before the planned travel abroad. Numerous countries have now implemented the eVisa system to help foreign visitors obtain their visas in a quick and easy way.

List of countries that offer an eVisa option for Italian citizens

36 countries allow Italian citizens to enter their territory on the basis of a valid electronic visa. eVisas can be easily obtained online and are usually processed within a maximum of 72 hours.

Italian citizens who plan on visiting any of the above-listed countries should apply for an eVisa online by simply filling an application form. Most eVisas get processed within 72 hours from submitting one’s application and are delivered to each traveler via email in PDF form.

The approved eVisa can, later on, be printed or kept in the electronic form to be presented upon crossing the border with a selected country.

Electronic visas allow their holders to stay abroad for a short period of time, which usually ranges between 30 and 90 days. However, the exact length of the maximum stay allowed depends on the selected country since each destination stipulates its own rules.

Despite the differences in the length of the permitted stay, most approved electronic visas make it possible for their holders to travel abroad for tourism, business, and transit-related purposes. This means that all Italian citizens using the eVisa system can visit numerous countries to:

  • Go on vacation
  • Visit their friends and family abroad
  • Attend a business meeting, conference, or seminar
  • Look for new business opportunities
  • Take a layover when transiting to an onward destination

Visa on Arrival

A Visa on Arrival is a short-term (usually between 30 and 90 days) visa that can be obtained after completing an application form after arriving at the selected destination. VoAs can be used for any leisure, professional, and transit-related reasons.

List of countries that offer a Visa on Arrival for Italian citizens

  • Angola
  • Bahrain
  • Bangladesh
  • Benin
  • Burkina Faso
  • Cambodia
  • Comoros
  • Egypt
  • Ethiopia
  • Gabon
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Iran
  • Iraq
  • Jordan
  • Kenya
  • Kuwait
  • Laos
  • Lebanon
  • Madagascar
  • Malawi
  • The Maldives
  • Mauritania
  • Mozambique
  • Myanmar
  • Nepal
  • Pakistan
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Rwanda
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Sierra Leone
  • Somalia
  • Sri Lanka
  • Tajikistan
  • Tanzania
  • Togo
  • Uganda
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

38 countries are currently offering a Visa on Arrival option for citizens of Italy. Visiting the above-listed destinations from Italy can be done without handling a visa before the planned trip takes place.

Instead, Italian passport holders must complete the visa application process after arrival. In order to do that, travelers should go to the closest border control point and ask for a Visa on Arrival application form.

Next, Italian citizens should carefully fill the received application form, making sure not to make any errors while providing the required data. The following steps may consist of covering the visa issuing fee and submitting documents validating the purpose of the planned trip.

Citizens of Italy should note that even though the visa handling process does not start until they arrive at the selected country, it does not mean that no preparations are necessary before arrival.

Some countries may require a few supporting documents to validate the purpose of the planned trip, such as proof of having hotel bookings, a return ticket, or sufficient funds for the stay abroad.

It’s also worth noting that many countries that offer a Visa on Arrival have an additional eVisa option for Italian citizens. Using the available eVisa option enables Italian passport holders to omit the long waiting lines on arrival and helps them in traveling prepared.

Embassy visa

An Embassy visa is the regular or traditional visa type that is obtained only after completing an application process at an official institution, such as an Embassy or Consulate. This visa type is usually stamped into the traveler’s passport and can be issued for both short and long-term stays abroad.

List of countries that require Italian citizens to present a valid Embassy visa upon arrival

  • Afghanistan
  • Algeria
  • Bhutan
  • Burundi
  • Cameroon
  • The Central African Republic
  • Chad
  • China
  • The Republic of the Congo
  • The Democratic Republic of the Congo
  • Cuba
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Eritrea
  • Ghana
  • Liberia
  • Libya
  • Mali
  • Mongolia
  • Nauru
  • Niger
  • Nigeria
  • North Korea
  • Sudan
  • Syria
  • Turkmenistan
  • Yemen

26 countries require Italian citizens to present a valid Embassy visa upon their arrival at the border. Thus, visiting any of the above-listed destinations is connected with applying for a regular visa at least a few weeks ahead of the planned arrival.

The first step into obtaining an Embassy visa is to check the current required documents for the selected destination. Next, travelers must prepare said documents and complete the Embassy visa application form.

Once the required paperwork is complete, Italian citizens should submit their application to the closest Embassy or Consulate and take on any following steps of applying, such as covering the visa issuing fee or undergoing a visa interview. These additional steps are not always necessary to be completed.

Later on, one’s visa application will get processed by the appropriate authorities. This process can take even up to a few weeks.

Even though handling an Embassy visa may seem complicated and takes a lot of time, this type of visa can serve for both short and long-term trips. Moreover, some countries offer additional Embassy visa types (besides the standard tourism, business, and transit type) that can be used for working, studying, and even living abroad.

Visa-free countries

As many as 119 countries welcome Italian citizens visa-free, which makes visiting any of these destinations effortless!

Check the list of visa-free countries for Italian citizens.

Depending on the specific country, visa-free travel may look slightly different; however, it’s always convenient for Italian citizens traveling abroad. Usually, only one document needs to be presented upon arrival of citizens of Italy, and that is either a valid passport or ID.

Still, some countries may require travelers to present a few supporting documents upon their arrival to a visa-free country, including:

  • Hotel bookings for the country to be visited
  • Proof of having a return ticket
  • Proof of having sufficient funds for the planned trip

Once one’s entry is approved, Italian citizens can stay in any of the above-listed visa-free countries for a short period of time to engage in any leisure, business, or transit-related activities.

The length of the maximum stay varies, usually from 30 to even 180 days. Citizens of Italy can go on vacation, explore the visa-free countries, go to different tourist destinations, handle any business-related duties abroad, or simply take a stopover while transiting to another final destination.

Bogdan T
2022-10-7

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