Visiting Italy
Italy is in the Schengen area, so time you spend there counts towards your Schengen stay. Venice charges day visitors on busy days, Rome adds a nightly tourist tax, and if you're not staying in a hotel you may need to tell the police you're there.
What you need, by passport
- US passportNo visa needed for up to 90 days in 180Cleared
- UK passportNo visa needed for up to 90 days in 180Cleared
- Irish passportNo visa or time limit as an EU citizenCleared
- Canadian passportNo visa needed for up to 90 days in 180Cleared
- Australian passportNo visa needed for up to 90 days in 180Cleared
- New Zealand passportNo visa needed for up to 90 days in 180Cleared
Quick answers
Do I need a visa to visit Italy?
Not for a short visit on a US, UK, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand passport. You can stay up to 90 days in any 180 across the whole Schengen area. Irish citizens can live and work there with no time limit.
Is Italy in the Schengen area?
Yes, since 26 October 1997. Time you spend in Italy counts towards your 90 days in any 180, together with every other Schengen country.
Do I need ETIAS for Italy?
Not yet. When it starts, you'll need to apply online for ETIAS before you travel. It will cost €20 (free if you're under 18 or over 70) and last 3 years or until your passport expires. There's no start date yet: the EU says it will announce it several months ahead. Until then, don't pay any website for it.
How long does my passport need to be valid for Italy?
Your passport must have been issued less than 10 years before you arrive, and be valid for at least 3 months after the day you leave the Schengen area.
Good to know in Italy
Venice access fee. Venice charges day visitors a fee to enter the historic centre on busy days; people staying overnight don't pay. In 2026 it ran on 60 days between 3 April and 26 July and cost €5 if you paid at least 4 days ahead, or €10. It's due back in 2027, so check the dates on the official site before you go.
Rome tourist tax. Rome adds a tourist tax of €3 to €10 per person per night, depending on where you stay, for up to 10 nights. These rates have applied since 1 October 2023. Children under 10 don't pay.
Declare your presence. If you arrive from another Schengen country and aren't staying in a hotel or similar, you must declare your presence at the local police headquarters (Questura) within 8 days. If you stay in a hotel, the form you sign at check-in counts, and the hotel gives you a copy.
Checks at the Slovenian border. Italy is running temporary checks at its land border with Slovenia, currently until 18 December 2026. Carry your passport if you cross by road or rail.
Checked 26 October 2026 against European Union, European Commission, Comune di Venezia, Roma Capitale, Polizia di Stato and European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs.
See the 22 official sources
- What is ETIAS (European Union (Travel to Europe))
- What you need to apply (ETIAS) (European Union (Travel to Europe))
- ETIAS frequently asked questions (European Union (Travel to Europe))
- ETIAS timeline explained (European Union (Travel to Europe))
- Who should apply (ETIAS) (European Union (Travel to Europe))
- How does the EES work? (European Union (Travel to Europe))
- What is the EES? (European Union (Travel to Europe))
- FAQs about EES (European Union (Travel to Europe))
- Smart Borders (European Commission (Migration and Home Affairs))
- Short-stay calculator (European Commission (Migration and Home Affairs))
- User manual for the short-stay Schengen calculator (European Commission)
- Travel documents for non-EU nationals (European Union (Your Europe))
- Travel documents for EU nationals (European Union (Your Europe))
- Residence rights when living abroad in the EU (European Union (Your Europe))
- Documents for minors travelling in the EU (European Union (Your Europe))
- Pay the Venice Access Fee (Comune di Venezia)
- What is the Venice Access Fee (Comune di Venezia (Venezia Unica))
- Contributo di soggiorno (Roma Capitale)
- Nuove tariffe del contributo di soggiorno dal 1 ottobre 2023 (Roma Capitale)
- Regolamento sul contributo di soggiorno di Roma Capitale (Deliberazione A.C. n. 34 del 12 marzo 2024) (Roma Capitale)
- Entering Italy (Polizia di Stato (Ministero dell'Interno))
- Temporary reintroduction of border control (European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs)