Are you planning to visit Italy, perhaps to see the Tuscan capital Florence or the stunning fishing villages of the Cinque Terre? Or maybe you’re heading to the Italian capital to soak in the Roman history.
Wherever you have in mind to experience ‘la dolce vita’ (the sweet life), Americans organising a trip to this Mediterranean country must be clear on what travel paperwork you need.
So you might be asking, do Americans need a visa for Italy?
At present, Americans don’t require a visa to travel here for a vacation of less than 90 days. You just need to get your passport stamped when you arrive in the country from the US to declare your presence. However, from early 2023, US citizens will be obliged to obtain the new ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) visa waiver.
Below we will outline the steps to follow to secure your ETIAS authorisation with Byevisa. We also look at other useful information for Americans, including those considering coming to work here.
Read on to plan your adventure to the home of the colosseum and much more!
Contents
- 1 Details of the New ETIAS Travel Visa for Italy
- 2 How to Get a Visa for Italy From the USA
- 3 Travel Visa to Italy From the USA Processing Time
- 4 Visa Fee From the USA to Italy for the ETIAS
- 5 Work Visa Italy for Americans
- 6 About the Italian Embassy in the USA
- 7 More Information About the Italy Visa Requirements for US Citizens
Details of the New ETIAS Travel Visa for Italy
The pass is valid for 3 years and allows visitors to stay in Italia for a maximum of 90 days per 180-day period. So, for example, you can tour the country from June to August, from northern Lombardy to southern Sicily, then the next time you could visit would be at the start of the next 180-day period, in December. The travel authorisation is Multiple Entry so you can enter and re-enter the country as you please during this time frame.
Furthermore, it gives you access to the other 25 countries that make up the EU’s Schengen Area too. This means you can cross the Pennine Alps into neighbouring Switzerland, no problem! You can also explore other beautiful parts of Europe that are in the Schengen zone, including France and Spain.
How to Get a Visa for Italy From the USA
The great thing about the ETIAS is that you can apply for it online with Byevisa, no trip to the embassy required!
The process is super easy, just do the following:
- Enter your passport details and some other personal information into the online form.
- Select how quickly you want to receive your ETIAS authorisation from Byevisa’s 3 handy options.
- Pay for your application using your card or PayPal account.
Then, sit back and start dreaming of all the pizza and pasta you’re going to eat, as you wait for your validated travel pass to swoop into your inbox!
Travel Visa to Italy From the USA Processing Time
The application process itself is very simple and only takes a few minutes.
The time to process your ETIAS authorisation depends on which Byevisa service you select. Opt for our Highly Rapid service to receive your travel pass in the shortest possible time.
Make sure you apply for it in plenty of time ahead of your trip to Italia!
Once your application has been approved, the ETIAS is automatically linked to your e-Passport.
So when you head to the airport to take your plane to Rome or elsewhere in the country, all you need to do is show officials your valid passport.
Printing a physical copy of your ETIAS to take with you is highly recommended, just in case.
Visa Fee From the USA to Italy for the ETIAS
The European Union charges a 7 EUR fee to obtain this travel authorisation. Seniors over 70 and minors under 18 are exempt, which can save you some euros if your whole family is travelling with you to Lake Garda on vacation.
When applying with Byevisa you also pay our processing fee for saving you the time and effort of applying yourself. The cheapest option is our Standard service and our Highly Rapid service is a bit pricier.
Remember, if you are planning to visit the country on several occasions (and let’s face it, who wouldn’t want to!), the authorisation is valid for 3 years and allows you to enter multiple times.
Work Visa Italy for Americans
If you want to come to Italy for a longer period of time, perhaps to work, then you will require more than just the ETIAS authorisation.
American citizens must apply for a work visa and permit if they wish to work and live here. You will also need to acquire a residence permit if you travel to the country intending to stay long-term.
An important thing to know is that if you want to work in Italy, securing a job first is key.
This is because your Italian employer will manage most of the visa application process on your behalf. It should be done no later than 3 months before you intend to make the move to Italia.
Book an appointment at the embassy closest to where you live. You will need to present the following documents:
- Italian visa application form.
- A recent passport photo.
- A passport that is valid for at least 3 months longer than your visa will be.
- The work permit (nulla osta) provided by your Italian employer, from the immigration office.
Got a job offer already from an Italian employer? Bravo! Below we will detail where you can find the Italy embassy in the US to sort your paperwork.
About the Italian Embassy in the USA
If you are in the process of organising an Italy work visa for Americans, you will need to visit the Italian consulate in the USA.
The Italian embassy in Washington DC can be found at this address:
3000 Whitehaven Street, N.W.
Washington D.C,
20008
Tel: +1 (202) 612-4400
Fax: +1 (202) 518-2154
Email: amb.washington@cert.esteri.it
If you’re located in New York, here are the details you will need:
Address of the Italian Embassy in New York:
690 Park Ave,
New York, NY, 10021
Tel: +1( 212) 737-9100
Email: newyork.info@esteri.it
For the full list of Italian consulates in other cities in the USA, check out our Italy embassy page.
More Information About the Italy Visa Requirements for US Citizens
Hopefully you now have all the information you require to prepare for your journey to beautiful Italy.
However, if there are some areas you need further clarification on, read on to discover the answers to other frequently asked questions.
Do Green Card Holders Need a Visa to Travel to Italy?
If you hold a Green Card, you’re not necessarily eligible for the ETIAS. You may be required to apply for a Schengen Visa to Italy from the USA instead to be allowed to enter the EU’s Schengen Area. You can read more about the Schengen Visa eligible countries on our ETIAS Europe page.
Do I Need a Transit Visa From the USA to Italy?
If you are transiting through Italy or indeed any other part of the Schengen Area, you will need to ensure that you have ETIAS authorisation.
How Many Americans Are There in Italy?
Between 50,000–54,000 Americans live in Italy and millions visit each year. The US is second only to Germany when it comes to the number of tourists visiting the country annually.
What Is the USA to Italy Flight Time?
The flight time, of course, depends on which part of the country you are flying from and if you have a layover. To give you an idea, the fastest flight time from New York to Rome is just over 8 hours.
More Information on Travelling to Italy
We hope that you are now confident about what type of travel authorisation you will need to visit this popular holiday destination. However, we also have more information on our dedicated Italy ETIAS page here.
Italia has more UNESCO World Heritage sites than any other country, so you are in for a treat! You can find out more information about visiting this dreamy destination.
