Italy Travel Requirements in 2025: What Has Changed?

From Rome to Venice, Tuscany to Sicily, and everything in between, Italy has no shortage of incredible destinations.

That is what makes it one of the most traveled-to countries in Europe, after all. Last year alone, millions of people found themselves wandering the ancient cities.

If you're planning a trip abroad and Italy's on your itinerary, you need to understand a few things before you hop on your flight and find yourself perusing pasta menus in Pisa.

In this guide, we're going to take a look at what Italy's travel requirements are and what you need to know before boarding your plane.

Italy has passport requirements

Regardless of where you're traveling from, your passport needs to meet a few criteria set out by the Schengen zone.

The Schengen zone, in short, is a collection of European countries that have standardized their entry requirements for travelers.

To travel to Italy (or anywhere in the Schengen area, for that matter), your passport must:

• Have been issued within the past 10 years.
• Be valid for at least 3 months beyond your intended stay. (It is worth noting that the US government recommends 6 months).
• Have at least 2 blank pages remaining.

Some travelers need a visa

Italy requires travelers of specific nationalities to apply for a visa before visiting.

If you hold a valid US passport, you do not need a visa to travel to Italy, so long as your trip is fewer than 90 days and the main purpose is travel/tourism or to visit family and friends.

That said, if you hold a passport issued by a different country, you may need a visa, even if you live in the US.

Whether or not you need a visa depends on which country issued your passport, not where you currently reside.

For example, travelers with passports from the US, Canada, and Mexico don't need a visa for short trips to Italy.

However, travelers with passports from India or China do (even if they are currently living in the United States).

Sometimes, travel insurance is mandatory

Italy mandates that specific travelers get travel insurance before visiting.

An easy way to know whether it's mandatory or not is to ask yourself whether or not you're applying for a visa for Italy.

If the answer is yes, then travel insurance that meets Schengen visa insurance requirements is mandatory.

If the answer is no, you are not applying for a visa, then travel insurance is highly recommended, but not a strict requirement.

Nonetheless, if you're traveling to Italy as part of a group or program, or for your workplace, travel insurance might be required by them, so make sure to check. In that case, though, it would be the program or company requiring it, not Italian officials.

If you are applying for a Schengen visa to travel to Italy, the policy that you choose needs to meet specific requirements.

A big change is coming in 2026

Starting in the later part of 2026, travelers who do not need a visa for Italy (so, US citizens, for example) will need to get pre-travel authorization before going to Italy.

You may have already heard bits and pieces about this new requirement, called ETIAS.

While this may sound intimidating, don't fret.

ETIAS will be mandatory, but you can think of it more like a formality.

Once launched, US citizens (among others) will need to go online, fill out a questionnaire, pay a small fee, and receive approval. The entire process should only take 15-20 minutes, and the vast majority of people will receive approval in just a couple of minutes.

Nonetheless, approval will be a strict requirement.

You can learn more about ETIAS here.

You can use your US license to drive

If you have a valid US driver's license, you can legally drive in Italy during your trip.

Some European countries require foreigners to get an IDP (International Driving Permit) to legally drive there. Fortunately for your travel plans, Italy isn't one of them.

With that in mind, if you are moving to Italy or intending to stay long term, you will need to switch to an Italian driver's license after a certain amount of time.

Italy doesn't have any vaccination requirements

Italy doesn't have any vaccination requirements you need to be aware of. Even so, the US government recommends that all travelers to Italy be up to date with their routine immunizations.

It's best to check and follow the advice of your doctor before traveling abroad, Italy included.

Medicaid/Medicare cannot be used overseas

While it isn't exactly a travel requirement for Italy, it is a good thing to know.

Medicaid and Medicare cannot be used abroad.

If a medical emergency happens during your travels, it's best to have a comprehensive travel insurance policy that covers you in Italy.

FAQs

What are the Italy travel requirements?