When it comes to traveling internationally, Italian passport holders have a great advantage because They can visit a list of countries around the world requiring a visa. Besides the Italian passport visa free countries, Italian citizens can also travel to many countries with a visa on arrival or eVisa. This article will sum up the countries you can go to with and without an Italian passport as well as the visa requirements of the destination countries.

How strong is Italy passport?

The Italian passport is one of the most powerful passports in the world. As of June 2024, the Italian passport is ranking 2nd in the world, only next to the Singapore passport. It has 161 visa-free access to countries from the US to China. Since Italy is a member of the European Union, having an Italian passport gives you benefits for education, medical treatment and convenience in doing business in another EU country.

Visa free countries for Italian passport

As mentioned above, there are 161 visa free countries for Italy passport. Being a part of the EU, most of the Italy passport visa free countries are in Europe with a number of 47 countries. Apart from Europe, many are located in Central America and Asia. The rest of them are in the Pacific Ocean, Africa, South America, etc.

Visa free countries for Italian passport 2024
AlbaniaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngola
AnguillaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmenia
ArubaAustraliaAustriaBahamas
BarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelize
BermudaBoliviaCaribbean NetherlandsBosnia and Herzegovina
BotswanaBrazilBritish Virgin IslandsBrunei
BulgariaCanadaCabo VerdeCayman Islands
ChileChinaColombiaCook Islands
Costa RicaCroatiaCuraçaoCyprus
CzechiaDenmarkDominicaDominican Republic
EcuadorEl SalvadorEstoniaFalkland Islands
Faroe IslandsFijiFinlandFrance
French GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench West IndiesGeorgia
GermanyGibraltarGreeceGreenland
GrenadaGuamGuatemalaGuyana
HaitiHondurasHong KongHungary
IcelandIrelandIsraelJamaica
JapanKazakhstanKenyaKiribati
KosovoKyrgyzstanLatviaLesotho
LiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacau
MalawiMalaysiaMaltaMarshall Islands
MauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesia
MoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegro
MontserratMoroccoMozambiqueNamibia
NetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaragua
NiueNorth MacedoniaNorthern Mariana IslandsNorway
OmanPalauPalestinePanama
ParaguayPeruPhilippinesPoland
PortugalPuerto RicoQatarRéunion
RomaniaSamoaSan MarinoSão Tomé and Príncipe
SenegalSerbiaSeychellesSingapore
SlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSouth Africa
South KoreaSpainSaint Kitts and NevisSaint Lucia
Saint MartinSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSurinameSweden
SwitzerlandTaiwanTajikistanThailand
GambiaTimor-LesteTongaTrinidad and Tobago
TunisiaTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluTürkiye
United States Virgin IslandsUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited Kingdom
United StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatu
Vatican CityVenezuelaVietnamZambia
Eswatini  

Although you can travel to these countries Italy passport visa free, it is essential to check the duration of stay and the permissible purpose for travel before you plan your trip. They can vary from country to country. For example, you can visit the UK for 180 days, whereas in São Tomé and Príncipe, you can only stay for 15 days.

Also, a valid passport is still necessary when you enter visa-free countries. Make sure it will be valid for 6 months after your departure date.

Where can Italian citizens travel without a passport?

Among the visa-free countries, 44 countries allow Italian citizens to travel without a passport. You can travel to these countries with only an ID. They are mainly European countries, including all the Schengen countries such as Germany and Denmark. The rest are countries in Central America, Africa, Oceania and others.

Passport free countries for Italian citizens 2024
ArubaAustriaBelgiumCaribbean Netherlands
BulgariaCroatiaCuraçaoCyprus
CzechiaDenmarkEstoniaFaroe Islands
FinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench Polynesia
French West IndiesGermanyGibraltarGreece
GreenlandHungaryIcelandIreland
KosovoLatviaLiechtensteinLithuania
LuxembourgMaltaMayotteNetherlands
New CaledoniaNorwayPolandPortugal
RéunionRomaniaSlovakiaSlovenia
SpainSaint MartinSwedenSwitzerland

Visa on arrival countries for Italian citizens

Visa-on-arrival countries are the countries that allow Italian citizens not to apply for a visa until they arrive at the border. In total, there are 28 visa-on-arrival countries. Half of them are mostly in Asia such as Indonesia, and the other half are in Africa such as Tanzania.

After you arrive at the airport of these countries, you need to submit your application for a visa on arrival by doing some paperwork and presenting the relevant documents as required. You will receive a VOA (visa on arrival) after the process is complete.

Visa on arrival countries for Italy passport
BahrainBangladeshBurkina FasoBurundi
CambodiaComorosEgyptEthiopia
Guinea-BissauIndonesiaIraqJordan
KuwaitLaosLebanonMadagascar
MaldivesMauritaniaNepalPakistan
RwandaSaudi ArabiaSierra LeoneSomalia
Sri LankaSaint HelenaTanzaniaZimbabwe

eVisa countries for Italy passport holders

An Italian passport holder can apply for an eVisa to travel to 20 countries. They are mostly African countries such as Nigeria and South Sudan. The rest of them are in Asia, Oceania, etc.

Getting an eVisa is simpler than getting a regular one. There is no need to go to the embassy. You can simply go through the process online. Filling out the application form, uploading documents (including a passport-size photo) and paying the relevant fees are all available online. After your application is approved, you will receive an e-mail confirmation with an eVisa document attached. You should print out the eVisa document and bring it with you when you travel.

eVisa for Italian passport holders 2024
AzerbaijanBeninBhutanCameroon
Democratic Republic of the CongoIvory CoastDjiboutiEquatorial Guinea
GabonGuineaIndiaIran
LibyaMyanmarNigeriaPapua New Guinea
RussiaSouth SudanTogoUganda

eTA countries for Italy passport

Italian citizens can obtain eTA before traveling to the following 13 countries or regions. The eTA is short for electronic travel authorization. If you are an Italian citizen, you are eligible to get an eTA online. You can visit Canada without requiring a visa, but eTA is needed if arriving by air. It is a streamlined system that will grant your approval within hours or a few days, provided with complete documentation.

eTA countries for Italy citizens 2024
American SamoaAustraliaCanadaGuam
KenyaNew ZealandNorfolk IslandNorthern Mariana Islands
PakistanPuerto RicoSri LankaUnited States of America
US Virgin Islands  

Countries with visa requirements for Italian citizens

Italian citizens are required to have a valid visa for 17 destination countries. Among them, 10 countries are located in Africa. The rest are in Asia and others.

Different from online applications, you need to go to an embassy or a consulate in Italy to carry out the visa application process. Make sure you understand the requirements and have the necessary documents before you go.

Countries with visa requirements for Italian citizens
AfghanistanAlgeriaCentral African RepublicChad
CongoCubaEritreaGhana
LiberiaMaliNauruNiger
North KoreaSomaliaSudanSyria
TurkmenistanYemen 

In what countries can Italian residence permit travel without a visa?

Whether you are an Italian citizen or not, if you have an Italian residence permit and a passport, you can travel to at least the Schengen countries such as Germany, France and so on.

Visa free countries for Italy residence permit
AustriaBelgiumCroatiaCzech Republic
DenmarkEstoniaFinlandFrance
GermanyGreeceHungaryLatvia
LithuaniaLuxembourgMaltaNetherlands
PolandPortugalSlovakiaSlovenia
SpainSweden 

However, an Italian residence permit does not allow you to visit the UK or Ireland. For traveling to Ireland, a residence permit can be acceptable only if the card states that you are a family member of an EU citizen or that you are traveling with your family member who is an EU citizen. It is always worth checking for additional restrictions when you plan your trip.

Visa-free countries for Italian refugee travel document

The Italy refugee travel document is crucial for refugees in Italy. It gives them access to travel to the EU countries without a visa. They can travel freely within most of Europe. On top of that, some non-EU countries accept this document for Italian refugees, such as Canada, Australia, Japan and so on. However, each of these countries has its specific requirements for travelers with the document. Please check with your destination country prior to your departure.

Visa free countries for Italy refugee travel document
AustriaBelgiumCroatiaCzech Republic
DenmarkEstoniaFinlandFrance
GermanyGreeceHungaryLatvia
LithuaniaLuxembourgMaltaNetherlands
PolandPortugalSlovakiaSlovenia
SpainSweden

How can Italian citizens apply for a visa?

Visa requirements for Italian citizens depend on the destination country. Different countries have different requirements and regulations. Usually, you need to go to an embassy or a consulate to apply for a regular visa as follows:

  1. Fill out an application form.
  2. Present required documents including a valid passport, recent passport size photos, travel itinerary, etc.
  3. Pay the visa fees.
  4. Obtain the visa after your application is approved.

Apart from the above-mentioned documents, other documents may be needed. Please contact the embassy of your destination country for detailed information before you go.

FAQ

  • How many countries can Italy passport travel without a visa?

As of June 2024, there are 161 visa-free countries for Italian passport holders.

  • Do Italian citizens need a visa for the USA?

No. The USA is a visa-free country for Italian citizens.

  • Can I travel to Mexico with Italy permesso di soggiorno?

Yes. You can travel to Mexico with an Italy residence permit without a visa for up to 180 days.

  • Can Italians go to Japan without a visa?

Yes. Japan is a visa-free country for Italian citizens.

Conclusion

Italian passport holders have access to many different countries all around the world, from tropical Islands to countries with glaciers. However, visa requirements vary from country to country. We have walked you through different types of visa requirements for Italian citizens in this article. Hope you have a hassle-free trip.

By Dolores Xiao

I am a content creator and marketer with over 5 years of professional writing experience. I hold a bachelor's degree in communications and have a natural curiosity about technology, as evidenced by my technology blog. As an avid traveler, I draw upon adventures in over 10 countries to inject unique cultural perspectives into my articles and social media campaigns. I thrive on developing engaging content that informs and inspires audiences.