ETIAS Vatican City State permit for U.S. citizens
The United States will be part of the countries whose citizens have to present an approved ETIAS permit upon entry in Vatican City State. It will be possible to apply for and obtain the ETIAS visa online, by filling out the ETIAS application form online and receiving your visa via e-mail when the application is approved. This ETIAS visa will allow U.S. citizens to enter Vatican City State for work, tourism, transit, or medical reasons, as long as the duration of the trip is no more than 90 days, and it will be valid for multiple trips made by air, sea, or land. In addition, minors and people over 70 years of age will be able to apply for this visa free of charge.
What is ETIAS Vatican City State for U.S. citizens?
ETIAS will come into force in 2023, as part of a European Commission program aimed at strengthening European borders and keeping a digital track on all people entering Schengen Area. This program was already approved in 2016, after the terrorist attacks that affected some European countries.
How does ETIAS Vatican City State visa work for U.S. citizens
From 2023 American citizens must have an ETIAS visa before embarking on a trip to Vatican City State. However, if the trip has other reasons than those provided for ETIAS permit, or it will be longer than 90 days, they will have to obtain a full visitor Schengen visa, at the embassy or consulate of Vatican City State, respecting the requirements and timing for the visa they are applying for. Once issued, ETIAS will be valid for 3 years, and it will allow multiple entries in Vatican City State and other countries of the Schengen Area, as long as each trip is shorter than 90 days. In order to get your approved ETIAS visa in time for your trip, it is recommended to apply for the permit at least 4 days before the departure date. If the ETIAS visa is denied, you can still apply for a full visitor Schengen permit at the embassy or consulate of Vatican City State or present an appeal to the country that denied ETIAS visa.
ETIAS destinations for Americans
Starting from November 2023 ETIAS visa will come into force for U.S. citizens in order to travel to the following countries:
- Andorra
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Monaco
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- San Marino
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
At the moment, U.S. citizens are not required to obtain an ETIAS visa to enter Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, and Romania, since these are not Schengen countries yet. However, this may change in the future, so please keep updated with the requirements.
ETIAS permit requirements for Americans and how to apply
In order to apply for the ETIAS permit, you will need to be a U.S. citizen and hold a valid electronic passport issued by the United States of America. If you do not have an U.S. passport, you will have to apply for a full visitor Schengen permit. ETIAS visa application can be completed online, entering all required information by following the required steps, and making sure all the data is entered correctly. Once this is done, you will also have to pay a 7 euros fee, applicable to all citizens aged between 18 and 70 years, using a credit or debit card. Usually, most ETIAS are issued within few minutes, or at most in a few hours, and the approved ETIAS will be sent via e-mail as a PDF file. In addition, you will not need to print the visa, because your data will already be linked with the European Schengen authorities’ databases, and this information will be linked to the passport data provided during the application. Anyway, in order to avoid delays, it is recommended to apply for ETIAS permit at least 4 days prior to the departure, to make sure that the visa is approved and to have the time to provide any additional documents should they be required. In the rare instance where an ETIAS is not approved, you can apply for a full visitor Schengen permit at the embassy or consulate of Vatican City State. It is highly recommended to read and carefully check all the requirements for the ETIAS visa before applying, to avoid any mistakes in the application that could lead to delays in the ETIAS approval.
How much does ETIAS cost for Americans
At the end of the application process, all Americans between 18 and 70 years of age must pay a fee of 7 euros, using a credit or debit card. Americans under 18 and over 70 years of age are entitled to apply for the ETIAS visa free of charge.
About Vatican City State
Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State or the State of the Vatican City, is a landlocked independent city-state situated in the city of Rome, in Italy.
It is the smallest independent country in the world with an area of 0.44 sq. km. It has a population of about 1000 people. Enjoying extraterritorial rights are thirteen buildings in Rome, and one at Castel Gandolfo, which is the Pope’s summer residence.
The official religion is Christianity, and the official currency is the euro. The Vatican City is the headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church.
Located within the city is the Apostolic Palace, the official residence of the Pope. The major languages are Italian and Latin, but many other European languages are used.
Accommodation is not available to the general public in Vatican City; travelers generally arrange their accommodation in Rome. The months of April, May, September, and October are some of the most pleasant times to visit the Vatican. During this time there are fewer crowds, and the days are long and sunny without the humidity present in high summer.
Situated entirely within the city of Rome, but separated from the rest of the city by a tall wall, the Vatican City spreads west of the River Tiber.
Vatican City is made up of the Vatican, the Vatican Gardens, St. Peter’s Church and St. Peter’s Church Gardens.
Vatican City State at a glance
Capital: Vatican City
Timezone: UTC/GMT +1 hour
Languages: Latin, Italian, French
Area: 0 KM2
Currency: Euro (EUR)
Population: 921
Calling Code: +379
Travel in Vatican City State
The Vatican City attracts visitors from all over the world and from all walks of life. Many visitors come for religious reasons, but many also come for the culture and the amazing displays of art and pageantry.
Famous sites include the Vatican Palace where the Pope officially resides in the winter. Located inside the majestic Palace lies the awe-inspiring Sistine Chapel, home to the most famous ceiling in the world. All visitors crane their necks to look at The Last Judgement by Michelangelo, for most, a once in a lifetime experience. Frescos painted by Perugino, Domenico Ghirlandaio and Botticelli are world famous.
The Vatican City hosts an astonishing number of paintings and artworks. St. Peter’s Basilica has had such notable architects as Bramante, Michelangelo, Giacomo, Mademo and Bernini. This is Renaissance Architecture at its finest.
The world’s smallest country does not have its own cuisine, but it does have plenty of local restaurants, typically offering good Italian cuisine to suit a variety of budgets.
The US and Vatican City State
Vatican City is the territory of the Holy See, the central government of the Catholic Church and the seat of the episcopal jurisdiction.
The Vatican City and the Holy See, although closely associated, are distinct. Embassies are accredited to the Holy See, and it is The Holy See, not the Vatican City, that holds diplomatic relations with various sovereign states.
As a universal government of the Catholic Church, the Holy See operates from Vatican City. The Pope rules over them both. The Holy See and the U.S.A. consult and cooperate on many international topics of mutual interest. These topics include human rights, peace and conflict prevention.
The U.S. and the Holy See have a positive relationship that serves to proclaim a global message of justice, freedom, and peace.
The U.S. and the Holy See are both members of the following organization
- Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
The Holy See is an observer to the following organizations, of which the U.S. is a member
- The United Nations
- Organization of American States
- World Trade Organization
There are no direct flights to Vatican City because there are no airports. The closest airport is in Rome. Direct flights from the U.S to Rome can have a flight time of under 9 hours.
FAQ about ETIAS Vatican City State visa
List of US diplomatic offices in Vatican City
The Embassy of USA in Vatican City
Address: Via Sallustiana, 49 00187 Rome, Italy
Phone: (+39) 06-4674-1
Fax: (+39) 06-4674-3412
Facts: Callista L. Gingrich – Ambassador
The Embassy of Vatican City in Washington, USA
Address: 3339 Massachusetts Ave NW Washington, DC 20008-3610
Phone: 202-333-7121
Fax: 202-337-4036
Email: nuntiususa@nuntiususa.org
Facts: Archbishop Christophe Pierre – Apostolic Nuncio