In recent years, an increasingly high number of U.S. citizens have decided to travel to Italy and explore the country’s historical cities, natural landscapes and hidden coastal gems where Italy’s dolce vita is truly sweet; from Rome’s timeless beauty to the maze of Venice’s bridges and canals to the trendy fashion capital Milan, Tuscany’s elegant hills and southern Italy’s slow-paced life, Mediterranean climate and tantalizing cuisine, the number of international arrivals in Italy has risen significantly reaching around 6.9 million in 2023. Based on the number of arrivals, the year 2023 also marked the United States’ position as the leading inbound travel market in Italy, particularly in its capital.

It is no surprise that Italy is one of the most sought-after destinations among U.S. citizens: the country’s charm, which lies in the diversity of its cities and regions, in the beauty of its art, history and gastronomy, in the glorious landscapes and vibrant culture, attracts people who live in modern and fast-paced cities and long for tranquility. In addition to  experiencing Italy’s authentic way of life in its most secluded gems, there are also many people who decide to travel to Italy to visit their ancestors’ hometowns. This is what Italians refer to as “turismo delle radici”, which in English translates to roots tourism, a form of tourism which is generated by emigrants and their descendants who visit their country of origin or that of their ancestors in order to reconnect with their family roots. This type of tourism is one of the fastest-growing forms of heritage tourism in the past six years and it has proven to be a means to bring quaint and beautifully preserved – yet remote and isolated – villages back to life.

Therefore, whether you would like to discover your roots, or simply travel to Italy to enjoy its Mediterranean life, this article will provide you with all the information you need in order to fly to the country.

Logistics: Entry, Exit and Visa Requirements

In order to travel to Italy your passport must have at least a three-month validity beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen area. No vaccinations are required to enter Italy and there are no COVID-related entry requirements for U.S. citizens.

It is advisable that you have a health insurance plan that provides coverage overseas. According to the Ministry of Health, foreigners entering Italy are allowed to bring personal medications for a period of 30 days, but it is recommended that travelers also bring a copy of their prescription with them. Finally, U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Food and Drug Administration are responsible for rules governing the transport of medication back to the United States. Medication purchased abroad must meet their requirements to be legally brought back into the United States.

At the time of writing this article, U.S. citizens may enter Italy for up to 90 days for tourist or business purposes without a visa. However, presumably as of 2025, the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS) will require U.S. citizens travelling to Italy, or to any of the 27 Schengen countries, to obtain authorization for trips under 90 days. The application will also require a fee of 7 Euros. The application will be processed immediately and the decision will be sent to the applicant within four days.

If you decide to visit Italy more often you can apply for a long-term ETIAS visa, which allows you to visit Italy multiple times over three years without needing a new application each time.

If you decide to stay in Italy for longer than 90 days you must complete a declaration of presence (dichiarazione di presenza) and a permit of stay (permesso di soggiorno). Additional information may be obtained from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Polizia di Stato.

Finally, if you have dual citizenship (US and Italian),

• You must enter and leave the United States on your U.S. passport. You are not allowed to enter on your foreign passport because U.S. law requires all U.S. citizens to enter and depart the U.S. on a valid U.S. passport.
• Your worldwide income is subject to U.S. taxation, therefore, you may need to file your U.S. tax returns, even if you do not owe any taxes. You may also need to file a tax return in the State where you were last resident. It is advisable to consult a tax advisor experienced in dual-national filings.
• If you have more than $10,000 in overseas bank or brokerage accounts, you may need to fill out the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Account (FBAR).

Other visas

There are many reasons to visit or move to Italy: the country’s art, culture, cuisine, lifestyle, welfare system and competitive real estate market, to name a few. However, if you want to visit or live in Italy there are a few things you should bear in mind: if you wish to stay in Italy for over 90 days, you will need a Long-Stay Visa, which can be provided by the Italian consulate in the jurisdiction where you reside in the U.S.

A Long-Stay Visa allows you to enter Italy and apply for your Italian residency permit (permesso di soggiorno), which enables you to stay in Italy for more than 90 days. Depending on the purpose of your stay in Italy, you may apply for one of the following visas:

• Italy Work Visa – available to foreign nationals who want to move to Italy to work;
• Italy Study Visa – available to students over 18 who are already enrolled in a school or university in Italy;
• Italy Family Visa – available to foreign nationals who want to join a family member who has Italian citizenship or an Italian permanent residency permit;
• Italy Self-Employed Visa – available to entrepreneurs who wish to start a business;
• Italy Working Holiday Visa – available to nationals aged 18-30 from countries who are part of a working holiday program with Italy;
• Italian Retirement Visa – available to those who can financially support themselves without working.
• Italy’s Digital Nomad Visa – it allows digital nomads to work remotely in Italy, either in a freelance capacity, or as an employee/collaborator of a company, that can also be located outside Italy.

In order to apply for the digital Nomad Visa, you must meet the following criteria:

• Be a non-EU citizen;
• Be classified as a highly-skilled worker;
• Have the technological tools to work remotely;
• Work as a self-employed person or for a company based outside Italy;
• Have a minimum annual income from lawful sources that is not less than three times the minimum level required for exemption from participation in health care costs;
• Have health and medical insurance valid throughout Italy and for the duration of stay;
• Have secured accommodation and the appropriate documentation;
• Have accumulated at least six months in the work activity to be carried out as a digital nomad or remote worker;
• Be able to present the employment or collaboration or the relevant contractual offer.

If you would like more detailed information about the requirements to apply for a visa and the application process in order to travel to Italy, please contact us at info@thesecretexplorer.com and we will connect you to the relevant office.