What it means in practice
The officer at the border decides how long you may stay in the Vatican City; the date in your passport stamp is the one that counts. Ask for the days you need and carry proof of onward travel.
How the Vatican City counts your stay: Up to 90 days in any 180-day period, counted across all Schengen countries together; the days of entry and exit both count. Visa holders are also limited to the dates and number of days on the visa. EES counts the days automatically and flags overstays.
Before you go
Official details are shown in English.
- ETIAS travel authorisation — not needed yet (optional) — Not yet: the system has not started; Planned fee €20 (free for under 18 and over 70). As of 30 October 2026 ETIAS is not operating, no applications are accepted and the EU has not fixed a start date. Once it launches, visa-exempt travellers will apply online before the trip; an authorisation will be valid for 3 years or until the passport expires. Any website taking ETIAS payments now is not official. Official site
At the border
Official details are shown in English.
- Passport issued within the last 10 years and valid at least 3 months after your planned departure from the Schengen area
- EES: at your first entry since October 2025 border guards take your fingerprints (from age 12) and a facial image; passports are no longer stamped, entries and exits are recorded electronically
- You may be asked about the purpose of the trip, accommodation, a return or onward ticket and sufficient funds
- Visa holders: carry the travel medical insurance policy
How to avoid overstaying
- Go by your stamp or visa. The date the officer gives you is the one that counts, even if it is shorter than the maximum.
- Extend before you run out. Follow Italian rules: a short stay can be extended only in exceptional cases at the Questura in Rome; longer stays need an Italian long-stay (D) visa or residence permit.
- What overstaying costs. EES counts the days automatically and flags overstays.
Good to know
Official details are shown in English.
- Holders of a residence permit or long-stay (D) visa issued by a Schengen country can travel in other Schengen countries for up to 90 days in any 180 without a separate visa.
Questions
Do New Zealand citizens need a visa for the Vatican City?
New Zealand citizens can enter the Vatican City without a visa. Our data sets no fixed number of days for this passport.
Can I extend my stay in the Vatican City?
Follow Italian rules: a short stay can be extended only in exceptional cases at the Questura in Rome; longer stays need an Italian long-stay (D) visa or residence permit.
What do I need at the border in the Vatican City?
Passport issued within the last 10 years and valid at least 3 months after your planned departure from the Schengen area; EES: at your first entry since October 2025 border guards take your fingerprints (from age 12) and a facial image; passports are no longer stamped, entries and exits are recorded electronically; You may be asked about the purpose of the trip, accommodation, a return or onward ticket and sufficient funds.
When was this checked?
Bordr last checked the entry rules for the Vatican City against official sources on 30 October 2026. Rules change: confirm with the official source before you travel.
Sources and last check
Entry rules for this destination were last checked against official sources on 30 October 2026. Visa-free days come from the passport matrix in the Bordr app, corrected where the official rules differ.
- European Commission — Entry/Exit System (fully operational since 10 April 2026)
- EU official travel portal — EES
- EU official travel portal — ETIAS
- European Commission — Visa policy (Schengen short-stay visas)
- European Commission — Implementing decision on multiple-entry visas for Russian nationals (Nov 2025)
- Council of the EU — full suspension of visa facilitation with Russia (Sep 2022)
- MFA Italy — Visa for Italy portal
- GOV.UK — Italy entry requirements
This page is general information, not legal advice. Entry rules change and border officers have the final say. Check the official government source for your destination before you travel.
Includes visa data from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), retrieved 1 November 2026; Bordr's official-source checks take precedence.
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