Visa Requirements for Vatican Citizens

Many countries around the world have a list of visa requirements for citizens of the Vatican, which determine the type of permit needed to enter in any given situation.

Vatican citizens may need a different type of visa or travel authorization depending on the length of the trip and the purpose of traveling to the destination in question.

According to the Henley Passport Index, the Vatican passport is ranked 27th in the world in terms of travel freedom. It allows holders to enter over 150 destinations without applying for a visa from an embassy prior to the trip.

A number of countries have an online visa platform available to Vatican nationals, which allows travelers to fill out an application from their home or office rather than go to a diplomatic mission in person.

These electronic visas (eVisas) and electronic travel authorizations (eTAs) are considered the most convenient way for Vatican passport holders to get permission to travel to foreign nations.

Citizens of Vatican City are able to apply for a visa on arrival for some destinations. This involves joining a queue at border control and filling out an application there and then, before waiting in the normal line to clear immigration.

Visa on arrival applicants from the Vatican should ensure they have all necessary supporting documents and be prepared to spend some time at the border.

The visa requirements for Vatican citizens entering various other countries state that a visa must first be obtained at an embassy or consulate abroad, including for short stays.

Long-stay visas, work visas/permits, and residence visas/permits for most countries are only available at embassies or offices inside the country itself, according to the immigration requirements for nationals of the Vatican. In order to relocate to another state, Vatican passport holders must obtain the relevant visa from an embassy.

On the other hand, Vatican passport holders enjoy visa exemption for a number of destinations, allowing them to visit for short-term stays without a visa or travel authorization.

Find below an in-depth guide to the different visa requirements for Vatican nationals for destinations around the globe.

List of Visa Countries for Vatican Passport Holders

Holders of passports issued by the Vatican must have some type of visa or travel authorization to visit over 150 countries and territories around the world.

The terms of visas for Vatican City passport holders vary depending on the destination. Some visit visas are only valid for a single entry, whereas others permit multiple trips.

In some cases, short-stay visas might cover permission for various activities, such as tourism, leisure, visiting relatives, business, medical treatment, and/or transit.

Other countries have separate tourist visas, business visas, and transit visas for nationals of the Vatican.

In some cases, Vatican citizens can get an eVisa or eTA by applying online. These are quick and easy to obtain and typically allow short stays for the purpose of tourism and, in some cases, business and other reasons.

Other countries require Vatican passport holders to apply for a visa in person at an embassy or consulate, even for a short-term tourist visa.

Certain countries have a visa on arrival service that citizens of Vatican City can use, although this can mean spending a lot of unnecessary time standing in line and filling out paperwork at border control.

Consult the map below to find out what type of visa is required by Vatican passport holders to visit each different country in 2021.

Electronic Travel Visa Authorization for Vatican Citizens

Citizens of Vatican City are able to obtain an entry permit online for various destinations.

Depending on the country in question, this is either an electronic visa (eVisa) or electronic travel authorization (eTA) for Vatican nationals.

Over 30 different countries and territories around the world have either an eTA or eVisa for citizens of the Vatican.

An eVisa for Vatican citizens is a visa that is obtained by completing a quick online application form.

An eTA for nationals of Vatican City is a visa waiver that allows the holder to travel without a visa. Similarly, the individual must register their details in a simple online questionnaire.

In practice, the process of obtaining an eVisa or eTA for Vatican passport holders is very similar and both avoid the need to go to an embassy to fill out paperwork in person.

The terms of eVisas and eTAs for Vatican citizens vary from country to country. They can be either single entry or multiple entry permits.

Both eTAs and eVisas for citizens of Vatican City are typically only valid for short stays for the purposes of tourism and leisure. In some cases, other activities, such as business and transit, are also allowed.

The maximum period of time that a Vatican passport holder can stay in a foreign country or territory with an eVisa or eTA varies from 16 days to 120 days, depending on the destination.

In some cases, the eVisa or eTA is entirely electronic and is linked to the Vatican passport registered in the online application. The traveler must simply scan their passport when passing through immigration control.

For other destinations, Vatican nationals are required to print a copy and present it at the border.

See below the list of countries that citizens of the Vatican can enter with an eVisa or eTA.

Visa On Arrival for Citizens of Vatican City

A visa on arrival (VoA) for Vatican citizens is a type of entry permit that is issued at designated entry points to a country or territory.

Vatican passport holders can apply for a visa on arrival for over 20 different countries.

VoAs generally allow short stays. The longest period of time that a Vatican national is permitted to spend in a foreign state with a visa on arrival varies between 7 and 120 days.

Most VoAs for citizens of Vatican City permit a single entry, but in some cases, a multiple-entry visa on arrival may be possible.

Vatican passport holders can use a visa on arrival for tourism and leisure. In some countries, a VoA can also be used for transit and/or for visits for other purposes, such as business.

VoAs cannot be used to move to or perform employed work in another country. In order to live, work, and perform other activities in a foreign state, or to stay long-term, nationals of the Vatican must apply for the relevant type of visa and/or permit(s) at an embassy.

Applying for a visa on arrival can be time-consuming. Travelers from the Vatican must stand in line at border control and fill out an application, submitting the required supporting documentation.

In the unlikely event that the individual forgets to bring one of the necessary documents or there is another problem with processing the application, they may be denied entry.

For these reasons, it is recommended to apply for an eVisa in advance if this is also an option, since this allows time to resolve any issues.

Browse the list below to find out which countries have a visa on arrival service available to Vatican citizens.

Bangladesh
Comoros
Guinea-Bissau
Laos
Macau
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mozambique
Palau
Samoa
Senegal
Somalia
Timor-Leste
Togo
Tuvalu
United Arab Emirates
Zambia
Zimbabwe

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Embassy Visa Required by Vatican Passport Holders

An embassy visa or consular visa for Vatican citizens is any type of visa issued by a diplomatic mission.

The majority of countries’ visa requirements for citizens of Vatican City state that in order to move to and/or work in the state in question, it is necessary to apply for a long-term visa, residence permit, and/or work visa/permit. These can usually only be obtained from an embassy or consulate.

In addition, around 100 countries require Vatican passport holders to apply for an embassy visa for any visit, regardless of the length of time they plan to stay and the purpose of the trip.

This includes tourist visas and business visas for Vatican nationals to visit these destinations.

To apply for an embassy visa, citizens of the Vatican must go to the diplomatic mission in person and submit their application. They are required to bring supporting documents, such as their passport. The exact paperwork needed depends on the destination.

There are no embassies located in Vatican City itself due to the small size of the state. Most countries’ diplomatic missions to the Vatican are located in Rome.

Embassy visas for Vatican citizens generally take longer to process than online visas, so it is advisable to apply in good time before the planned trip.

Find below a list of all the countries that require holders of passports issued by the Vatican to apply for an embassy visa for any trip, including short visits.

Afghanistan
Aland Islands
Algeria
American Samoa
Antarctica
Armenia
Bermuda
Bhutan
Bonaire
British Indian Ocean Territory
British Virgin Islands
Brunei Darussalam
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cameroon
Cayman Islands
Central African Republic
Chad
China
Christmas Island
Cocos Islands
Congo
Cook Islands
Cuba
Curacao
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Eritrea
Falkland Islands
Faroe Islands
French Guiana
French Polynesia
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greenland
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guernsey
Guyana
Iraq
Isle of Man
Japan
Jersey
Kiribati
Lebanon
Liberia
Libya
Mali
Martinique
Mayotte
Mongolia
Montserrat
Morocco
Myanmar
Namibia
Nauru
New Caledonia
Niger
Niue
Norfolk Island
North Korea
Northern Mariana Islands
Paraguay
Pitcairn Islands
Puerto Rico
Reunion
Saint Barthelemy
Saint Helena
Saint Lucia
Saint Martin
Saint Pierre and Miquelon
Saudi Arabia
Seychelles
Sint Maarten
Solomon Islands
South Africa
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
Sudan
Suriname
Svalbard and Jan Mayen
Syrian Arab Republic
Thailand
Tokelau
Tonga
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkmenistan
Turks and Caicos Islands
United States
United States Virgin Islands
Venezuela
Vietnam
Wallis and Futuna
Yemen

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Visa Not Required by Vatican Passport Holders

Citizens of the Vatican can travel to a large number of countries visa-free, using only their passport.

Visa exemption for Vatican nationals generally only applies to short-term stays for tourism, leisure, and, in some cases, other purposes like business. Visa-free transit is generally also allowed.

The maximum length of stay permitted without a visa ranges from 14 days to 1 year, depending on the destination.

For longer stays and/or to live and/or work in these countries, Vatican citizens must still apply for the relevant visa and permits.

Holders of passports issued by Vatican City may enter around 90 different countries without a visa.

See below a list of the countries and territories that permit Vatican citizens to enter visa-free.

Albania
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Austria
Barbados
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Bolivia
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
Ecuador
El Salvador
Estonia
Federated States of Micronesia
Fiji
Finland
France
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Kyrgyzstan
Latvia
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malaysia
Malta
Mauritius
Moldova
Monaco
Montenegro
Netherlands
Nicaragua
Norway
Palestinian Territory
Panama
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Republic of Cyprus
Romania
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
San Marino
Sao Tome and Principe
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Korea
Spain
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Tunisia
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu

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Visa Requirements for Citizens of Vatican City