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Visa requirements for Australian citizens traveling to Italy
Australian citizens can travel to Italy without a visa for stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. This applies to tourism, business, and personal trips. If you intend to stay longer, work, or study in Italy, you must apply for the appropriate visa in advance.
Documents Australians must have when traveling to Italy
If you are a Australian citizen planning a trip to Italy, you will need:
- A valid passport – It should remain valid for at least 3 months after your planned departure.
- Proof of accommodation – Hotel reservation, an invitation from a host, or any other relevant document.
- A return or onward ticket – To confirm that you will leave within the allowed period.
- Financial proof – Documents showing you have enough money for your stay.
Border officers may request additional documents, so it’s best to be prepared.
Do Australians need medical insurance to travel to Italy?
Medical insurance is not always mandatory for short-term, visa-free travel to Italy, but having it is highly recommended. Healthcare costs can be high, and an unexpected emergency could ruin your trip. To stay protected, you can easily find the best travel insurance on Visit World.
Alternative travel ideas for Australian citizens exploring Italy
Looking for something different on your Italian trip? Here are some ideas:
- Venture beyond the big cities – Small villages offer a quieter, more authentic glimpse of Italy’s culture and history.
- Try regional food specialties – Italian cuisine is more than just pizza and pasta! Sample local delicacies like 'nduja from Calabria or Venetian risotto.
- Take a train journey – Italy’s trains are an easy and scenic way to travel between regions without the hassle of renting a car.
- Go wine tasting – Visit lesser-known wineries in Tuscany, Sicily, or Piedmont for a unique and intimate experience.
Top travel destinations in Italy for visitors from Australia
If you're coming from Australia and want to explore Italy beyond the usual tourist spots, check out these places:
- Chianti (Tuscany) – A paradise for wine lovers, offering rolling vineyards, traditional wineries, and unforgettable tastings.
- Alberobello (Apulia) – A town famous for its distinctive white stone "trulli" houses with conical roofs. A truly unique sight!
- Cinque Terre (Liguria) – Five stunning coastal villages with breathtaking views, perfect for hiking and exploring.
- Matera (Basilicata) – One of the oldest inhabited cities in the world, featuring ancient cave dwellings and a mesmerizing nighttime atmosphere.
- Procida Island (Campania) – A lesser-known island escape with colorful houses and peaceful beaches, away from the tourist crowds.
Depending on how you travel (by plane or by sea), there are two types of Italian transit visas:
- Italian airport transit visa (ATV).
- Italian transit visa for sailors.
They have different requirements and validity periods.
Transit visa for Italy airport
The Italian airport transit visa is valid for 24 hours only and does not allow its holder to leave the airport transit zone.
You need an Italian airport transit visa if you are stopping at an Italian airport to catch another flight and continue your journey to a destination outside the Schengen area.
However, not everyone needs a transit visa for an Italian airport.
Who needs a transit visa for an Italian airport?
You need an airport transit visa to change flights at an Italian airport if you are from the following countries:
- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Eritrea
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Iran
- Iraq
- Nigeria
- Pakistan
- Somalia
- Sri Lanka
- Senegal
- Syria
However, even if you are a citizen of the above countries, you may be exempted from a transit visa to Italy's airport if you meet one of the following conditions:
1. You already have a valid visa or residence permit in one of the Schengen countries or for:
- Andorra
- Bulgaria
- Canada
- Cyprus
- Croatia
- Ireland
- Japan
- Romania
- San Marino
- United States of America
- United Kingdom
2. You are a family member of an EU citizen.
3. You have a diplomatic, service or special passport.
4. You are an airline crew member and a citizen of a country that is a party to the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation.
Requirements for obtaining a transit visa to an Italian airport
When you apply for a transit visa to Italy airport, you must submit the following documents:
- A completed and signed application form for a Schengen visa for Italy.
- A valid passport with at least two blank pages.
- Two recent identical photos that meet the Schengen photo requirements.
- A visa issued by the country you are traveling to from Italy (if a visa is required).
- A booked airline ticket for the country you are traveling to from Italy.
- Travel medical insurance of at least 30,000 euros, all medical emergencies and the entire Schengen area.
- Paid Italian visa fee.
REMEMBER that if you want to change planes in Italy to travel to another Schengen country, you need a regular Schengen type C visa, even if your final destination is a non-Schengen country.
- Valid veterinary certificate (owner's data, description of the animal, identification and vaccination data)
- A valid rabies vaccine. If the rabies vaccination was the animal's first vaccine, it must wait 21 days before entering the country. There is no time delay for booster injections; provided there is evidence that the booster was administered before the last vaccine expired.
- Tattoo or microchip (compatible with ISO-11784 standards).
- The cage or carrier must have the owner's name, address (or designated person) and contact numbers in Italy.
- To enter the territory of Italy, the animal must be over three months old.
- To bring pets to Italy from third countries, it is NOT necessary to subject the animals to tick or echinococcus treatment.
- Police (Polizia) - 113;
- Ambulance service (Soccorso Pubblico di Emergenza) - 118;
- Carabinieri - 112;
- Rescue service (Soccorso Pubblico di Emergenza) - 113;
- Vigili del Fuoco - 115;
- "Hotline" for tourists (Easy Italia) - 039-039-039.
Foreigners need an international driving license to drive in Italy for up to six months. All driving licenses issued in the European Union are valid in Italy, even without an international driving permit. However, if you are from a non-EU country, you must have an international driving license in Italy. An international driving license is required in Italy, especially for driving licenses that are not in Italian or English.
When renting a car, you must present your international driving license along with your local driving license.
Car rental companies will require the following documents from you:
- a valid driver's license;
- international driving permit;
- a credit card;
- a visa in your passport.
- Age requirements vary from car rental company to car rental company, but the most common age is 21 years old. Some companies allow drivers to rent if they are at least 18 years old and have a valid driver's license for at least one year.
For more information on driving in Italy, follow the link.
You can find Italian embassies around the world here: https://www.embassy-worldwide.com/country/italy/
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