Vatican City visa and entry requirements

You just walk in

• There are no border controls between Italy and Vatican City.
• You walk across St Peter's Square from Rome and you have changed country. Nobody looks at anything.
• Whatever admits you to Italy admits you here. There is no Vatican visa and no separate allowance.
• Days here are days in Italy for your Schengen 90/180.
• Vatican City is not in the EU or Schengen as a matter of law, and it makes no practical difference to a visitor.

What is actually checked

The controls here are about behaviour, not nationality.

• Security screening at St Peter's Basilica and the Museums is airport-style, with bag scanning. Expect a queue.
• The dress code is enforced at the entrance - see the everyday section. People are turned away daily.
• Large bags, tripods and knives are refused at the basilica and there is limited cloakroom space.

The Museums

• The Vatican Museums are ticketed and should be booked online well in advance - the walk-up queue can run for hours.
• St Peter's Basilica itself is free and has its own separate, faster-moving security queue.
• They are different entrances on opposite sides of the walls. People routinely queue for the wrong one.