United StatesVatican City: Visa-free

United StatesVatican City

Do United States passport holders need a visa for Vatican City?

Visa-free

No. United States passport holders do not need a visa to visit Vatican City for tourism for stays of up to 3 months within any 180-day period.

No visa is required for a short tourist stay. Travel on a valid passport alone.

Source: eur-lex.europa.eu (checked September 3, 2026).

The Vatican has no border control of its own

Vatican City is an enclave within Rome with no airport and an open border with Italy. Entry is governed entirely by Italian and Schengen rules, so you must be able to enter Italy first. The Vatican issues no travel visa of its own. The requirements below are Italy’s.

The requirement above is Italy’s, for a United States passport. United States → Italy in full.

RequirementVisa-free

Maximum stay3 months within any 180-day period

ScopeTourism, ordinary passport

Action before travelNone, travel on your passport

Data as of2026-10-21

Visa-free access to Vatican City137 of 241 nationalities tracked

Travelling the other way? Vatican City passport holders visiting United States: Visa required.

Other visa-free destinations for United States passport holders

See all United States destinations →

Frequently asked questions

Do United States passport holders need a visa for Vatican City?

No. United States passport holders do not need a visa to visit Vatican City for tourism for stays of up to 3 months within any 180-day period.

How long can United States citizens stay in Vatican City without a visa?

Up to 3 months within any 180-day period, for tourism, ordinary passport.

What currency is used in Vatican City?

Euro (EUR).

What is the emergency number in Vatican City?

112.

How many countries can enter Vatican City without a visa?

137 of the 241 nationalities this site tracks can enter Vatican City visa-free, with a visa on arrival, or with an eTA.

Visa rules change frequently and can depend on your specific circumstances. This site is compiled from public government sources and is provided for general information only. Always confirm requirements with the official immigration authority or a consulate of your destination before you travel.

About United States

The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic consisting of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 contiguous states border Canada to the north and Mexico to the south, with the semi-exclave of Alaska in the northwest and the archipelago of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. The United States also asserts sovereignty over five major island territories and various uninhabited islands in Oceania and the Caribbean. It is a megadiverse country, with the world's fourth-largest total area and third-largest population, exceeding 341 million.

CapitalWashington D.C.

RegionNorth America

Population341.8M

Area9,372,610 km²

CurrencyUnited States dollar (1 USD ≈ 1.00 USD)

LanguagesEnglish

Calling code+1

Drives on theright

TimezoneNew York (UTC-4)

Nearest airportRonald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), 4 km

Emergency number911

UNESCO sites29

Income levelHigh income

GDP per capita$90,027 (2025)

Tourist arrivals45M (2020)

Climate in Washington D.C.

Warmest July, coolest December, driest March, sunniest July. Best time to visit: June.

Monthly climate normals for Washington D.C., 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	8.6°C	-0.2°C	72mm	188h
February	9.9°C	0.6°C	118mm	172h
March	15.5°C	4.7°C	71mm	223h
April	16.7°C	5.8°C	158mm	239h
May	20.9°C	11.1°C	92mm	304h
June	29°C	18.6°C	98mm	353h
July	32.7°C	22.5°C	168mm	383h
August	28.5°C	20.9°C	449mm	292h
September	24.3°C	15.4°C	173mm	255h
October	19.9°C	10.5°C	158mm	216h
November	15.8°C	6.3°C	194mm	229h
December	8°C	-0.3°C	146mm	196h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

The United States of America spans a continent and numerous islands: its diverse geography comprises vast uninhabited areas of natural beauty punctuated by cities ringed by sprawling suburbs. Its wide array of tourist destinations includes the skyscrapers of Manhattan and Chicago, the natural wonders of Yellowstone and Alaska, the canyonlands of the Southwest, the towering volcanoes and rugged coastlines of the Pacific Northwest, and the warm, sunny beaches of Florida, Hawaii, and Southern California.

Upcoming public holidays

November 11, 2026Veterans Day

November 26, 2026Thanksgiving Day

December 25, 2026Christmas Day

Full source list on About.

About Vatican City

Vatican City, officially the Vatican City State, often shortened as the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state in Southern Europe. Ruled by the pope, it is an enclave within the city of Rome, Italy, and serves as the administrative centre of the Catholic Church. Vatican City is governed by the See of Rome, commonly known as the Holy See, itself a sovereign entity under international law, which maintains its temporal power, governance, diplomacy, and spiritual independence. Vatican is also used as a metonym for the Holy See, which is the central governing body of the Catholic Church and Vatican City, comprising the pope and the Roman Curia. The independent state of Vatican City came into existence in 1929 via the Lateran Treaty between the Holy See and the Kingdom of Italy, which spoke of it as a creation, not as a vestige of the much larger Papal States (756–1870), which had previously encompassed much of Central Italy.

RegionSouthern Europe

Area0 km²

CurrencyEuro (1 USD ≈ 0.89 EUR)

LanguagesItalian, Latin

Calling code+3906698, +379

Drives on theright

Emergency number112

UNESCO sites2

Climate in Vatican City

Warmest August, coolest January, driest July, sunniest July. Best time to visit: May, July, August.

Monthly climate normals for Vatican City, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	13.3°C	3.7°C	29mm	251h
February	15.6°C	5.7°C	17mm	261h
March	16.2°C	6.4°C	80mm	283h
April	19.9°C	9°C	82mm	313h
May	25.3°C	13.8°C	32mm	372h
June	26.9°C	16.2°C	122mm	398h
July	32.6°C	20°C	8mm	432h
August	33°C	21.4°C	52mm	386h
September	27.7°C	16.9°C	136mm	314h
October	20°C	11.2°C	189mm	278h
November	17.7°C	9.2°C	68mm	238h
December	13.2°C	5.3°C	230mm	193h

Avg. high/low, °C (left axis) Rainfall, mm (bar maxes out at 250mm/month)

Daily normals for 2020. Hover a month for exact figures.

Travel guide

Vatican City is the world's smallest country both by area and by population, and is the centre of Catholicism. This tiny country completely within Rome is packed with more history and artwork than most cities in the world, and indeed many countries. St. Peter's Basilica, the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel are all in Vatican City.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Historic Centre of Rome, the Properties of the Holy See in that City Enjoying Extraterritorial Rights and San Paolo Fuori le Mura
Vatican City

Upcoming public holidays

November 1, 2026Tutti i Santi, Ognissanti

December 8, 2026Immacolata Concezione

December 25, 2026Natale

Full source list on About.