Vatican CityBritish Indian Ocean Territory: Visa required

Vatican CityBritish Indian Ocean Territory

Do Vatican City passport holders need a visa for British Indian Ocean Territory?

Visa required

Yes. Vatican City passport holders need to obtain a visa in advance before travelling to British Indian Ocean Territory.

A visa must be obtained in advance, typically from an embassy or consulate, before travel.

Source: en.wikipedia.org (checked September 4, 2026).

RequirementVisa required

Maximum stayLength of stay varies

ScopeTourism, ordinary passport

Action before travelYes, arrange in advance

Data as of2026-10-19

Visa-free access to British Indian Ocean Territory0 of 243 nationalities tracked

Other visa-free destinations for Vatican City passport holders

See all Vatican City destinations →

Frequently asked questions

Do Vatican City passport holders need a visa for British Indian Ocean Territory?

Yes. Vatican City passport holders need to obtain a visa in advance before travelling to British Indian Ocean Territory.

What currency is used in British Indian Ocean Territory?

United States dollar (USD).

How many countries can enter British Indian Ocean Territory without a visa?

0 of the 243 nationalities this site tracks can enter British Indian Ocean Territory 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 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.

About British Indian Ocean Territory

The British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT) is a British Overseas Territory situated in the Indian Ocean. The territory comprises the seven atolls of the Chagos Archipelago with over 1,000 individual islands, many very small, amounting to a total land area of 60 square kilometres. The largest and most southerly island is Diego Garcia, 27 square kilometres, the site of a Joint Military Facility of the United Kingdom and the United States. Official administration is remote from London, though the local capital is often regarded as being on Diego Garcia.

RegionEastern Africa

Area60 km²

CurrencyUnited States dollar (1 USD ≈ 1.00 USD)

LanguagesEnglish

Calling code+246

Drives on theright

Climate in British Indian Ocean Territory

Warmest April, coolest August, driest October, sunniest October. Best time to visit: April, May, June, August, September, October, November.

Monthly climate normals for British Indian Ocean Territory, 2020
Month	High	Low	Rainfall	Sunshine
January	27.9°C	26.1°C	404mm	268h
February	28.4°C	26.9°C	315mm	294h
March	28.5°C	26.6°C	258mm	309h
April	28.9°C	27.2°C	122mm	316h
May	28.5°C	26.7°C	209mm	315h
June	28.1°C	26.4°C	211mm	307h
July	27.6°C	26.2°C	251mm	255h
August	26.8°C	25.8°C	87mm	315h
September	27°C	25.8°C	49mm	347h
October	28°C	26.7°C	43mm	366h
November	28.1°C	26.3°C	238mm	305h
December	27.7°C	25.8°C	365mm	296h

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 British Indian Ocean Territory, also known as the Chagos Islands, is centrally located in the Indian Ocean, south of the Maldives, about halfway between Madagascar and Indonesia. The main island, Diego Garcia, is a military facility off limits to anyone not on official duty, but some of the uninhabited outer islands can be visited by independent yachters with advance permission.

Full source list on About.