Traveling to Italy

How the Italian educational system is structured The Italian school system is divided into five levels: nursery school/kindergarten/pre-school, primary school, lower secondary school, upper secondary school, and university. If you are looking for English-speaking schools in Italy we invite you to read this post English speaking...

Vademecum Italia Announces Partnership with La Cornice Antica We are excited to announce a new partnership with La Cornice Antica, a prestigious store located in Rome that sells unique antiques, 15th – 18th Century frames, and paintings. La Cornice Antica is a family-owned business that has...

What is the Currency in Italy? Italy is a member of the European Union and the eurozone. The euro (€) is the official currency of the country. The euro is divided into 100 cents, and there are banknotes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100,...

A common mistake with Italian citizenship applications. First things first: start by requesting your Italian ancestor’s birth certificate How to Get Your Italian Ancestor’s Birth Certificate If you are interested in applying for Italian citizenship by descent, you will need to collect a number of documents...

Italy is a popular destination for foreign investors, thanks to its strong economy, beautiful scenery, and rich culture. But buying real estate in Italy can be a daunting task, especially if you're not familiar with the local market. That's where Vademecum Italia comes in....

​Do you pay VAT when you shop in Italy​?​ Are you planning a trip to Italy and wondering about the VAT (Value Added Tax) rules? As a foreigner, it’s important to understand the VAT regulations in Italy to avoid any confusion or unexpected charges while shopping....

Do US citizens need a visa to travel to Italy? If you are a US citizen planning to travel to Italy, it’s important to know whether or not you’ll need a visa. According to the Italian government, U.S. citizens need a visa to travel to Italy...

What does a foreign document need to be used in Italy? If you need to register your marriage, divorce, or child’s birth with your Italian Comune, or if you are applying for Italian citizenship and need ​an official transla​tion​ ​of your foreign documents​ in Italian, please...

How to register your second or third marriage in Italy If you need to register your first, second or third marriage certificate, divorce, or children’s birth certificates with your Italian Comune, we can do it for you. You do not need to go through your local...

Limits to the use of cash in Italy in 2023 ​In Italy, cash transactions are subject to various limits, which are intended to combat money laundering and tax evasion. As of January 1, 2023, thanks to the 2023 Budget Maneuver, the threshold for all payments in...

Do UK citizens need a visa to travel to Italy? UK citizens do not need a visa to travel to Italy for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day period for tourism or to attend business meetings. Visits to other countries which are part...

Positivo negativo letterYou are applying for Italian citizenship by descent (Jure Sanguinis) and so, after some research, you now know that one of the first things, if not the first one, you have to do is collect your Italian ancestor’s birth certificate. If you need assistance...

The Final Brexit Agreement: EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement Citizens on both sides of the channel were relieved that the Christmas Eve agreement avoided the feared no-deal exit which could have led to dire economic consequences.  The worst case scenario was avoided but much will change...

Italian citizenship application: the “new” 48-month term Please send an email to citizenship@vademecumitalia.com and we will send you a quote for the assistance with your Italian citizenship application from day one to the day you will obtain your Italian passport. Many of our readers have asked...

Italian citizenship application: the B1 language requirement Many of our readers have asked us if the B1 level knowledge of the Italian language is a requirement for all applications by marriage. Here’s what you need to know. If you applied before the new Law no. 132/2018...

How can I know if my birth or marriage has been registered with the Comune di Roma? If you need assistance to verify if your birth or marriage has actually been transcribed into the registers of the Comune di Roma, please send an email to assistance@vademecumitalia.com...

We can collect the birth certificate you need from any Italian Comune (Municipality). We will send you a scanned copy of the certificate as soon as we have it and also the paper copy via courier, if you want it. It usually takes us from 2...

Coronavirus in Italy: the Decree of April 26 loosens up the restrictions Dear Readers, First of all, we hope that all of you are well and happy and–wherever you are in the world–are all able to deal with the coronavirus pandemic without overwhelming difficulties. Everyone in...

Do you have an Italian ancestor? Discover immediately if you are eligible for Italian citizenship If you have an Italian ancestor (e.g. great grandfather/mother or grandfather/mother) who was born in Italy and emigrated to your country (USA, UK, Argentina etc.), you might be eligible for Italian...

Italian citizenship application: don’t make mistakes. Our expert Italian lawyers can review your documents You discover that you have an Italian ancestor who was born in Italy and emigrated to your country. You do some research and realize that you qualify for Italian citizenship. This is...

Buona Pasqua 2020!! PrintEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedinWhatsapp...

Criminal record certificate (police clearance certificate) during the Coronavirus pandemic. We can still collect it for you. We can obtain your Criminal record certificate/Police Clearance Certificate (Certificato del Casellario Giudiziale) within 24 hours from the request. We will send you a scanned copy of the certificate...

Do you have an apartment in Italy? You should partecipate in your condominium meetings. You proudly bought a house in Italy, or you inherited one from your parents or grandparents, and now you are just waiting for the first chance you have to come to Italy...

Coronavirus in Italy: the Decree March 25 no. 19 sets up to five years in jail and € 3000 in fines for violating rules The Italian Government has published a new Decree-Law as the number of Coronavirus-related deaths in Italy reached 6820 on March 24, 2020,...

Coronavirus. DPCM March 22, 2020 defining the essential activities that can continue to remain open The Italian Prime Minister, Mr. Giuseppe Conte, following all the previous decrees regarding the Coronavirus, has signed a DPCM (“Decreto del Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri”), introducing at national level further...

UPDATE: Please note that on March 22 the President Mr. Conte signed a decree that establishes more restrictive measures defining the essential activities that can continue to remain open . Please click here to read our new post. The Italian Government has issued a Decree-law yesterday...

Coronavirus: Vademecum based on the recent Decrees of 9th/11th March 2020 NB. Please note that Decree March 11, 2020 has established new rules and, therefore, some of the provisions established by Decree March 9, 2020 stop producing their effects starting from March 12, 2020 (date of...

Italy has been the country hardest hit by the COVID-19 (Coronavirus) epidemic in the Western world. Whether this is due to the particular genetic make-up or social character of the population is hard to tell. It is suspected, however, that at the end of the flu...

On January 31st at 11pm GMT, the UK will officially leave the European Union. The divorce is final (though alimony discussions are not!) and the only way to undo this historical decision would be to reapply for EU member status, which though at the moment seems...

Brexit update: April 12, 2019 In late-night deliberations on April 11th, the 27 EU members agreed to grant an extension to Brexit until October 31st. The decision was made in order to give the British Parliament a little more time to sort out the Brexit mess...

Brexit update We at Vademecum Italia have been waiting to write something significant about Brexit for some time now. But as there has been no ‘meaningful ‘ vote yet (meaning PM May gets Westminster to approve the deal she negotiated with the EU), it is difficult...

Brexit update: ‘Much Ado About Nothing ‘ Two important rounds of voting in the British Parliament this past week turned the old adage ‘No news is good news’ on its head: in fact, there was a lot of news which brought about nothing new and whether...

Brexit Update – November 2018 When on November 14th it was reported on the news that the EU/UK negotiating committee had concluded a draft deal, we at Vademecum Italia thought we would finally have a substantial update on  Brexit for our readers. However, what we can...

Our email info@vademecumitalia.com is working again! If you have not been able to contact us, or if we did not answer your email, we kindly ask you to forward us your email and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Our email addresses...

An unpleasant surprise if you are coming on holiday to Italy: the tourist tax on accommodation. What is it and in which Italian cities do you pay it? It happens very often that tourists (especially foreigners) that come on vacation to Italy, have to face an...

For some time we have been wanting to write an update on Brexit negotiations. When the UK will indeed exit the EU, there may well be some changes for both UK (non-EU) citizens and vice-versa for Italian citizens in the UK (e.g. visa, permit of stay, etc.). Despite growing impatience...

In case you suffer a theft (in a Hotel, station, restaurant, etc.), or if you lose a precious item (credit/debit card, wallet, expensive watch, etc.), or similar, while in Italy, you will need to file a theft/loss report (denuncia di furto/smarrimento) with an Italian authority (e.g....

When the UK will indeed exit the EU (commonly known as “Brexit”), there may well be some changes for both UK (non-EU) citizens living, studying, working, and conducting business in Italy and vice-versa for Italian citizens in the UK (e.g. visa, permit of stay, etc.). Vademecum Italia is closely following...

Foreigners who intend to come to Italy should verify if they need a visa in order to enter the Italian territory. Send us an email with your nationality, country of residence, length of stay (up to 90 days or more than 90 days) and reasons for...

Passengers whose Italo train arrives more than 60 minutes late at their final destination have a right to compensation, which goes from 25% (60-119 min) to 50% (120 min or more) of the ticket price, and will be automatically paid by the Company usually within 7 days...

Passengers whose Trenitalia train arrives more than 30 minutes late at their final destination have a right to compensation. The “sum” goes from a coupon amounting to 25% of the ticket price (30 – 59 min.) to 25% (60-119 min) or 50% of the ticket price...

With reference to air transportation, there are other important provisions that must be taken into account. For example, the application of the protections offered by Regulation 261/2004 in cases of overbooking, cancellation or delay of a flight, does not exclude passengers’ right to take legal action before a...

If passengers are upgraded (e.g. economy class  business class), the airline company cannot request any supplementary payment. If, on the contrary, passengers are downgraded (e.g. business class economy class), the airline company shall provide them reimbursement, that goes from 30 % to 75% of the price of the ticket, within seven days. Upgrading and...

In the event of denied boarding (overbooking) the airline company shall first call for volunteers to surrender their reservations in exchange for benefits. If the number of volunteers is not sufficient the air carrier may then deny boarding to passengers against their will. In this last case, the...

In case a guest at a European (and thus Italian) hotel suffers damage, destruction or loss (theft) of goods which he had brought (in)to the hotel, the hotel-keeper should be held responsible and therefore the guest has a right to compensation according to European and Italian...

The event in which passengers missed their connecting flight not due to a fault of their own is not expressly covered by Regulation 261/2004. However, if some specific elements are met, passengers who missed their connecting flight are entitled to assistance and compensation that can go from € 250 to € 600....

In the event of flight cancellation passengers are entitled to assistance and compensation (from € 250 to € 600) from the airline company of interest. There is no right to compensation in case the flight is cancelled due to “extraordinary circumstances”. Technical problems of the aircraft, poor aircraft maintenance or unavailable...

According to the Court of Justice of the EU, in the event of flight delay passengers are entitled to assistance and compensation (from € 250 to € 600) if they reach their final destination three hours or more after the arrival time originally scheduled by the air carrier, unless the...

Under Regulation (EC) no. 261/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council dated February 11, 2004, in the event of denied boarding (overbooking), cancellation, and long delay of flights, passengers may be entitled, in addition to assistance, also to a refund and/or compensation that can go from € 250 to € 600. Denied boarding (overbooking), cancellation,...

Regulation (EC) no. 261/2004 establishes how to request a refund or compensation in the event of denied boarding (overbooking), flight cancellation, or extended flight delay. Any traveler can personally request a refund and/or compensation (that goes from € 250 to € 600) by going onto the website of the airline company and filling...

With reference to the transport of liquids in hand luggage, they must be carried in individual containers with a capacity no greater than 100 milliliters in a single transparent resealable plastic bag of a capacity not exceeding 1 liter. All liquids purchased from any duty free zone or on airplanes can be carried in...

The European Union has drawn up a list of items that travelers are not allowed to carry on an aircraft in hand and/or in checked luggage for security reasons (e.g. guns, baseball bats, toy guns, sprays, knives or razor blades, corkscrews, explosives, fireworks and acids). Prohibited items on an aircraft in hand or checked luggage...

ENAC has established a few simple rules concerning liquids, clothes, electronic devices, and metal items that must be observed by travelers who find themselves in an Italian airport. Rules to follow for security checks in order to enter the gates areas in Italian airports The Italian...

EU Regulation no. 861/2007 established a “Small Claims Procedure” which is applicable in all EU Member States except Denmark. The European Small Claims Procedure intends “to improve access to justice by simplifying cross-border small claims litigation in civil and commercial matters (thefts, debt collection, etc., e.n.)...

Under European and Italian provisions there are limits to the quantities of tobacco products that private citizens can freely purchase and carry within EU countries and from non-EU countries to EU countries (and thus Italy) for personal use. Under Italian law, there is no specific limit to...

There are no limits to what private persons can buy and carry with them when they are traveling within the EU (and so into and out of Italy), as long as the products are for personal use, except for some specific goods subject to excise duty...

It is possible to freely enter or leave the Italian soil carrying an amount of cash (banknotes, coins, traveler’s chèques, bearer negotiable instruments, etc.) lower or equal to € 9,999.99. Anyone entering or leaving Italy and carrying cash of an amount equal to or greater than € 10,000 shall declare that sum...

Under European and Italian provisions there are limits to the quantities of alcohol and alcoholic beverages that private citizens can freely purchase and carry within EU countries and from non-EU countries to EU countries (and thus Italy) for “personal use”. Under Italian law there is no specific...