Documents required for journey
Prior to commencing your journey it is recommended you check the expiry date of your passport or identity card.
EU tourists
Italy is among the 15 European states which have signed the Schengen treaty, which allows unrestricted access between the borders of 13 EU countries (Italy, Portugal, Spain, Greece, Austria, Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxemburg, Denmark, Sweden and Finland), plus Iceland and Norway. This means that citizens of these countries are not required to show a passport or identity card on arrival in another of the abovementioned countries. Practically speaking, this means that the borders between these countries no longer exist, and thus it is not necessary for tourist visas (not required also for the other 13 non-Schengen EU states). Citizens of the EU who wish to live and work in Italy do not require any form of permission, apart from the compulsory registration at the local police station in order to obtain resident status.
Non-EU tourists
Tourists resident in non-EU states, in particular Australia, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland and the USA do not require a visa if the stay is less than 90 days. For other country citizens a visa is required even for short stays. Entry visas, generally for 90 days, are valid for a maximum period of 6 months.
Health assistance
In case of emergency go straight to the emergency ward of any public hospital. All foreign visitors have the same rights as Italian citizens regarding free emergency medical treatment in public hospitals. Additionally, the Italian national health service is a part of an integrated EU system for the reimbursement of medical costs sustained for every type of medical assistance in public structures.
To obtain free healthcare you should fill in the form EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) in your own country before you leave. In case of emergency it is possible to go to a pharmacy where a doctor can offer advice or sell non-prescripiton medicines. In major toursit cities and during the busiest months medical centres with mulitlingual staff are available 24 hours a day. No vaccinations are required for Italy.
For further information: http://www.ministerosalute.it