Free import
• Vatican City State lies within Rome and is reached through Italy. Saint Peter's Square is freely accessible from Rome, and entrances into the State are guarded by the Vatican Gendarmerie and the Swiss Guard. Travelers arriving from a non-EU country go through Italian (EU) customs on arrival in Italy, where the following allowances apply.
• From a non-EU country, for travelers aged 17 or older: 200 cigarettes or 100 cigarillos (max. 3 g each) or 50 cigars or 250 g of smoking tobacco (or a proportional mix).
• From a non-EU country, for travelers aged 17 or older: 1 L of drinks over 22% alcohol (or undenatured ethyl alcohol of 80% or more) or 2 L of drinks up to 22% alcohol (or a proportional mix), plus 4 L of still wine and 16 L of beer.
• From a non-EU country: other goods for personal or family use or as gifts, brought occasionally in personal luggage, up to EUR 430 per traveler arriving by air or sea and EUR 300 per traveler arriving by land. Travelers under 15 have an allowance of EUR 150 whatever the means of transport. If the goods are worth more, duties are due on their full value.
• Medicines for personal use in a quantity that matches the length of the stay, with a medical prescription (in English at least) where one is required.
Currency
• Vatican City State uses the euro (EUR).
• Anyone entering or leaving Vatican City State with cash of EUR 10,000 or more (banknotes and coins, and bearer instruments such as traveler's cheques) must make a written declaration to the Vatican Gendarmerie or to an office authorized by the Supervisory and Financial Information Authority (ASIF). The
declaration form is available on the ASIF website.
• A false, missing or incomplete declaration is fined 10% to 40% of the amount above EUR 10,000, and up to 40% of that amount can be seized. The Gendarmerie may also ask travelers to declare unusual amounts of gold, precious metals or stones.
• Italian rules also require a written declaration to Italian customs of cash of EUR 10,000 or more when entering or leaving Italy.
Prohibited
• Illegal drugs, including cannabis
• Counterfeit goods: bringing counterfeit goods into Italy is punishable under the Criminal Code or, in less serious cases, with administrative fines
• Meat, milk and products made from them (including preparations such as stuffed pasta and pet food) from non-EU countries other than Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland, unless accompanied by a health certificate from the country of origin (limited exceptions apply, see Restricted)
• Commercial import of species seriously threatened with extinction (CITES Appendix I); import of raw ivory is suspended
Restricted
• Firearms, edged weapons and other weapons entering Italy need a permit issued by the authorities of the traveler's place of residence. Without it, the weapon can be left in customs custody until the Italian police (Questura) issues an authorization.
• Food of animal origin allowed from non-EU countries without a certificate: up to 2 kg of powdered infant milk, infant food, special medical food or pet food needed for the pet's health (branded, in intact packaging, not needing refrigeration before opening); up to 20 kg of gutted or processed fish (or one fish, if heavier); up to 2 kg of other products such as honey, live oysters, mussels or snails; caviar up to 125 g per person.
• Plants from non-EU countries need a phytosanitary certificate from the country of origin.
• Endangered species of plants and animals and products made from them (CITES), such as some corals, reptile leather goods, furs and tropical timber, need CITES documents.
• Pets (dogs, cats, ferrets): up to 5 per traveler, at least 3 months old, identified by microchip and vaccinated against rabies (a first vaccination at least 21 days before travel). From an EU country they need an EU pet passport; from a non-EU country an official EU health certificate and, from some countries, a rabies antibody test done 3 months before travel. Pets from non-EU countries may enter Italy only through designated travelers' points of entry.