All About Passports and Visas For Your Italy Vacation
When traveling to Italy there are several
things you must have. The least of these is a passport and maybe even a visa. If this is your first time
traveling out of the US, you will need to apply for a passport. You may also need to apply for a
passport if your old one has expired, is damaged or lost. Applying for a passport may be as simple as a trip
to the post office, but be sure to start early so you can be ready for your Italy vacation. There are stories of
people who have had to cancel vacations because their passport was not ready. You don't want to do this as it
will be very disappointing and also expensive especially if you have reserved an airline ticket or some sort
of package vacation. In fact, it is a good idea to apply for a passport whether you plan to go to Italy or not as
proof of citizenship is now required for entry into Canada and Mexico as well.
The US Department of State asks that you allow six months for them to process your passport
application. Some travelers, however, have found it only took a few weeks for them to receive their
passports. You can apply online, but first-time applicants must apply in person. The main supporting document
required is a valid, original, US birth certificate. Passport applicants are sometimes surprised to find that their
original birth certificate needs to be submitted to the Department of State with a promise of it being mailed back.
Many people tend to be leery of this because they have found how difficult it is to get a replacement birth
certificate. Most report, however, that within a short period of time after receiving their new passports,
their birth certificates arrive in the mail safe and sound. For details on where the 9000 passport application
accepting facilities are and how to apply for a passport for your Italy vacation, you can go to www.travel.state.gov/passport.
If you are a US citizen ,you will not need a visa to go on an Italy vacation. You must, however, show that
your airline ticket includes a return back to the US. If you are planning to travel to Italy for reasons other than
a vacation, the requirements are different and usually stricter. When on vacation in Italy you can stay for a
maximum of 3 months at a time but remember that this is a combined period to include any time spent in several
other European countries. Italy has an embassy in Washington, DC that can process visas for non-US citizens.
They must go to the embassy for personal interviews. If you are going to Italy for a vacation, the prime concern
of the Italian government is that you plan to return to your country. Therefore, they always ask for proof that
you have a full-time job, especially if you are a non-US citizen.
The Department of State recommends that during your Italy vacation you register your presence there with the US
embassy. This is important in case someone needs to contact you for an emergency back home or in case of a disaster
abroad so your whereabouts can be confirmed.
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