According to the Global Citizen Solutions Global Passport Index, an Italian passport will provide visa-free access to 121 destinations in 2025, making it one of the world’s most powerful passports. Visa-free access includes countries such as Belgium, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, China, the United States, and Peru. However, some destinations may still require an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) or a visa on arrival.

This guide provides a detailed breakdown of the power of the Italian passport and the many countries it provides visa-free access to. This is what to expect.

The Power of an Italian Passport

The Italian passport is one of the most powerful in the world. Global Citizen Solutions (GCS) ranks it 23rd on the Global Passport Index, offering visa-free access to 121 countries. The GCS Passport Index not only measures travel freedom but also provides a broader view of your passport’s value. Italy ranks 6th on the Enhanced Mobility Index, 49th on the Investment Index for economic strength, and 25th on the Quality of Life Index, which considers aspects like healthcare, education, and personal safety.

Italy Italy Passport Rankings
23rd
Global Passport Index
8th
Enhanced Mobility Index
49th
Investment Index
25th
Quality of Living Index

121 Italian Passport Visa-Free Countries

Italian passport holders can travel easily with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 121 countries, including Belgium, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, China, the United States, and Peru. This makes it a great passport that also makes international travel almost effortless.

AndorraAndorra
United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates
Antigua and BarbudaAntigua and Barbuda
AlbaniaAlbania
ArmeniaArmenia
AngolaAngola
ArgentinaArgentina
AustriaAustria
Bosnia and HerzegovinaBosnia and Herzegovina
BarbadosBarbados
BelgiumBelgium
BulgariaBulgaria
BruneiBrunei
BoliviaBolivia
BrazilBrazil
BahamasBahamas
BotswanaBotswana
BelarusBelarus
BelizeBelize
CanadaCanada
SwitzerlandSwitzerland
ChileChile
ChinaChina
ColombiaColombia
Costa RicaCosta Rica
Cape VerdeCape Verde
CyprusCyprus
CzechiaCzechia
GermanyGermany
DenmarkDenmark
DominicaDominica
Dominican RepublicDominican Republic
EcuadorEcuador
EstoniaEstonia
SpainSpain
FinlandFinland
FijiFiji
Federated States of MicronesiaFederated States of Micronesia
FranceFrance
GrenadaGrenada
GeorgiaGeorgia
GambiaGambia
GreeceGreece
GuatemalaGuatemala
GuyanaGuyana
HondurasHonduras
CroatiaCroatia
HaitiHaiti
HungaryHungary
IrelandIreland
IcelandIceland
JamaicaJamaica
JapanJapan
KyrgyzstanKyrgyzstan
KiribatiKiribati
Saint Kitts and NevisSaint Kitts and Nevis
South KoreaSouth Korea
KazakhstanKazakhstan
Saint LuciaSaint Lucia
LiechtensteinLiechtenstein
LesothoLesotho
LithuaniaLithuania
LuxembourgLuxembourg
LatviaLatvia
MoroccoMorocco
MoldovaMoldova
MontenegroMontenegro
North MacedoniaNorth Macedonia
MongoliaMongolia
MaltaMalta
MauritiusMauritius
MalawiMalawi
MexicoMexico
MalaysiaMalaysia
MozambiqueMozambique
NicaraguaNicaragua
NetherlandsNetherlands
NorwayNorway
PanamaPanama
PeruPeru
PhilippinesPhilippines
PolandPoland
PortugalPortugal
PalauPalau
ParaguayParaguay
RomaniaRomania
SerbiaSerbia
Solomon IslandsSolomon Islands
SwedenSweden
SingaporeSingapore
SloveniaSlovenia
SlovakiaSlovakia
San MarinoSan Marino
SenegalSenegal
Sao Tome and PrincipeSao Tome and Principe
El SalvadorEl Salvador
EswatiniEswatini
ThailandThailand
TajikistanTajikistan
East TimorEast Timor
TunisiaTunisia
TongaTonga
TurkeyTurkey
Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago
TaiwanTaiwan
UkraineUkraine
United StatesUnited States
UruguayUruguay
UzbekistanUzbekistan
Saint Vincent and the GrenadinesSaint Vincent and the Grenadines
VenezuelaVenezuela
VietnamVietnam
VanuatuVanuatu
SamoaSamoa
South AfricaSouth Africa
ZambiaZambia

Italy Passport Free Visa Countries

Hong KongHong Kong
MonacoMonaco
MacauMacau
PalestinePalestine
KosovoKosovo

Italian Passport Visa on Arrival Countries

BangladeshBangladesh
AlgeriaAlgeria
EritreaEritrea
Guinea-BissauGuinea-Bissau
IndonesiaIndonesia
ComorosComoros
LebanonLebanon
Marshall IslandsMarshall Islands
MaldivesMaldives
NamibiaNamibia
QatarQatar
TuvaluTuvalu
ZimbabweZimbabwe

eTA Countries for Italian Passport

AustraliaAustralia
United KingdomUnited Kingdom
IsraelIsrael
KenyaKenya
Sri LankaSri Lanka
New ZealandNew Zealand
SeychellesSeychelles

Countries Where Italian Passport Holders Need a Visa

AzerbaijanAzerbaijan
Burkina FasoBurkina Faso
BahrainBahrain
BurundiBurundi
BeninBenin
BhutanBhutan
Democratic Republic of the CongoDemocratic Republic of the Congo
Ivory CoastIvory Coast
CameroonCameroon
CubaCuba
DjiboutiDjibouti
EgyptEgypt
EthiopiaEthiopia
GabonGabon
GuineaGuinea
Equatorial GuineaEquatorial Guinea
IndiaIndia
IraqIraq
IranIran
JordanJordan
CambodiaCambodia
KuwaitKuwait
LaosLaos
LibyaLibya
MadagascarMadagascar
MyanmarMyanmar
MauritaniaMauritania
NigeriaNigeria
NepalNepal
OmanOman
Papua New GuineaPapua New Guinea
PakistanPakistan
RussiaRussia
RwandaRwanda
Saudi ArabiaSaudi Arabia
Sierra LeoneSierra Leone
SomaliaSomalia
SurinameSuriname
South SudanSouth Sudan
SyriaSyria
TogoTogo
TanzaniaTanzania
UgandaUganda

How can Italian citizens apply for a visa?

As highlighted, Italian citizens hold one of the strongest passports in the world, giving them visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to over 129 countries. The way they apply for a visa depends on the destination country’s rules:

  • Visa-free entry – No application is needed; just a valid Italian passport.
  • Visa on arrival – Apply directly at the border by filling out forms and paying the fee.
  • Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA/ESTA/eVisitor) – Apply online before departure, usually a quick process.
  • Standard visa: Apply at the embassy/consulate or online. This visa is required mainly for longer stays, work, or study.

General visa application process for Italian citizens (when a visa is required):

  1. Check entry requirements for the destination (visa-free, visa on arrival, eTA, or standard visa).
  2. Prepare documents – valid passport, photos, travel plans, proof of funds, and insurance.
  3. Submit application – online, at the consulate, or upon arrival (for visa on arrival).
  4. Pay the fee (varies by country and visa type).
  5. Biometrics/Interview – only if required by the destination.
  6. Receive approval for a visa, eTA, or entry stamp, depending on the case.
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How to get an Italian passport

To get an Italian passport, there are several possible routes. Italian citizenship by Descent allows individuals with Italian parents or grandparents to claim citizenship directly. Foreign nationals can pursue citizenship through long-term residency, starting with permits like the Italy Golden Visa, the Italy Digital Nomad Visa, or the Italy Elective Residence Visa; these visas can lead to permanent residence and, eventually, citizenship after meeting residency requirements. Citizenship is also possible through marriage to an Italian citizen or naturalization after a long-term legal stay in Italy. Each route has its own requirements and timelines, but can ultimately make you eligible for an Italian passport.