United Kingdom
Italy
Italy visa for British citizens
Entry requirement
Italy admits British citizens without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
- Maximum stay
- 90 days
- Where to apply
- Nothing to apply for in advance
Checked 31 October 2026 · Passport Index · Confirm at amblondra.esteri.it
For longer stays: study, work and residence
Italy: visa decisions in the United Kingdom
| Year | Applications | Visas issued | Refused | Refusal rate | Multiple-entry share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 19,002 | 17,286 | 1,714 | 9.0% | 79.2% |
| 2024 | 15,901 | 14,946 | 954 | 6.0% | 86.7% |
| 2025 | 18,956 | 17,812 | 1,144 | 6.0% | 90.2% |
In 2025, Italy’s embassy and consulates in the United Kingdom (London) received 18,956 applications for short-stay Schengen visas and issued 17,812. 6.0% of applications were refused. In 2024 the rate was much the same, 6.0%. Applications rose by 19% compared with 2024 (15,901).
For comparison, all Schengen states together refused 10.5% of the applications lodged in the United Kingdom that year, from 1.0% at the consulates of the Netherlands to 32.0% at those of Iceland. Italy’s consulates worldwide refused 10.8%. Italy was the 7th most applied-for Schengen state in the United Kingdom.
You apply to the Schengen state that is your main destination (the longest stay or the main purpose; the state of first entry only when there is none), so a lower rate elsewhere is no reason to apply there. The figures cover applications lodged in the United Kingdom, by any nationality: mostly citizens, but also residents from other countries.
Source: European Commission, Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates 2023–2025 (© European Union, reused under CC BY 4.0). Short-stay (type C) visas. How these figures are made
Italian citizens travelling to the United Kingdom
ItalyUnited Kingdom Electronic travel authorisation (ETA) United Kingdom visa for citizens of Italy
Travel advice for Italy
- US State Department Level 2: Exercise increased caution
- UK Foreign Office (FCDO) No advice against travel
- German Foreign Office No travel warning
What the US, British and German foreign ministries tell their own citizens about travelling there, in each ministry’s own terms.
Before travelling from the United Kingdom to Italy, it helps to know the official travel advice: the US State Department rates Italy at Level 2, exercise increased caution (updated 9 September 2026), the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office does not advise against travel to Italy (updated 29 October 2026) and the German Foreign Office has no travel warning for Italy (updated 23 October 2026). The advice is aimed at each government’s own nationals.
Good to know
How long British citizens can stay in Italy
British citizens may stay in Italy for up to 90 days. Days in Italy count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period across all member states.
Italy and the Schengen area
Visa-free stays of British citizens in Italy count towards the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180-day period, shared with every other member state.
Italy’s neighbours for British citizens
Switzerland, the Holy See, Slovenia, San Marino, France and Austria admit British citizens visa-free.
Italian citizens travelling to the United Kingdom
Before flying to the United Kingdom, Italian citizens must obtain an ETA online; stays of up to 180 days are allowed.
Frequently asked questions
Do British citizens need a visa for Italy?
Italy admits British citizens without a visa for stays of up to 90 days.
How long can British citizens stay in Italy?
British citizens can stay in Italy for up to 90 days, within the Schengen limit of 90 days in any 180.
Do Italian citizens need a visa for the United Kingdom?
Before flying to the United Kingdom, Italian citizens must obtain an ETA online; stays of up to 180 days are allowed.
Can British citizens enter Italy visa-free?
Yes, British citizens can enter Italy without a visa and stay for up to 90 days.
Visa data: Passport Index via passport-index-data, as of 31 October 2026. Rules change, sometimes overnight. Confirm with the embassy or the official government portal before you book.