Visiting & Living in Italy

Americans staying in Italy over three months are encouraged to register with the Consulates. See the "Travel Information" webpage for information.

Americans in Italy are considered either a "non-resident" or a "resident."
Each of these classifications carries a different set of privileges and responsibilities:

NON-RESIDENT

Americans staying or traveling within Italy for less than three (3) months are considered non-residents. This includes persons on vacation, those taking professional trips, students registered at an authorized school, or persons performing research or independent study.

As of May 28, 2007, under Italian law ( http://www.camera.it/parlam/leggi/07068l.htm ), all non-residents are required to complete a dichiarazione di presenza (declaration of presence). Tourists arriving from a non-Schengen-country (e.g. the United States) should obtain a stamp in their passport at the airport on the day of arrival. This stamp is considered the equivalent of the declaration of presence. Tourists arriving from a Schengen-country (e.g. France) must request the declaration of presence form from a local police office (commissariato di zona), police headquarters (questura) or their place of stay (e.g hotel, hostel, campgrounds) and submit the form to the police or to their place of stay within eight business days of arrival. It is important that applicants keep a copy of the receipt issued by the Italian authorities. Failure to complete a declaration of presence is punishable by expulsion from Italy. Additional information may be obtained (in Italian only) from the  Portale Immigraziome at: http://www.portaleimmigrazione.it and the Polizia di Stato (in English) at http://www.poliziadistato.it/articolo/10617

Tourists may bring motor vehicles bearing non-Italian license plates for no longer than six (6) months without paying customs duties. At the expiration of this period the motor vehicle must be re-exported or registered and Italian license plates obtained. If it is not registered, the violator can be charged with smuggling and is subject to penalties.

*taken from: http://italy.usembassy.gov/acs/general-visiting.asp