Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Legal residents of one Schengen country do not require a visa for another. Residents of
28 non-EU countries, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand and
the USA, do not require visas for tourist visits of up to 90 days (this list varies for those
wanting to travel to the UK and Ireland).
All non-EU and non-Schengen nationals entering Italy for more than 90 days, or for
any reason other than tourism (such as study or work) may need a specific visa. For de-
tails, visit
www.esteri.it/visti/home_eng.asp
or contact an Italian consulate. You should
also have your passport stamped on entry as, without a stamp, you could encounter prob-
lems when trying to obtain a residence permit
(permesso di soggiorno)
. If you enter the
EU via another member state, get your passport stamped there.
Study Visas
Non-EU citizens who want to study at a university or language school in Italy must have a
study visa. These can be obtained from your nearest Italian embassy or consulate. You
will normally require confirmation of your enrolment, and proof of payment of fees and
adequate funds to support yourself. The visa covers only the period of the enrolment. This
type of visa is renewable within Italy but, again, only with confirmation of ongoing enrol-
ment and proof that you are able to support yourself (bank statements are preferred).
Women Travellers
The most common source of discomfort for solo women in Italy is harassment. Local men
are rarely shy about staring at women, especially if the staring is accompanied by the oc-
casional '
ciao bella
'. Usually the best response is to ignore them. If that doesn't work,
politely say you're waiting for your
marito
(husband) or
fidanzato
(boyfriend) and, if ne-
cessary, walk away. Avoid becoming aggressive as this may result in an unpleasant con-
frontation. If all else fails, approach the nearest member of the police.
Watch out for men with wandering hands on crowded buses. Keep your back to the wall
or make a loud fuss if someone starts fondling your behind. A loud '
Che schifo!
' (How
disgusting!) will usually do the trick. If a more serious incident occurs, report it to the po-
lice, who are then required to press charges.
Women travelling alone should use their common sense. Avoid solo hitchhiking or
walking alone in dark streets, and look for hotels that are central (unsafe areas are noted in
this topic). In Naples, solo women should be especially vigilant in the Mercato, Quartieri
Spagnoli and La Sanità districts after dark.
