San Marino (SM)
A compact, high-income microstate entirely surrounded by Italy, known for low taxes, strong public administration, hilltop heritage, cross-border dependence on Italy and a small but rules-heavy residence system.
Visa & Immigration
Entry and residence options for San Marino.
✈️ Visa-Free Access
San Marino has no separate border entry for normal visitors because access is through Italy. Travellers must satisfy Schengen/Italian entry rules; many visa-exempt nationals can visit the Schengen area and San Marino up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
The souvenir passport stamp from the tourist office is not your immigration entry stamp. Your lawful entry is through Italy/Schengen and local registration/permit rules.
Short tourist/business stay through Schengen
Visa-exempt travellers or Schengen visa holders entering via Italy.
At Schengen border or consular visa process
- ✓Passport
- ✓Schengen visa if required
- ✓Italian/Schengen entry compliance
- ✓Funds
- ✓Insurance recommended
Permit of stay
Visitors staying more than 30 days or planning to work.
Days to weeks
- ✓Passport
- ✓Purpose proof
- ✓Address
- ✓Insurance
- ✓Schengen access proof
Registered residence permit
Family reunification with a Sammarinese citizen, business establishment, management roles and other qualifying categories.
Weeks to months
- ✓Civil/status documents
- ✓Housing
- ✓Income/business proof
- ✓Health insurance where required
- ✓Clean record
Elective residence
Foreigners making and maintaining qualifying property or financial investments.
Months
- ✓Property or financial investment
- ✓Health insurance
- ✓No public-sector employment
- ✓No state contributions
- ✓Income/source-of-funds proof
Atypical residence with facilitated tax regime
Foreigners taking up abode in San Marino with foreign-source income and no prior tax residence/final residence history.
Months
- ✓Foreign income proof
- ✓Health insurance
- ✓No state contributions
- ✓No overall public-sector employment
- ✓Tax compliance
Pensioners atypical residence
Qualifying pensioners from EU countries, Switzerland and listed states with foreign pension income.
Months
- ✓Pension/income proof
- ✓Health insurance
- ✓Clean record
- ✓Housing
- ✓No prior resident status
Work permit / special stay for work
Foreigners with a San Marino employer and category/quota-compliant role.
Weeks
- ✓Employment contract
- ✓Employer filing
- ✓Passport
- ✓Address
- ✓Police/criminal records where required
- ✓Health insurance/ISS process
No dedicated digital nomad visa
Digital NomadRemote workers must use a lawful visitor, elective, atypical, business or work-compatible route.
Route-specific
- ✓Tax residence analysis
- ✓Health insurance
- ✓No unauthorised local work
- ✓Banking/source-of-funds proof
Visa & Immigration
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