Vatican City (VA)

Valid passport required for all non-Vatican-citizen workers. Keep the original and carry a certified copy day-to-day. Vatican City does not issue entry visas — access to Vatican territory for residents is controlled by the Gendarmerie through identity verification.

The official appointment letter from the Holy See or relevant Vatican dicastery is the foundational document establishing your status as a Vatican worker. Required for all Vatican identity documents and access rights.

Issued by the Governorate of Vatican City State to all employees and residents. Your primary identity document within Vatican territory. Required to enter restricted areas including Apostolic Palace, Vatican Gardens, and employee facilities.

Required for Vatican employment records, family benefit applications, and if applying for Vatican citizenship status. Must be officially translated into Italian if not already.

Required for family members to obtain Vatican dependent identity cards and access to employee benefits (pharmacy, supermarket, canteen subsidies). Church marriage certificate accepted; civil marriage certificate also accepted.

Required for dependent children to receive Vatican identity cards granting access to employee facilities and any applicable family allowances.

Italy issues tax codes to all residents of the Lazio region including those living in Vatican City. Required for any interaction with Italian services — banking, mobile contracts, health registration, utilities in Rome. Obtain from the Agenzia delle Entrate (Italian Revenue Agency).

Vatican City is not EU territory. Non-Italian, non-EU nationals working in Vatican City typically hold an Italian sojourn permit (permesso di soggiorno) for work, or enter via the Schengen area. EU/EEA nationals register their residence in Rome. This gives access to Italian SSN health services.

For clergy assigned to Vatican City, ordination records and documents from the home diocese or religious order are required by the relevant dicastery.

Swiss Guard candidates must provide Swiss military discharge certificate, Swiss passport, certificate of Swiss Catholic faith, criminal record clearance, and physical fitness documentation. All submitted to the Pontifical Swiss Guard command.

For lay professionals (doctors, architects, engineers, lawyers, academics) employed by the Holy See. Must be translated into Italian and evaluated by the Vatican dicastery or Governorate department concerned.

Vatican employee health records are maintained by the Vatican Health and Hygiene Directorate. Bring vaccination records, prior medical history, and any specialist letters from home country on arrival.

Pets in Vatican City housing follow Italian EU pet passport regulations: microchip, rabies vaccination, EU pet passport or third-country health certificate. Italian customs apply at the Rome entry point.