Requirements for Emiratis

Italy welcomes millions of visitors each year. The Italian and European authorities have agreements in place with several countries around the world, including the UAE, to allow visa-free entry into the area.

However, the Schengen countries are implementing new ways to ensure better security at their external borders and smoother document check processes at their points of entry. With these objectives in mind, the European Union has designed a new electronic authorisation system (ETIAS) to keep track of non-EU citizens who enter the Schengen area without a visa.

ETIAS is a simple online registration process that will be needed in 2026 by all third-country citizens who wish to visit one or more Schengen nations.

UAE passport holders are eligible to get an ETIAS to visit Italy and 29 other European countries as off 2026.

The visa exemption agreement between the Emirates and Italy will remain in place. What will change is that UAE visitors will need to fill out the ETIAS online application before boarding their flight to Italy.

The ETIAS Italy requirements for Emiratis are:

UAE travellers only need a few documents to request an ETIAS for Italy online.

Besides the completed application form, visitors must provide an Emirati passport that is valid for at least 3 months after the intended date of departure from Italy. The document must be the same that will be used to cross the Italian border since the ETIAS authorization and the passport are directly linked.

Should the passport expire before the approved ETIAS does, a new application will need to be submitted with a new and valid passport.

Visitors will also need a debit or credit card that is authorized for online purchases in order to pay the application fee. The ETIAS request will not be processed until the fee is paid.