Home  ›  Vatican  ›  United States
Visa requirements · updated Jul 2026

Do Vatican citizens need a visa for United States?

Visa required

Vatican citizens need a visa to enter United States. Apply in advance at an embassy or visa centre.

VISAXSJul 2026
Visa required
Vatican → United States
Embassyapply

Everything for your trip to United States

Partner links — we may earn a commission at no cost to you.

Vatican vs United States: passport comparison

Vatican

95

visa-free countries

Global rank: #60 · mobility 148.1

United States

116

visa-free countries

Global rank: #40 · mobility 166.1
91

countries both Vatican and United States can enter visa-free together

Vatican + United States: passport compatibility

78%

of the world — where both passports have the same visa access

Where Vatican and United States travel together — by entry type:

91 both visa-free
26 both visa on arrival
23 both e-visa / eTA
14 both need a visa
43 access differs

Where Vatican and United States can travel visa-free together

Travelling as a pair with two different passports? Here is the full list of countries where BOTH of you can enter without a prior visa — plus where your access differs.

Both visa-free (91)

Sort by max stay or the destination's passport strength (tap a header), and filter by region.

Country Max stay Passport rank
Albania 90 days #91
Andorra 90 days #47
Angola 30 days #168
Antigua and Barbuda 180 days #61
Argentina 90 days #44
Armenia 180 days #129
Austria 90 days #13
Bahamas 90 days #53
Belgium 90 days #6
Belize 90 days #99
Bosnia and Herzegovina 90 days #88
Botswana 90 days #119
Brazil 90 days #43
Bulgaria 90 days #35
Cape Verde 30 days #136
Chile 90 days #45
Colombia 90 days #74
Costa Rica 180 days #62
Croatia 90 days #22
Cyprus 90 days #36
Czech Republic 90 days #25
Denmark 90 days #11
Dominica 21 days #70
Dominican Republic 90 days #124
Ecuador 90 days #104
El Salvador 180 days #75
Estonia 90 days #26
Fiji 120 days #103
Finland 90 days #3
France 90 days #4
Georgia 360 days #83
Germany 90 days #7
Greece 90 days #17
Grenada 90 days #65
Guatemala 90 days #73
Haiti 90 days #175
Honduras 90 days #78
Hong Kong 14 days #46
Hungary 90 days #21
Iceland 90 days #38
Ireland 90 days #18
Israel 90 days #51
Italy 90 days #8
Kazakhstan 30 days #116
Kosovo 90 days #107
Kyrgyzstan 30 days #134
Latvia 90 days #34
Liechtenstein 90 days #39
Lithuania 90 days #37
Luxembourg 90 days #9
Malaysia 30 days #41
Malta 90 days #29
Mauritius 90 days #66
Micronesia 30 days #89
Moldova 90 days #92
Monaco 90 days #42
Montenegro 90 days #76
Netherlands 90 days #10
Nicaragua 90 days #86
North Macedonia 90 days #82
Norway 90 days #15
Palestine 90 days #193
Panama 90 days #68
Peru 180 days #57
Philippines 30 days #128
Poland 90 days #19
Portugal 90 days #14
Romania 90 days #33
Saint Kitts and Nevis 90 days #54
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 90 days #56
San Marino 90 days #49
Sao Tome and Principe 15 days #151
Serbia 90 days #72
Seychelles 90 days #58
Singapore 30 days #12
Slovakia 90 days #23
Slovenia 90 days #30
South Korea 30 days #20
Spain 90 days #2
Swaziland 30 days #120
Sweden 90 days #5
Switzerland 90 days #16
Taiwan 90 days #79
Tajikistan 30 days #149
Tunisia 90 days #131
Turkey 90 days #94
Ukraine 90 days #59
United Arab Emirates 30 days #1
Uruguay 90 days #50
Uzbekistan 30 days #142
Vanuatu 120 days #105

Only Vatican is visa-free (4)

US visa refusals for Vatican citizens

The US State Department publishes the refusal rate for B visas (tourism and business) separately for each nationality. We took the two most recent fiscal years — so you see not just the level, but which way it is moving.

0.0%
of B-visa applications from Vatican citizens were refused in FY2025
-31.3 pp below the all-country median (31.3%) — refused less often
0.0 pp year-over-year: FY2024 was 0.0%, now 0.0%
#197strictest of 197 countries
141of 197 countries saw refusals rise year-over-year

The “adjusted” refusal rate follows the State Department methodology used for the Visa Waiver Program: it covers B-1/B-2 visas (tourism and business) and no other categories. For countries with few applicants the percentage swings between years — an artefact of small numbers, not of policy. The median and rank are our own calculations on top of the official figures. Source: U.S. Department of State  ·  All countries →

How the entry rule changed: Vatican → United States

We keep our own archive of visa-rule snapshots and diff them against each other. Here is what changed over the observed period.

The Vatican → United States rule itself held steady over the observed period. The context around it did move:

0passports gained easier entry to United States
1passports saw United States tighten its rules
1rule changes for the Vatican passport, 1 of them easing
July 2024 — June 2026our archive observation window

Comparison is built from our own dataset snapshots; the date marks when we recorded the change, not the official decision date. See all changes →

United States: good to know

Washington, D.C.

Capital

US Dollar (USD)

Currency

Eastern Time (UTC-5)

Time zone

+1

Calling code

A, B

Power plug

120V / 60Hz

Voltage

Right-hand

Driving side

Where else Vatican goes visa-free

Check another route

Documents you'll usually need for United States

The usual basics for the trip. Always confirm exact requirements with the embassy or consulate.

Valid passport

Valid at least 6 more months

Return / onward ticket

Proof you will leave the country

Proof of funds

Enough money for your stay

Accommodation

Hotel booking or an invitation

Travel insurance

Recommended, sometimes required

Visa

Obtained at the embassy in advance

Frequently asked

Do Vatican citizens need a visa for United States?
Vatican citizens need a visa to enter United States. Apply in advance at an embassy or visa centre.
Which passport is stronger — Vatican or United States?
The United States passport is stronger: 116 visa-free countries versus 95. Global rank: Vatican #60, United States #40.
Where can Vatican and United States citizens travel together visa-free?
Both passports get visa-free access to 91 of the same countries.
What documents do I need for United States?
Usually: a valid passport (6+ months), a return ticket, proof of funds and accommodation. Plus a visa obtained from the embassy in advance. Always confirm exact requirements with the embassy.
Can visa requirements change between Vatican and United States?
Yes, visa rules change periodically. This data is current as of Jul 2026 — always confirm with the embassy before you travel.

Vatican passport ranking

Where else the Vatican passport can take you and how it ranks worldwide.

View the passport