Getting a passport

For more info:
travel.state.gov

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How to apply for a passport for a trip to Italy

The passport office in Washington, DC. (No, you don't have to go to the nation's capital to apply—yet; you can do it by mail.)When it comes down to it, you really only need three things to go to Italy: (1) a plane ticket, (2) clothing, and (3) a passport.

A valid passport is the only legal form of identification recognized around the world. Your driver's license ain't gonna cut it out there— abroad, it only proves that some U.S. state lets you drive (though you will need one to rent a car).

You cannot cross an international border without a passport. Well, OK, since 1997 you can criss-cross most of Western Europe without flashing it, but you still need it to get in, plus to go to Great Britain and Ireland (it's an insular thing), Switzerland (it's a neutrality thing), and most of Eastern Europe (it's a holdover-from-the-Iron-Curtain-days thing).

Getting a passport is easy, but it takes some time to complete the process. Make sure you start the paperwork at least six weeks in advance of your departure. It'll probably only take 3-4 weeks (and there are ways to expedite it—for a fee), but don't tempt fate.

Since all the info and forms is now readily available on-line, there's little reason for me to rehash it all here—just go to the excellent State Department website (travel.state.gov) and it'll walk you through the process of applying for a passport. But here are a few pointers:

U.S. consulates in Italy
Whenever you get in serious trouble abroad—like losing a passport—you head for the nearest U.S. Consulate—not the embassy. Embassies are for governmental negotiations; consulates are for helping citizens.

(Note: leave large bags and any electronic devices—cellphone, iPod, cameras, etc.—at your hotel, as they are not allowed inside embassy and consular buidling.)

Rome
Via Vittorio Veneto 121, 00187 Roma
tel. +39-06-46741
uscitizensrome@state.gov
rome.usembassy.gov
Walk-in hours: Mon–Fri 8:30am–12:30pm

Florence
Lungarno Vespucci 38, 50123 Firenze
tel. +39-055-266-951
uscitizensflorence@state.gov
florence.usconsulate.gov
Walk-in hours: Mon–Fri 8:30am–12:30pm

Milan
Via Principe Amedeo 2/10, 20121 Milano
tel. +39-02-290-351
uscitizensmilan@state.gov
milan.usconsulate.gov
Walk-in hours: Mon–Fri 8:30am–noon

Naples
Piazza della Repubblica , 80122 Napoli
tel. +39-081-583-8111
uscitizensnaples@state.gov
naples.usconsulate.gov
Walk-in hours: Mon–Fri 8am–noon

Venice (Consular agency)
Venice Marco Polo Airport
General Aviation Terminal
Viale Galileo Galilei 30, 30030 Tesserra (VE)
tel. +39-041-541-5944
veniceconsularagent@libero.it
Open: by appointment only

Palermo (Consular agency)
Via Vaccarini 1, 90143 Palermo
tel. +39-091-305-857
uscitizenspalermo@state.gov
Open: by appointment only Mon–Fri 9am–12:30pm

Genoa (Consular agency)
Via Dante 2, 16121 Genova
tel. +39-010-584-492
usconsge@libero.it
Open: Mon–Thurs 11am–3pm

For more info: usembassy.state.gov You'll need two identical passport-size photos (2" X 2"), which you can have taken at any photo shop. You cannot use the strip photos from one of those photo vending machines. Get six to eight total made up. You'll need extras to apply for an International Driving Permit and student or teacher identification cards. Take the rest with you. You'll occasionally need one for random reasons on the road and—heaven forbid—if you ever lose your passport, you can use one as a replacement photo.
Make three photocopies of your passport (the open page with all the personal data, not the cover). This is the main item on your backup info sheet (along with other IDs, the numbers to call if you lose your credit cards, etc.). Keep one copy with you at all times—seperate from the original—another copy hidden in your bag somewhere, and leave the third copy at home with a trusted friend or neighbor who can fax it to you in case of emergency.
Keep your passport with you at all times securely in your money belt. The only times to give it up are at the bank for the tellers to photocopy when they change your traveler's checks, at borders for the guards to peruse (this includes giving it to the conductor on overnight train rides), when any police or military personnel ask for it, and briefly to the concierge when you're checking into your hotel (see next).
Hotel front desks will often want to keep your passport overnight. They have to register you with the police, and they like to pile all the passports in a drawer until the evening so they can do all the guests' slips at once. Smile and ask politely whether they can do their paperwork on the spot or at least let you come by in 15 minutes or so, after you check into your room, freshen up, and are on your way out to hit the town. I always tell them I need it to go exchange money at the bank, whether that's actually my plan or not.
If you lose your passport on the road, go directly to the nearest U.S. consulate (do not pass go, do not collect $200). Bring all forms of identification you have, and they'll get started on generating you a new passport. Needless to say, this is a hassle that should be avoided at all costs. I've listed Italy's consulates and consular agencies to the right; get updated information on them at usembassy.state.gov.

Visa—More than Just a Credit Card

A visa is an official stamp or piece of paper granting a foreign national the right to enter a country. (It comes from the French, visée, because back in the day it meant that an official had "looked" over your travel and identification documents—precursors to passports).

A valid passport is the only documentation an American needs to visit Italy (or any other Western European country for that matter). Your passport will be stamped wherever you enter Europe with a temporary tourist visa that's good for 90 days of travel within the E.U.

If you plan to stay in Italy longer that 90 days, contact that country's consulate in the United States before you leave to get a specific visa, or any U.S. consulate once you are abroad. In practice, they usually don’t care if tourists spend five, six, seven months here.

I've routinely gone over for more than 90 days (on one memorable occasion, for about 18 months) and no one ever questioned me about it. Yes, technically that means I've been an illegal immigrant in Europe many times over, but, well, there you go.

How to find consulates and embassies in Italy

US State Department (travel.state.gov) - This Web site is the best thing the government has ever done for travelers. You can download passport applications, research potential visa requirements, read consular fact sheets and travel warnings on the countries you wish to visit, and find out all about the services available to US citizens abroad. Great set of links to other governmental and non-governmental travel sites, too.

Embassy World (www.embassyworld.com) - A nifty little Web site that links you to every embassy and consulate Web site out there, so an Aussie can find not only the Australian consulate in Rome, Italy, but also Italy's consulate in Canberra so he can ring up about visa requirements.

U.S. Embassies (usembassy.state.gov)- Direct links to individual US Embassy Web sites around the globe.

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