VisaForeign visitors to San Marino need a permit to stay beyond 30 days
The local stay-permit deadline is separate from Schengen entry arrangements. A current guide explains the application file, charges and relevant border distinctions.
Official source date: 2026-11-02
Edited and checked by the VisaWand editorial team
Apply locally within the first 30 days for a longer stay
San Marino’s Foreign Affairs Department says foreign nationals staying beyond 30 days must hold a stay permit or residence permission. Those planning a longer stay must apply personally to the Gendarmerie’s Foreigners’ Office within that 30-day period. This guide, checked on 2 November, concerns visitor preparation rather than a newly announced extension of permitted stays.
The department also explains that reaching San Marino requires transit through the Schengen area. Visitors must arrange the necessary Schengen entry and transit authorisations before departure, consulting the embassy or consulate in their place of habitual residence. A journey through Italy and permission to remain in San Marino therefore involve distinct requirements. Use the department’s visitor-information page to identify the local application deadline and its contact for procedural assistance. Do not calculate a longer local stay solely from an allowance quoted for Schengen tourism.
Prepare the tourist stay-permit documents and revenue stamps
The official tourist stay-permit checklist requires a valid identity or passport copy, four ICAO-format identity photographs and the relevant invitation or evidence guaranteeing means of support. It also identifies a hospitality declaration signed at the Foreigners’ Office and healthcare-cover documentation validated through the relevant benefits office. The checklist describes recognised healthcare cover and an insurance option with minimum annual cover of EUR 30,000; obtain confirmation that the proposed evidence covers the required risks in San Marino.
The published charges are EUR 50 on application and EUR 30 when collecting the permit, paid in revenue stamps purchased before attending the office. The checklist provides the Foreigners’ Office contact for arranging an appointment. Documents must be in Italian, accompanied by the specified sworn Italian translation, or supplied in an accepted multilingual format. Required certificates generally must have been issued within six months, although newer evidence can be requested. Foreign certificates, other than those from Italy, need legalisation or apostille. Use this checklist to prepare the local file; its document and payment requirements are separate from those of a Schengen consulate.
Check the Schengen visa category and filing window separately
The European Commission says nationals of specified non-EU countries need a Schengen short-stay visa, while exceptions depend on nationality and circumstances. Its application page links the official nationality list and country-specific resources, including Italy’s visa service. Establish the appropriate entry requirements for the passport being used and explain the full San Marino itinerary to the consulate when seeking guidance about the journey through Italy.
The Commission lists a standard EUR 90 adult visa charge and EUR 45 for children aged six to twelve, with particular reduced rates and exemptions. Applications must be lodged at least 15 days before the journey and no more than six months ahead. The normal decision period is 15 days, potentially extending to 45 when further examination is needed. Supporting documents include the application, passport, photograph, medical insurance and evidence of purpose, accommodation, funds and intended return. Use this official page for visa preparation and the competent consulate for the actual itinerary. A San Marino stay permit should not be assumed to authorise a further entry into the Schengen area or replace an expired visa.
The EES exemption for San Marino citizens is nationality-specific
In its 30 April 2026 notice, San Marino’s Foreign Affairs Department confirmed that the EU Entry/Exit System does not apply to San Marino citizens holding a San Marino passport. The notice says the system became fully operational on 10 April and records short-stay crossings of the external Schengen border by third-country nationals, including travellers who require a visa and those travelling visa-free. The announcement is cited here as existing guidance, not as news first issued in November.
The stated citizen-passport exemption should not be extended automatically to a foreign tourist because the destination or accommodation is in San Marino. Establish which passport and immigration status will be presented at the relevant external border. The department’s notice links the EU exemption guidance for that check. The local 30-day application requirement remains a separate planning issue. Retain the travel and permit documents needed to explain the itinerary and obtain official advice before assuming that an entry record, tourist booking or local application settles every stage of the journey.
