What is needed to enter and stay in Italy? 7
o Official Participants
These are the States and international intergovernmental organizations that have received and accepted the official
invitation from the Italian Government to take part in Expo Milan 2015.
o Commissioner General of Section
The Commissioner General of Section is the representative appointed by each State or by each international
intergovernmental organization taking part in Expo Milan 2015. The Commissioner may be joined by a Deputy General
Commissioner.
o Unofficial Participants
This term connotes every national or foreign juridical entity authorized by the General Commissioner of Expo Milan
2015 to take part outside the Sections of the Official Participants. In particular, local public administrations, companies,
and civil society organizations may be Unofficial Participants.
o Directors of Unofficial Participants
The Director is the representative appointed by each Unofficial Participant at Expo Milano 2015.
3. What is needed to enter and stay in Italy?
3.1. What is a visa?
The entry “visa” is an authorization issued by an EU Member State, necessary for the purposes of transiting or staying
in the Member States’ territory. This authorization is to be requested at the Italian diplomatic and consular representation
in the foreign national’s place of stable residence. The visa may be short- or long-term.
For all additional information on entry visas, visit http://www.esteri.it/visti/.
3.2. What is a permit of stay?
The permit of stay (“permesso di soggiorno”) is the document authorizing the foreign national that has lawfully entered
Italy to stay in the State’s territory for the period provided for in the entry visa. The issuance of the permit is to be
requested at the police station (“Questura”) by no later than 8 work working days after entry into national territory.
Therefore, to enter Italy lawfully, it is necessary to hold an entry vista, while to stay lawfully on national territory after
entry, it is necessary to apply for a permit of stay.
For further information on permits of stay, visit http://www.poliziadistato.it/articolo/1076-stranieri/.