Vatican City: what to see and whether to move there

Can you move to the Vatican

No. Vatican citizenship cannot be bought, obtained by marriage or after years of residence: it is granted only by office - to cardinals working in Rome, diplomats of the Holy See, some staff and Swiss Guards during their service. In 2024 there were about 673 citizens among roughly 800 residents. Citizenship is temporary: when the office ends, it is lost by the person and their family members, and only the Pope keeps it for life. So those who want to live near the Vatican move to Rome.

How to visit the Vatican

Entry to St Peter's Basilica is free, with a separate fee for climbing the dome. A ticket to the Vatican Museums with the Sistine Chapel costs €20 in 2026 plus €5 for online booking, about $29, and it is best booked ahead: summer queues stretch for hours. Shoulders and knees must be covered to enter the basilica and museums, and this applies to men too. On Wednesdays the Pope holds a general audience in the square with free tickets, and on Sundays at noon he leads a prayer from a window of the Apostolic Palace.

Getting there and how much time to allow

The nearest metro stations are Ottaviano and Cipro on line A, and there is also Roma San Pietro railway station near the basilica. There is no border control between Rome and the Vatican, so a visa or right of entry to Italy is enough. Allow 3-4 hours for the museums with the Sistine Chapel and another 2 hours for the basilica with the dome climb. The quietest times are early morning and close to closing.

Where to live near the Vatican

• Prati - a respectable district north of the Vatican with wide streets, shops and the metro, popular with families and foreigners.
• Borgo - old lanes right by the Vatican walls, many tourists.
• Trastevere - a colourful district with restaurants and nightlife across the river.
• Monteverde - a quiet green hill above Trastevere with city views.
• Aurelio - a residential district to the west, cheaper than Prati.

What it costs to live in Rome

Prices come from two independent 2026 price databases, with euros converted at the European Central Bank rate of 5 October 2026. A square metre in the centre costs about $8,270-8,630.

How to move to Rome

Remote workers can use the digital nomad visa: income from €28,000 a year, a degree or 5 years of experience, at least 6 months of remote work and insurance, with a one-year renewable residence permit. The investor residence programme from €250,000 is suspended for citizens of Russia and Belarus. People also move for work, study or family reunification. Citizenship is generally granted after 10 years of residence. More on the Italy digital nomad visa and Italy residence by investment pages.

Buying and renting in Rome

Foreigners buy homes in Italy freely. From a private seller, registration tax is paid on the cadastral value, which is usually below market value: 2% for a first home and 9% for a second, while from a developer VAT of 4% or 10% is paid instead. Long-term leases are by law 4 years renewable for another 4, or 3 plus 2 years under an agreed-rent contract, with a deposit of no more than three months' rent. In central Rome many owners prefer short-term tourist lets, so long leases should be sought in advance.

Taxes in Italy

Income tax is 23% up to €28,000 a year, 33% up to €50,000 and 43% above, plus regional and municipal surcharges. Small sole traders can use a simplified 15% regime, 5% for the first 5 years, with turnover up to €85,000. New residents with large foreign income can pay a flat tax of €300,000 a year on all foreign income. Dividends and capital gains are taxed at 26%, and VAT is 22%. More on the Taxes in Italy page.

Who life near the Vatican suits

The districts around the Vatican suit those who value history and quiet streets near central Rome: families, remote workers and pensioners with foreign income. There is good metro access, markets and schools, but tourists are present all year and rents are above the city average. Those who value quiet and budget are better off in Monteverde or Aurelio, while those who want nightlife choose Trastevere. Murblz specialists help choose a district for your budget and route of moving.

Pitfalls

• Bureaucracy: residence registration, a tax code and the residence permit take months.
• Without Italian, renting and dealing with offices is hard.
• Central Rome has few long-term leases and many short-term tourist rentals.
• Summers are hot and crowded, especially near the Vatican.
• The investor programme is closed to Russian citizens, but other routes remain.

Murblz specialists choose a route for moving to Italy, prepare documents and calculate taxes for the first years.