San Marino visa options for India passport holders

Visa types & longer-stay routes for San Marino

Rules are written for non-EU/EEA "third-country" nationals; EU, EEA and Swiss citizens enter freely and only register, while access for everyone is via Italy/Schengen since San Marino has no airport or independent border.

• Most nomadsTourist

  Short-stay entry (Schengen / Italy, no San Marino visa)

  Up to 90 days in any 180-day period (Schengen rule, applied via Italy)

  Insurance

  Recommended— Schengen visa applicants need travel medical cover (commonly cited around EUR 30,000); visa-exempt visitors are not strictly required to hold it but travel health insurance is strongly advised.

  Good for

  Tourists and short visitors; San Marino is reached only through Italy and has no border of its own, so the Schengen 90/180 rule applies de facto.

  Requirement

  Valid passport (approx 6 months validity); a Schengen Type-C visa if your nationality needs one, or ETIAS travel authorisation for visa-exempt travellers once it launches (planned late 2026). No separate San Marino entry visa exists.

• Tourist

  Tourist stay permit (permesso di soggiorno turistico)

  Up to 90 days, renewable for a further 90 days (issued by the Gendarmerie / Foreign Nationals Office)

  Insurance

  Requiredin practice — because the permit gives no access to the state health service (ISS), holders must arrange their own private health cover. Verify exact terms with esteri.sm.

  Good for

  Foreigners staying in San Marino beyond 30 days for tourism, study, medical treatment or rest, who are not taking up employment.

  Requirement

  Regularise any stay longer than 30 days; this permit does NOT entitle the holder to San Marino state health assistance.

• Most nomadsWork

  Special permit — employment (permesso speciale di lavoro)

  Tied to the employment contract; continuous permits can lead toward residence/PR after about 5 years of uninterrupted stay

  Insurance

  Required— applicants must hold a health insurance policy; once employed, ISS registration provides state health coverage. Public-sector work and state benefits are excluded for foreign permit holders.

  Good for

  Foreign nationals with a job in San Marino: 'continuous' (open-ended contract) or 'seasonal' (fixed-term, up to about 10 months). EU/EEA/Swiss nationals do not need a work permit, only residence registration.

  Requirement

  Valid employment relationship and employer involvement; non-EU workers also need an Italian national (Type D) visa to physically enter via Italy, using the San Marino permit as supporting evidence. Workers and employers register with the ISS social-security institute. A commonly cited minimum salary is approx EUR 1,157/month (~EUR 13,884/year) — verify.

• Work

  Working Holiday scheme

  Up to 12 months, typically capped at about 6 months per employer

  Insurance

  Required/Required — working-holiday schemes generally require travel and health insurance for the full stay; confirm the specific bilateral terms.

  Good for

  Young people (e.g. Canadians aged 18-35) under a bilateral working-holiday arrangement combining travel and short-term work.

  Requirement

  Eligible nationality and age; proof of funds (a figure of approx EUR 3,000 in savings is cited). Availability depends on bilateral agreements, so verify current eligibility.

• Most nomadsResidence

  Elective residence (investor)

  Long-term residence, renewable; converts toward registered/permanent residence after about 10 years

  Insurance

  Required— applicants must hold a private health insurance policy, as elective residents are not covered by the state ISS scheme.

  Good for

  Foreign nationals (often retirees or financially independent individuals) who want to settle in San Marino through a property or financial investment.

  Requirement

  Qualifying investment — approx EUR 500,000 in property (or ~EUR 350,000 plus ~EUR 150,000 renovation), or a ~EUR 600,000 10-year interest-free government bond deposit, plus an application fee around EUR 10,000 and a secured bank deposit (cited ~EUR 75,000, rising to ~EUR 150,000). Cannot work in the public sector or receive state benefits. All figures approximate — verify.

• Residence

  Atypical residence — favourable tax regime (foreign income)

  Long-term residence; converts toward registered residence after about 10 years

  Insurance

  Required— a private health insurance policy is mandatory; holders are not entitled to state health assistance.

  Good for

  Foreign nationals with income generated abroad who were never previously tax-resident in San Marino and want a low-tax residence.

  Requirement

  Foreign-sourced income under a substitute-tax regime (commonly cited at approx 7%), subject to a minimum annual tax (~EUR 10,000) and a cap (~EUR 100,000). Cannot work in the public sector or receive state benefits. Verify thresholds with official sources.

• Residence

  Atypical residence for pensioners / retirees

  Long-term residence; converts toward registered residence after about 10 years

  Insurance

  Required— applicants must hold a private health insurance policy; no access to state health assistance.

  Good for

  Foreign retirees (and certain EU/Swiss nationals and designated countries) with stable retirement income or assets.

  Requirement

  Proof of financial security — figures cited include a gross annual pension of approx EUR 50,000, OR movable assets of approx EUR 300,000 (higher, ~EUR 100,000 income, for some international officials). Pensions taxed at a cited ~6%. Family (spouse, dependent children) may be included. Verify all figures.

• Residence

  Registered / economic & entrepreneurial residence

  Long-term/registered residence (the standard pathway toward permanent residence and, after ~5 years' qualifying stay, longer settlement)

  Insurance

  Required— foreign applicants must hold a health insurance policy; once locally employed and ISS-registered, state health coverage applies.

  Good for

  Foreigners reuniting with a San Marino citizen, or establishing a business and holding a management role; includes entrepreneurial residence for company founders.

  Requirement

  Family tie to a San Marino citizen, OR forming/managing a San Marino company (entrepreneurial route cited as min ~51% ownership, employing local staff, in a hi-tech or priority sector, plus a guarantee deposit). Generally needs ~5 years of prior ordinary/special continuous residence without interruption for full residence. Verify specifics.

San Marino issues no visas of its own — entry is via Italy/Schengen and long stays use San Marino stay/residence permits; figures vary and should be verified with esteri.sm before relying on them. Last checked: 2026-06.

Last verified June 2026

India → San Marino: frequently asked

Do India passport holders need a visa to visit San Marino?

Visa required. Arrange a visa at a consulate or embassy before travelling. Always confirm with the official source before booking.

Can a India passport holder live or work long-term in San Marino?

Yes, via a long-stay visa. San Marino has 8 documented visa types covering work, study, residence and — where it exists — digital-nomad routes.

Do I need travel insurance for San Marino?

Entry to San Marino never includes health cover, so travel medical insurance is strongly recommended. Several San Marino visas also require proof of insurance before they're granted.