🇸🇲 San Marino visa requirements

San Marino isn't in Schengen, but most people don't need a visa anyway. You can stay up to 90 days.

Who walks in visa-free?

For most digital nomads, San Marino is refreshingly simple. If you hold a passport from the EU, UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or Japan, you can enter and stay for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a visa. This is because San Marino has open borders with Italy, and Italy is part of the Schengen Area. So, effectively, your Schengen allowance counts towards your San Marino stay, and vice versa.

For passport holders from countries like Brazil, Mexico, or South Korea, you also get 90 days visa-free. San Marino has specific agreements with many nations that grant this privilege. If you're unsure, it's best to check the official list, but the vast majority of Western and many South American countries are covered.

There are a few countries that do require a visa for San Marino, though they are less common for the typical remote worker. This typically applies to nations from parts of Africa and Asia. If you fall into this category, you'll need to apply for a visa in advance through an Italian embassy or consulate, as San Marino doesn't have its own diplomatic missions abroad. Don't assume you're in this group; always verify if you're from a less common passport.

How long can you really stay?

The 90 days in 180 days rule is key here. This isn't a rolling 90 days; it's a cumulative total. So, if you spend 30 days in San Marino, then 60 days in Italy, you've used your allowance for that 180-day period. San Marino relies on Italy for border control, so any overstay in Italy counts against your San Marino allowance and vice-versa.

A common pitfall is not getting an exit stamp if you're not using your Schengen allowance to enter Italy first. While less common now with digital nomads often flying into Bologna or Rimini (Italy) and then driving, if you somehow enter San Marino directly without passing through Italian immigration, ensure you get a stamp. Without an entry and exit record, you could technically be seen as overstaying, even if you haven't. Penalties for overstaying can be significant, often involving fines and potential bans from the Schengen Area, which includes Italy and thus impacts your access to San Marino. Fines can be €50-€200 per day for minor overstays.

Working Remotely on a Tourist Stamp

This is where things get a bit murky. San Marino, like many European microstates, doesn't have a specific digital nomad visa. Officially, you're entering as a tourist. Working remotely for a company outside San Marino while on a tourist visa is technically a grey area. Most authorities aren't actively checking what you do on your laptop for 90 days. They're more concerned with immigration rules and illegal employment within San Marino.

The risk is low for short stays, but if you plan to stay longer or are working for a San Marinese company, you could run into issues. There's no clear enforcement mechanism for remote workers on tourist visas unless you draw attention to yourself. San Marino is tiny; people notice things. If you're earning income, ensure it's declared in your home country. Authorities here generally don't scrutinize the source of income for tourists, but it's not explicitly legal for extended periods.

What's New in San Marino?

San Marino has been exploring ways to attract more visitors and investment, but don't expect a fast-tracked digital nomad visa program anytime soon. The primary route for longer stays would involve looking into residency permits, which require proof of financial self-sufficiency and often involve purchasing property or significant investment. These are not straightforward tourist or remote work solutions.

There haven't been major changes to the visa-free entry rules for EU, UK, US, and similar passport holders in the last 12-18 months. The focus remains on leveraging its relationship with Italy. While there's no specific "digital nomad" eVisa like some other countries have rolled out, the existing 90-day tourist allowance remains the most accessible option for remote workers. Keep an eye on official San Marinese government or tourism websites for any minor updates, but significant policy shifts are unlikely in the short term.