Update
April 12, 2024

Information for U.S. Citizens in the Middle East

International Parental Child Abduction

English

Country Information

Italy

Italy
Italian Republic
Exercise increased caution due to terrorism.

Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed.

Exercise increased caution due to terrorism.

Country Summary: Terrorist groups continue plotting possible attacks in Italy. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Italy.

If you decide to travel to Italy:

  • Be aware of your surroundings when traveling to tourist locations and crowded public venues.
  • Follow the instructions of local authorities.
  • Monitor local media for breaking events and adjust your plans based on new information.
  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency.
  • Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter.
  • Review the Country Security Report for Italy.
  • Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
  • Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist.
... [READ MORE]

Hague Convention Participation

Party to the Hague Abduction Convention?
Yes
U.S. Treaty Partner under the Hague Abduction Convention?
Yes

What You Can Do

Learn how to respond to abductions FROM the US
Learn how to respond to abductions TO the US

Embassies and Consulates

U.S. Embassy Rome

Via Vittorio Veneto, 121
00187 Rome, Italy
Telephone:
 +(39) 06-4674-1
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(39) 06-4674-1
Fax: +(39) 06-4674-2244
Email: uscitizensrome@state.gov
The Rome consular district includes the regions of Lazio, Marche, Umbria, Abruzzo, and Sardinia.

Consulates

U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome
Via Boncompagni, 2
Telephone:
 (+39) 06-4674-1
Emergency after-hours telephone: (+39) 06-4674-1
Fax: (+39) 06 4674-3535
Email: USUNRome@state.gov

U.S. Embassy to the Holy See
Via Sallustiana, 49
00162 Rome, Italy
Telephone:
 +(39) 06-4674-3428
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(39) 06-4674-1
Fax: +(39) 06-575-8346

U.S. Consulate General Florence
Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci, 38
50123 Florence, Italy
Telephone:
 +(39) 055-266-951
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(39) 055-266-951
Fax: +(39) 055-215-550
Email: uscitizensflorence@state.gov
The Florence consular district includes the regions of Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna (all except the Provinces of Piacenza and Parma), as well as the Republic of San Marino.

U.S. Consulate General Milan
Via Principe Amedeo 2/10
20121 Milano, Italy
Telephone: 
+(39) 02-290-351
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(39) 02-290-351
Fax: +(39) 081-583-8275
Email: uscitizensmilan@state.gov
The Milan consular district includes the regions of Valle D'Aosta, Piemonte, Lombardia, Veneto, Trentino-Alto Adige, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Liguria, and Emilia-Romagna (Provinces of Piacenza and Parma only).

U.S. Consulate General Naples
Piazza della Repubblica
80122 Naples, Italy
Telephone:
 +(39) 081-583-8111
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(39) 081-583-8111
Fax: +(39) 081-583-8275
Email: uscitizensnaples@state.gov
The Naples consular district includes the regions of Campania, Molise, Basilicata, Puglia, Calabria, and Sicilia.

U.S. Consular Agent - Genoa
Via Dante 2
16121 Genoa, Italy
Telephone:
 +(39) 010-584-492
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: Please contact the U.S. Consulate General in Milan.
Fax: +(39) 010-553-3033
Email: uscitizensgenoa@state.gov
Hours: Monday through Thursday 11:00 AM-3:00 PM, by appointment only.

U.S. Consular Agent - Palermo
Via G.B. Vaccarini 1
90143 Palermo, Italy
Telephone: 
+(39) 091-305-857
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: Please contact the U.S. Consulate General in Naples
Fax: +(39) 091-625-6026
Email: uscitizenspalermo@state.gov
Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 AM-12:30 PM by appointment only.

U.S. Consular Agent - Venice
Viale Galileo Galilei 30
30173 Tessera, Italy
Telephone:
 +(39) 041-541-5944
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: Please contact the U.S. Consulate General in Milan.
Fax: +(39) 041-541-6654
Email: uscitizensvenice@state.gov
Hours: Monday through Thursday, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM, by appointment only.

General Information

Italy and the United States have been treaty partners under the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction Convention (Hague Abduction Convention) since May 1, 1995.

For information concerning travel to Italy, including information about the location of the U.S. Embassy, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, entry/exit requirements, safety and security, crime, medical facilities and health information, traffic safety, road conditions and aviation safety, please see country-specific information for Italy.

The U.S. Department of State reports statistics and compliance information for individual countries in the Annual Report on International Child Abduction. The report is located here.

 

Hague Abduction Convention

The U.S. Department of State serves as the U.S. Central Authority (USCA) for the Hague Abduction Convention. In this capacity, the Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs, Directorate for Overseas Citizen Services, Office of Children's Issues facilitates the submission of applications under the Hague Abduction Convention for the return of, or access to, children located in countries that are U.S. treaty partners, including Italy. Parents are strongly encouraged to contact the Department of State for assistance prior to initiating the Hague process directly with the foreign Central Authority.

Contact information:

U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Office of Children's
CA/OCS/CI
SA-17, 9th Floor
Washington, DC 20522-1709
Telephone: 1-888-407-4747
Email: AbductionQuestions@state.gov
Website: travel.state.gov

The Italian Central Authority (ICA) for the Hague Abduction Convention is the Ministero della Giustizia. The ICA has an administrative role in processing Hague Abduction Convention applications. The ICA forwards completed Hague applications to the appropriate Public Prosecutor attached to the civil court of general jurisdiction in the jurisdiction where the defendant resides. The Prosecutor brings the case on behalf of Italy. 

The ICA can be reached at:

Ministero della Giustizia
Dipartimento per la Giustizia Minorile e di Comunità
Via Damiano CHIESA No 24
00136 ROMA
Italia
Telephone:  +39 0668188331 / + 39 0668188535
Fax: +39 0668808085 / +39 0668807087
Email: autoritacentrali.dgmc@giustizia.it

  • To initiate a Hague case for return of, or access to, a child in Italy, the USCA encourages a parent or legal guardian to review the eligibility criteria and instructions for completing the Hague application form located at the Department of State website and contact the Department of State for assistance prior to initiating the Hague process directly with the ICA. It is extremely important that each document written in English be translated into Italian.  Please note, however, that certified translations are not necessary.  The USCA is available to answer questions about the Hague application process, to forward a completed application to the ICA, and to subsequently monitor its progress through the foreign administrative and legal processes. 
  • There are no fees for filing Hague applications with either the U.S. or Italian central authorities. Attorney fees, if necessary, are the responsibility of the applicant parent. Additional costs may include airplane tickets for court appearances and for the return of the child, if so ordered.

Return

A parent or legal guardian may file an application under the Hague Abduction Convention for return to the United States of a child abducted to, or wrongfully retained in, Italy. The U.S. Department of State can assist parents living in the United States to understand whether the Convention is an available civil remedy and can provide information on the process for submitting a Hague application.

Visitation/Access

A person may file an application under the Hague Abduction Convention for access to a child living in Italy. The criteria for acceptance of a Hague access application vary from country to country. The U.S. Department of State can assist parents living in the United States to understand country-specific criteria and provide information on the process for submitting a Hague application.

Retaining an Attorney

Parents or legal guardians are not required to retain a private attorney in order to file a Hague Abduction Convention application with a court in Italy. The ICA assigns a legal representative to present the case to the court. However, the legal representative does not represent the left-behind parent or the legal guardian who submitted the Hague Abduction Convention application; instead, the legal representative represents Italy and submits the request for return on behalf of the Italian Minister of Justice.

Parents or legal guardians have the option to hire a private attorney at their own expense in Italy to present the Hague Abduction Convention case. In the event that a private attorney is retained, the ICA will turn over the case to the private attorney. A privately hired attorney should contact the ICA as soon as possible after the Hague Abduction Convention application has been filed with the ICA.

The U.S. Embassy in RomeItaly, posts a list of attorneys including those who specialize in family law.

This list is provided as a courtesy service only and does not constitute an endorsement of any individual attorney. The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the following persons or firms. Professional credentials and areas of expertise are provided directly by the lawyers.

Mediation

The USCA is not aware of any government or private organizations in Italy that offer mediation services in either abduction or access cases.

Exercising Custody Rights

While travelling in a foreign country, you are subject to the laws of that country. It is important for parents to understand that, although a left-behind parent in the United States may have custody or visitation rights pursuant to a U.S. custody order, that order may not be valid and enforceable in the country in which the child is located.  For this reason, we strongly encourage you to speak to a local attorney if planning to remove a child from a foreign country without the consent of the other parent.  Attempts to remove your child to the United States may:

  • Endanger your child and others;
  • Prejudice any future judicial efforts; and
  • Could result in your arrest and imprisonment.

The U.S. government cannot interfere with another country’s court or law enforcement system.

To understand the legal effect of a U.S. order in a foreign country, a parent should consult with a local attorney in the country in which the child is located.  

For information about hiring an attorney abroad, see our section on Retaining a Foreign Attorney. 

Although we cannot recommend an attorney to you, most U.S. Embassies have lists of attorneys available online. Please visit the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate website for a full listing.

For more information on consular assistance for U.S. citizens arrested abroad, please see our website.

Country officers are available to speak with you Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.  For assistance with an abduction in progress or any emergency situation that occurs after normal business hours, on weekends, or federal holidays, please call toll free at 1-888-407-4747. See all contact information.

DISCLAIMER: The information in this flyer is provided for general information only, is not intended to be legal advice, and may change without notice. Questions involving interpretation of law should be addressed to an attorney licensed in the relevant jurisdiction. 

 

Last Updated: May 9, 2019

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

U.S. Embassy Rome
Via Vittorio Veneto, 121
00187 Rome, Italy
Telephone
+(39) 06-4674-1
Emergency
+(39) 06-4674-1
Fax
+(39) 06-4674-2244

Italy Map