Update
January 10, 2024

Information for U.S. Citizens in the Middle East

International Parental Child Abduction

English

Country Information

Vatican City (Holy See)

Vatican City
Vatican City

Hague Convention Participation

Party to the Hague Abduction Convention?
No
U.S. Treaty Partner under the Hague Abduction Convention?
No

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 V. Veneto 119/A
Rome, Italy

Telephone: +(39) 06-46741

Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(39) 06-46741

Fax: +(39) 06-4674-2217

The Rome consular district include the regions of Lazio, Marche, Umbria, Abruzzo, and Sardegna.

Consulates

U.S. Embassy to the Holy See
Via delle Terme Deciane 26
Rome, Italy

Telephone: +(39) 06-4674-3428

Emergency After-Hours Telephone: Please contact the Embassy in Rome.

Fax: +(39) 06-575-8346

U.S. Consulate General Florence
Lungarno Amerigo Vespucci 38,
Florence, Italy

Telephone: +(39) 055-266-951

Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(39) 055-266-951

Fax: +(39) 055-215-550

The Florence consular disctrict includes the regions of Tuscany, and Emilia-Romagna (all except the Provinces of Piacenza and Parma).

U.S. Consulate General Milan
Via Principe Amedeo 2/10
20121 Milano, Italy

Telephone: +(39) 02-290-351

Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(39) 02-290351

Fax: +(39) 02-290-35-273

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

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

Monday through Thursday 11:00 AM-3:00 PM

U.S. Consular Agent - Palermo
Via 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

Monday through Friday 9:00 AM-12:30 PM by appointment only.

General Information

For information concerning travel to the Holy See (Vatican City), 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 the Holy See (Vatican City).

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 Holy See is not a signatory to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Abduction Convention), nor are there any bilateral agreements in force between the Holy See and the United States concerning international parental child abduction.

Return

Legal systems and laws pertaining to custody, divorce, and parental abduction vary widely from country to country.  Parents are encouraged to consult with an attorney who specializes in family law in the Holy See and who can provide accurate legal guidance that is specific to their circumstances. 

The Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs, Directorate for Overseas Citizens Services, Office of Children's Issues provides assistance in cases of international parental child abduction.  For U.S. citizen parents whose children have been wrongfully removed to or retained in countries that are not U.S. partners under the Hague Abduction Convention, the Office of Children's Issues can provide information and resources about country-specific options for pursuing the return of or access to an abducted child.  The Office of Children's Issues may also coordinate with appropriate foreign and U.S. government authorities about the welfare of abducted U.S. citizen children.  Parents are strongly encouraged to contact the Department of State for assistance.

Contact information:

U.S. Department of State
CA/OCS/CI
SA-17, 9th Floor
2201 C Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20522-1709
Telephone:  1-888-407-4747
Outside the United States or Canada: 1-202-501-4444
Website: travel.state.gov
Email: AskCI@state.gov

Parental child abduction is a crime in the Holy See.   See Article 12 of the country's penal code. Parents may wish to consult with an attorney in the United States and in the country to which the child has been removed or retained to learn more about how filing criminal charges may impact a custody case in the foreign court.  Please see Possible Solutions - Pressing Criminal Charges for more information.

Visitation/Access

Legal systems and laws pertaining to custody, divorce, and parental abduction vary widely from country to country.  Parents are encouraged to consult with an attorney who specializes in family law in the Holy See and who can provide accurate legal guidance that is specific to their circumstances.

The Office of Children's Issues may be able to assist parents seeking access to children who have been wrongfully removed from or retained outside the United States.   Parents who are seeking access to children who were not wrongfully removed from or retained outside the United States should contact the U.S. Embassy to the Holy See for information and possible assistance.

 

Retaining an Attorney

The U.S. Diplomatic Mission to Italy posts a list of attorneys in the Consular District of Rome, 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 persons or firms included in this list. Professional credentials and areas of expertise are provided directly by the lawyers.

Mediation

Mediation is a possible remedy for both abduction and access cases.  The Holy See may  provide mediation services upon request.

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: November 21, 2018

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

U.S. Embassy Rome
Via V. Veneto 119/A
Rome, Italy
Telephone
+(39) 06-46741
Emergency
+(39) 06-46741
Fax
+(39) 06-4674-2217

Vatican City Map