Frequently asked questions
On Italian domestic routes, you must present at boarding:
A valid identity card, or
A valid passport
The document must be the one indicated at the time of booking. Discrepancies between the booking details and the document may lead to boarding being refused.
⚠️ Minors too, including infants, must have their own identity document. Being listed on a parent's identity card is not sufficient (rule in force in Italy since 2010).
FAQ Category: Documents and boarding
For EU countries (Greece, Croatia, Spain, France, Slovenia):
An Italian identity card valid for foreign travel, or
A valid passport
For non-EU countries (Albania, Tunisia, Morocco, Montenegro):
Passport recommended (for Albania, an identity card valid for foreign travel is still accepted for short stays)
Check any visa requirements
Remaining validity of the document: many countries require the document to be valid for a minimum period after the return date (usually 3–6 months). Check the destination country's rules on viaggiaresicuri.it.
ℹ️ Having valid documents is always the passenger's responsibility. If your documents are not in order, boarding may be refused with no right to a refund.
FAQ Category: Documents and boarding
The EES (Entry/Exit System) is the European Union's new IT system for the digital control of the Schengen area's external borders.
Who it applies to:
Non-EU, non-Schengen nationals entering or leaving one of the 29 countries using the system
Travellers on short stays (max 90 days in any 180)
Both visa holders and visa-exempt travellers
NetFerry routes affected:
Italy ↔︎ Tunisia (Palermo–Tunis, Genoa–Tunis, etc.)
Italy/Spain ↔︎ Morocco (Genoa–Tangier, Barcelona–Tangier)
Italy ↔︎ Albania (Bari/Brindisi/Ancona–Durrës/Vlorë)
Italy ↔︎ Montenegro (Bari–Bar)
Routes to/from the United Kingdom
What happens at the port:
On your first crossing, fingerprints and a facial image are taken
The data is stored for 3 years
On subsequent trips, checks are faster: biometric verification only
Practical impact:
Registration is free
On your first trip, checks may take longer
Arrive at the port with an extra 30–60 minutes compared with usual
Make sure you have a valid passport (identity cards are not enough for non-EU countries)
💡 Italian and EU nationals are not subject to the EES when travelling between EU countries, but may be affected if travelling with family members holding non-EU passports.
For official updates: European Commission — EES.
FAQ Category: Documents and boarding
ETIAS (European Travel Information and Authorisation System) is an electronic travel authorisation system, similar to the US ESTA.
Who must apply:
Nationals of countries that are visa-exempt for the Schengen area
Examples: USA, Canada, UK, Australia, Japan, Brazil, South Korea, Israel
For short stays (max 90 days in any 180)
Who does NOT need to apply:
EU and EFTA nationals (Italy, France, Norway, Switzerland, etc.)
Holders of a valid visa or residence permit
Holders of an EU family residence document
How to apply:
By filling in an online form on the official EU website
Expected cost: around €20 (free for under-18s and over-70s)
Approval usually within minutes (up to 96 hours in complex cases)
Validity: 3 years or until the passport expires
NetFerry routes affected:
If you are a national of a country subject to ETIAS and you book routes to or from Greece, Italy, Spain, France or Croatia, you will need to hold an ETIAS authorisation at boarding time.
⚠️ Actual entry into force is expected in the last quarter of 2026. Before departure, always check the official website: travel-europe.europa.eu/etias.
FAQ Category: Documents and boarding
Rules for Italian nationals on the most common non-EU NetFerry routes:
| Destination | Document | Visa | Validity required |
|---|---|---|---|
| Albania | Passport or identity card valid for foreign travel | Not required (max 90 days) | 3+ months after return recommended |
| Tunisia | Passport | Not required (max 90 days) | 6+ months after return |
| Morocco | Passport | Not required (max 90 days) | 6+ months after return |
| Algeria | Passport | Required (to be obtained in advance) | 6+ months after return |
| Montenegro | Passport or identity card valid for foreign travel | Not required (max 90 days) | 3+ months after return |
| United Kingdom | Passport | ETA required (to be applied for online) | At the time of travel |
Nationals of other countries:
Rules vary widely: check with the destination country's embassy or consulate
Some third countries require a visa even for very short stays
Always-up-to-date official source:
See viaggiaresicuri.it, the Italian Foreign Ministry's website, for official information on documents, visas, safety and recommended vaccinations.
⚠️ Having valid documents and visas is always the passenger's responsibility. Invalid documents = boarding refused with no refund.
FAQ Category: Documents and boarding
Rules vary by destination:
EU countries (Greece, Spain, France, Croatia, Slovenia):
An Italian licence is sufficient
No translation required
United Kingdom:
An Italian/EU licence is still valid for short tourist stays
For extended stays (over 12 months), conversion may be required
Non-EU countries (Morocco, Tunisia, Albania, Montenegro):
An International Driving Permit is recommended (and often required by local authorities or hire companies)
There are two types of International Driving Permit, both issued by the Italian licensing authority (Motorizzazione):
1968 Vienna Convention: valid 3 years, for Albania, Tunisia, etc.
1949 Geneva Convention: valid 1 year, for Morocco, Egypt, USA, Japan
Cost: around €29–31 (stamp duty + licensing authority fees). Issue times: 2–3 weeks.
Documents you must always carry in the car abroad:
Original licence (+ International Driving Permit where required)
Vehicle registration document
Insurance certificate with international validity (Green Card)
If you are not the vehicle's owner: an authenticated owner's authorisation
💡 For car hire in Morocco, Tunisia and Albania, many operators accept only an International Driving Permit + passport. Take it with you even where it is not legally required.
FAQ Category: Documents and boarding
Since 2010, Italian law requires all minors, including infants, to hold their own identity document:
An identity card for minors (obtainable from the municipality; valid 3 years for ages 0–3, 5 years for ages 3–18)
Alternatively, a passport for minors
For travel abroad, minors under 14 must also be accompanied by at least one parent or by a delegated person holding an accompanying declaration endorsed by the police authority (Questura).
FAQ Category: Documents and boarding
The rules depend on the ferry company, but in general:
Unaccompanied minors:
Many companies do not accept passengers under 15–18 years of age without an accompanying adult
Where allowed, a waiver signed by the parents is required, sometimes authenticated by the municipality or the police authority (Questura)
On international routes, an authorisation for travel abroad is mandatory
Minors accompanied by third parties (not their parents):
For travel abroad: an accompanying declaration signed by both parents and endorsed by the police authority (Questura) is required
A document valid for foreign travel
💡 Before booking for an unaccompanied minor, call us on +39 0831 564 257: we can check together whether the company accepts the journey.
FAQ Category: Documents and boarding
The rules vary from one company to another, but as a general guide:
Up to the 28th–32nd week: travel allowed with no special documentation
From the 28th–32nd week onwards: a medical certificate is required stating fitness for sea travel on the planned date
The last few days before the due date: travel is generally not allowed
⚠️ Only ships carrying more than 500 passengers are required to have a doctor on board (Italian Ministerial Decree of 13/06/1986). Smaller ships carry a first-aid kit but no medical staff.
Always consult your doctor and check the specific conditions of the company you will be travelling with.
FAQ Category: Documents and boarding
Recommended arrival times at the port:
| Type | Minimum advance |
|---|---|
| Foot passengers, short domestic routes | 60 minutes |
| Passengers with a vehicle, domestic routes | 90–120 minutes |
| International routes (Greece, Albania) | 120–180 minutes |
| Oversized vehicles (motorhomes, articulated lorries) | 180 minutes |
| Travelling with pets, dedicated check-in | 120 minutes |
Check-in:
Usually closes 30 minutes before departure
For fast ferries (hydrofoils, catamarans), even 45–60 minutes before
⚠️ Allow extra time for: traffic around the port area, border checks, ticket-office queues in the summer months. The port arrival time stated on your booking confirmation always prevails.
FAQ Category: Documents and boarding
For every port in our system you will find:
Driving directions integrated with Google Maps
Contact details of the port authority
Information on partner and paid car parks
Public transport (bus stops, nearest railway station, taxis)
Port ticket-office opening times (usually 2 hours before departure)
Visit the port's page on www.netferry.com.
FAQ Category: Documents and boarding
Many of Italy's smaller islands apply restrictions on the entry of non-residents' vehicles to protect the environment and manage tourist traffic.
Examples of common restrictions:
Capri: absolute ban on non-residents' cars all year round (special authorisation for exceptional cases)
Ischia and Procida: seasonal restrictions (usually 15 June to 30 September) for non-residents' cars; bus/scooter options remain open
Ponza, Ventotene: seasonal bans for non-residents between Easter and September
Aeolian Islands: vehicle restrictions, often limited to authorised residents + services
Giglio Island: restrictions on non-residents' cars in summer
Tremiti Islands: absolute ban on landing cars (San Domino, San Nicola)
Smaller Sicilian islands (Favignana, Lampedusa, Ustica): variable seasonal restrictions
What to do before booking:
Check the island's municipal ordinances for the current year
Contact the municipality or the local port authority
If a ban applies: book foot-passenger deck passage only and use local public transport or on-site hire services
⚠️ NetFerry is not responsible if a vehicle cannot be boarded due to the bans listed above: it is the passenger's responsibility to check with the competent authorities.
FAQ Category: Documents and boarding
Online check-in is not required by all companies:
Companies with online check-in: you receive a link by e-mail; check in online and print your boarding card
Companies without online check-in: present your ticket and identity documents at the port ticket office. You will receive your boarding card at the desk
💡 Even where online check-in is available, some categories must still check in physically at the port: passengers with a vehicle, pets, reduced mobility, or resident fares.
FAQ Category: Documents and boarding
The details entered when booking must match exactly those on the documents you will present at boarding.
Types of error:
Minor error (wrong letter, accent): usually correctable free of charge if reported immediately
Substantial error (different name): treated as a name change, with costs
Expired document: the company may refuse boarding
📩 Report any error immediately to info@netferry.com with your booking code and the correction required.
FAQ Category: Documents and boarding
The rules differ between domestic and international routes.
Italian domestic routes (Sardinia, Sicily, smaller islands):
Some companies are more flexible if you have forgotten your document
They may accept:
A photo copy of the document on your phone (both sides, legible)
Your driving licence as a substitute document
Your electronic passport if you have it instead of the identity card
The final decision rests with the company's staff: they may still refuse boarding
International routes (Greece, Croatia, Spain, Albania, etc.):
Original document required: identity card valid for foreign travel or passport
Photo copies are not accepted at border checks
Without a document: boarding refused with no refund
What to do if you realise at the port that you don't have your document:
Go immediately to the company's ticket desk
If you live nearby, consider going back to collect it (you will miss the sailing)
For lost documents, file a report with the police (Questura): the report may allow boarding on domestic routes
💡 Prevention is best: photograph both sides of every passenger's documents before leaving and save them in a synced (cloud) folder accessible from your smartphone.
FAQ Category: Documents and boarding