The Vatican Apostolic Archives’ main objective is to preserve and develop the writings and documents related to the government of the universal Church. It primarily serves the Supreme Pontiff and the Holy See, but also offers services to scholars of all faiths and nations.
Access and Consultation
Research in the Vatican Apostolic Archives is free of charge and available to qualified academics conducting scientific research. All researchers must hold a five-year higher education qualification or an equivalent university degree. Clergy must have a degree or a doctorate. Permission is granted to consult documents up to the Papacy of Pius XI (February 1939).
Access to the Reading Rooms
Admission cards are required to access the rooms and can be requested from the admission office (Monday to Friday, between 8.30am and 10.30am). To obtain an admission card you need to:
- Send an application to the Prefect of the Vatican Apostolic Archives indicating personal details (name, surname, address, nationality), qualifications, profession and research motivations;
- Provide a letter of introduction from a recognised scientific or historical research institution, or from someone qualified in the field of historical research (tenured university professors)
- Specify the last academic degree obtained (for lay people: university degree or equivalent university diploma, doctorate or research grant; for clerics : degree or doctorate);
- Photocopy of a valid document;
- A photo
This information must be submitted using the following online form:
Vatican Library
Access to the Apostolic Library is granted to:
- Suitably qualified researchers and academics or authors of relevant scientific publications;
- Professors and researchers from universities and other institutes of higher education;
- Graduates carrying out research for a doctoral thesis;
- In exceptional cases, university students who demonstrate the need to consult materials available only in the Apostolic Library;
- Access is not permitted to secondary school students, nor, as a general rule, to university students.
Required
- documents Valid identification document, which must be handed in at the checkpoint at the entrance to Sant’Anna in Vatican City.
- A letter of recommendation or a valid document proving academic qualifications;
- For doctoral students, a letter signed by the thesis advisor, a model of which is available at
https://www.vaticanlibrary.va/it/studio-e-consultazione/criteri-di-ammissione.html
More information on:
https://www.vaticanlibrary.va/it/studio-e-consultazione/criteri-di-ammissione.html
Vatican Stamps
It is possible to purchase the official stamps of the Vatican State by subscription. You can view the various types of subscriptions and further information at
To apply for a subscription, please complete the form at
http://www.vaticanstate.va/content/dam/vaticanstate/News-filatelico/modulo-abbonamento-2017-eng.pdf
After filling it in, you must send the form by post, e-mail or fax to
Ufficio Filatelico e Numismatico-Governatorato – 00120 Cttà del Vaticano
+39 00669881308