Shipping Information
General Information
Keeping in mind that most items are more expensive in Italy than in the US, you should err on the side of shipping the things that you will need rather than counting on finding them in Rome. And remember, after all, that you are moving to a foreign country! While simplicity is a virtue, you need to be able to live, study, and pray here for a significant period of time.
Shipping Restrictions
In order to bypass most customs duties and taxes, it is essential that all your boxes and trunks and paperwork be labeled: “Used Personal Effects, Not for Resale.”
Keep in mind that shipping some items is prohibited by federal law (e.g., aerosol cans, alcohol-based products), and some shipping companies may require the keys or combinations to locked trunks, since they may have to be opened in the process of clearing customs. It is best to ask. Insurance coverage for your shipment to the College is available, but it can be expensive. Instead, we recommend that students check if their home insurance policy covers the shipment. Occasionally containers are lost. Consider bringing more dear items in your carry-on or checked baggage when you fly to Rome.
Address Labeling
There are two mailing addresses to the Pontifical North American College: they are in two different countries.
1) Rome, Italy – NAC address to be used for:
- Documents sent from any country (no declared value)
- Packages containing goods from Italy and European Union countries (recipient will be responsible for any IVA/VAT payment)Deliveries through Courier (e.g. FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc.) and Postal Service (e.g. USPS, Canada Post, Australia Post, Poste Italiane, etc.) should be labelled as follows:
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Addressee: |
Pontifical North American College – Name and Last Name |
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Address: Via del Gianicolo, 14 |
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City: Rome |
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State: RM |
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Country: ITALY |
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Zip Code: 00165 |
As packages sent to the Italian address from a non-EU country are subject to import/customs duties from the Italian state, to be paid upon delivery, please note that the Porters will not accept packages which require payment upon receipt: the package will be sent back.
2) Vatican – to be used for:
- Documents sent from non-EU countries, with a declared value
- All packages containing goods sent from non-EU countries
Import/Customs duties and handling fees will be debited directly to the recipient.
Deliveries through Courier (e.g. FedEx, DHL, UPS, etc.) should be labelled as follows:
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Addressee: |
Pontifical North American College – Name and Last Name |
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Address: |
Servizio del Transito Merci |
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City: |
Vatican City |
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State: |
State |
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Country: |
Europe |
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Zip Code: |
00120 |
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Deliveries through Postal Service (e.g. USPS, Canada Post, Australia Post, etc.) should be labelled as follows:
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Addressee: |
Pontifical North American College – Name and Last Name |
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Address: |
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City: |
Vatican City |
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State: |
State |
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Country: |
Europe |
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Zip Code: |
00120 |
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N.B.: Do not put “Rome” or “Italy” along with the Vatican City address. There are two mailing addresses to the College in two different countries. One is in the Vatican City State and the other is in Rome, Italy. You must use the Vatican City address for large items and boxes.
Also, make sure to address all boxes and trunks, regardless of what you are told by the shipping company. Boxes can be separated by the customs officers after delivery. It is a good idea to put your addresses on sheets of paper inside the boxes as well. It is also very wise to clearly label your parcels by number (i.e. 1 of 3, 2 of 3, etc.)
Additional Costs:
Via Courier: Packages delivered to the Vatican/Servizio Transito Merci are subject to a basic customs/handling fee of € 31.00, which may increase depending on the value of the goods. Exact costs are not foreseeable until we receive the relevant invoice (approximately 2 months after delivery).
Via Postal Service: Packages sent through any country’s Postal Service, and received at the Vatican Postal Office, are subject to a basic customs/handling fee of € 3.50, which may increase depending on the value of the goods. Exact costs are not foreseeable until we receive the package.
Description of Goods
When shipping documents do not indicate a value. When shipping goods, please indicate:
- Used Personal Effects (for personal belongings) or Gift – Not For Resale
- Value: keep this amount at a minimum, as its only relevance is for Customs Duties (for example you may indicate the cost of the material for production as an estimated value).
- The Courier may require a Pro forma Invoice
E-COMMERCE
When purchasing items online (e.g. Amazon.com), a pro-forma must be included:
- If the originating port is in the EU you may send directly to the NAC (see point 1). Note that England is no longer part of the EU.
- If the originating port is non-EU you must send to the Vatican/Ufficio Merci or Vatican Post (see point 2).
- Only pre-paid orders are permitted: COD/Cash on delivery (contrassegno) is not allowed.
For General inquiries related to shipping matters please contact:
shipping@pnac.org
Tel: (011‐39) 06‐6849‐35110
Fax: (011‐39) 06‐686‐4095
The most cost effective way to ship large items between NON-EU countries and the PNAC is by requesting shipment through our Local Shipping Affiliate:
Futura Cargo International Srl – Mr Marco MANDELLI, Representative to NAC
Mobile: (+39) 393‐855‐9029
Landline: (+39) 06‐650‐7351 (Available 9 AM‐6 PM +1GMT/Central European Time)
Email: pnac@futuracargointernational.it
Available on‐site at NAC: Mon 10AM‐1PM and Thurs 2PM‐5PM
NAC Office Phone: (011‐39) 06‐6849‐35107
NAC Office Fax: (011‐39) 06‐6864‐095
To request this door‐to‐door service, please complete accurately the enclosed Shipping Form and send it to Mr. Mandelli by email: pnac@futuracargointernational.it
COST ESTIMATES:
Please contact Mr. Marco Mandelli for shipping and handling fees.
Please note that this service is only for students of the North American College. It is available to us throughout the year for any smaller shipments that we may want to send or receive.
If you did not receive these instructions in your welcome packet, please contact Beatrice Ivaldi at bivaldi@pnac.org.
Procedural Notes
Use only one Air Waybill (AWB) form for multiple boxes. This will be significantly cheaper. (You must number the boxes included with the AWB [e.g. “Box 3 of 5”].)
Please be sure to notify the College’s business office of your shipment. To do so, e-mail shipping@pnac.org or send a fax (the business office fax is (011‐39) 06‐686‐4095) with a copy of the information issued at the time of shipment with the Master Tracking Number. The College must have this information to process the shipment through Vatican customs.
The Vatican will charge a handling and customs fee for your shipment when it arrives. This fee will be passed on to your diocese as part of the total shipping costs.
The College assumes no responsibility for shipments, including the transfer of the shipment from Vatican City to the College.
Timeline for Shipping to NAC
Students coming for Early Orientation should consider shipping by the second or third week of June. Students coming for Regular Orientation should consider shipping by the third week of July.
Generally, this will allow enough time for boxes and trunks to arrive in Europe, clear customs, be delivered to the Vatican, and transferred to the College before you arrive. While your shipment may arrive in Europe in a matter of days, this process can take anywhere from two to six weeks or longer. The earlier boxes or trunks are shipped, the more likely they are to arrive before you do. If you follow the tracking through FedEx, it is normal for the website to show “Clearance Delay” or “Unknown Status” for a couple of days after the shipment arrives in Italy. This is the normal customs process and does not require any action on your part.
Some shipping companies will suggest that you not ship your belongings until just before your own departure date to Rome. Shipping companies may explain that if your packages arrive in Rome early, they will accrue significant storage charges before you arrive. This is not the case with our setup. The College picks up packages from the Vatican at least twice a week throughout the summer. If your boxes or trunks arrive early, they will be safely stored at the College at no charge. The best advice remains to ship as early as possible. There can be delays clearing customs due to volume or workers taking holiday in August.
