Phrases › On the Plane › Dove si fa il controllo del passaporto?

Dove si fa il controllo del passaporto?

Where do you go through passport control?

Pronunciation

con-TROL-lo — double 'l', stress on second syllable. Passaporto: pas-sa-POR-to.

When to use it

Ask airport staff after landing on an international flight when you need to find the passport control (immigration) area.

What it means

Si fa (one does / you do) is the impersonal reflexive construction, equivalent to 'where does one do'. Il controllo del passaporto (passport control) is the standard term — controlo by itself can also mean customs check.

Variations

C'è la fila per i non-europei?

Is there a queue for non-Europeans?

EU citizens and non-EU citizens use different lanes at Italian border control

Posso usare il corridoio UE?

Can I use the EU lane?

Corridoio UE — the EU/EEA/Swiss fast track lane at border control

Dove si trova l'ufficio immigrazione?

Where is the immigration office?

For complex visa situations requiring a desk rather than a booth

Mini Dialogue

— Dove si fa il controllo del passaporto? — Segua le frecce 'Arrivi Internazionali', è dopo la scala mobile. — Grazie. C'è molta fila? — Dipende dall'ora. Di solito è veloce.

— Where do you go through passport control? — Follow the 'International Arrivals' arrows, it is after the escalator. — Thank you. Is there a long queue? — It depends on the time. It is usually fast.

Cultural Note

Italian border police (Polizia di Frontiera) staff are professional and efficient — having your passport open to the photo page before reaching the desk speeds things up considerably.

← Previous

Il mio volo è stato cancellato. Cosa devo fare?

Ho bisogno di ossigeno, non respiro bene.

← All phrases: On the Plane