Luggage Collection at FCO

Where does you flight originate and do you have checked bags?

My flight originates from Washington DC (Dulles) and I will have one or two checked bags. We will be coming into Rome via London.

You will enter Schengen when you land in London- so you will go thru passport control there.
No customs- that happens on your return to US.

When you land in Rome you simply have to collect your bags and exit the airport.

Thanks for the info, much appreciated!!!!

You will enter Schengen when you land in London- so you will go thru passport control there.

This would be news to the fine citizens of the UK.

You will enter the Schengen zone in Rome--this is immigration, which is about people, and not customs, which is about things. In London, you will be a transit passenger who never "enters" the UK. There will probably be a security check between flights.

99.9% of the time, customs is just a walk-through on arrival in Europe, unless you have something you need to declare.

Oh shoot and duh!

So you will enter Schengen in Rome which is passport control then collect your luggage and exit “nothing to declare”

Exactly as they have stated above, after clearing passport control, pick up your bags and exit through the non-EU nothing to declare doors. I just flew in to FCO from IAD a few weeks ago, very easy and painless process.

No customs- that happens on your return to US.

Wrong! There is customs at FCO, as well as any other airport in Italy with international (non-Schengen) flights. Before you exit the terminal a customs officer can ask to examine your luggage though this rarely happens.

OK- true- amend to say "no customs to speak of" vast majority of travelers just pick up luggage and exit thru nothing to declare.