Latest News: The Italian government issued a new legislative decree on 17 May, which modifies the roadmap for reopening activities in Italy. It is in effect from 18 May (Gazzetta Ufficiale.it, 19.05.2021). Italy to Allow Britons Enter the Country With Only a Negative COVID-19 Test Result (Schengen Visa Info, 18.05.2021).
International Restrictions:
The Ministry of Health has issued a new ordinance regulating international travel under COVID-19, which is in effect from 16 May until 30 July 2021
• It extends the ban on travelers from Brazil (exemptions include officials and representatives of international organizations and persons resident in Italy prior to 13 February 2021).
• Removal of the quarantine requirement for travelers from EU and Schengen countries, Israel, and the UK. However, all persons entering Italy must present negative COVID-19 test results from the 48 hours prior to entering Italy (exemptions include officials and representatives of international organizations).
A second ordinance expands Covid-tested flights at the Rome Fiumicino and Milano Malpensa International airports, as well as in Naples and Venice, welcoming specific flights from Canada, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates. For detailed requirements for entering Italy you should consult this link from the Ministry of Health.
More specific details as published by the European Commission below:
*From within the EU:
Italy adopts its own national classification of risk areas, hence travel restrictions for Italy are not based on the common "EU Traffic Lights" map.
In case of stay or transit through a "List C" country during the 14 days prior to the entrance in Italy, entry is permitted without the need to specify the reason for travelling.
Specific and updated rules for each country of origin are available at ViaggiareSicuri
Before embarking on a trip to Italy, make sure that your Region of destination has no further measures in place. For additional information, some useful regional contacts are available.
Is a coronavirus test required?
All travellers are subject to the requirement for a pre-departure negative COVID-19 test.
The test must be taken within 48 hours prior to arrival.
Accepted test: molecular (PCR) and antigenic.
Children under 2 years old are exempted.
Is a quarantine required?
From 16 May, no quarantine is imposed on travellers arriving from EU Member States and Schengen Associated Countries who are able to provide a pre-departure negative COVID-19 test.
If you are unable to show proof of a molecular or antigenic test, you can enter Italy but you must:
- Inform your Local Health Authority of reference as soon as you enter Italy
- Self-isolate for 10 days
- take another molecular or antigenic test at the end of the 10-day self-isolation.
Mandatory Travel Documentation
All persons travelling to Italy from any foreign location are required to provide a self-declaration to the carrier or, upon request, to law enforcement officers.
Find out more:
Esteri.it: Italian nationals returning to Italy and foreigners in Italy
Viaggiare Sicuri
Contact Point for Italy:
Online Inquiries
For information related to molecular or antigenic test in Italy, you can refer to the following phone numbers:
- From abroad: +39 0232008345 - +39 0283905385
- In Italy: 1500 (free of charge)
Documents you need to travel in Europe
Health cover for temporary stays *Transit:
As a general rule, passengers in transit in the EU+ area are exempted from temporary travel restriction.
EU citizens entering the EU from a third country, as well as their family members, irrespective of their nationality, are exempted from the travel restrictions regardless of whether or not they are returning to their country of nationality or residence.
Passengers travelling from a non-EU country to another non-EU country may transit through the international transit area of airports located in the Schengen area. Rules regarding airport transit visa requirements continue to apply.
Travellers (regardless of nationality) transiting Italy in a private vehicle for less than 36 hours are exempt from self-isolation. Those travelling for work, health or absolute necessity, for less than 120 hours, are also exempt from self-isolation.
Find out more:
Esteri.it: Italian nationals returning to Italy and foreigners in Italy
FAQs
Viaggiare Sicuri
Travellers from third countries outside the EU+ area are allowed to enter Italy only for specific reasons, and not for tourism.
Travellers from Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, United Kingdom and Unites States of America are allowed to enter for any reason (including tourism).
Third-country travellers can also enter Italy if they have a proven relationship with Italian/EU/Schengen citizens, or with people who are legally resident in Italy, and if they are travelling to their partners' home/domicile/dwelling.
Specific requirements for Brazil
Entry and transit in the national territory are forbidden for travellers who have visited or transited through Brazil in the 14 days prior to their day of entry. Some exceptions are in place according to the Order of 13 February 2021. People who are allowed to enter Italy to reach their domicile, home, or residence of their minor children, have to follow a specific protocol described on salute.gov.it.
Specific requirements for India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
Entry to Italy from India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is banned except for persons either resident in Italy since before 29 April 2021 or expressly authorised by the Ministry of Health.
Persons entering Italy who visited or transited through India, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka between 15 and 28 April 2021, even if they do not show symptoms of Covid-19, need to inform the local health authority, take a swab test (molecular or antigenic), self-isolate for a period of 10 days and take another swab test.
Is a coronavirus test required?
Travellers from third-countries are required to take a Covid-19 test within 72 hours prior to entry.
Is quarantine required?
From 16 May, the quarantine requirement has been dropped for passengers from the EU, United Kingdom or Israel with a negative test, as well as travellers from the United States on a 'Covid-tested' flight.
All other travellers allowed to enter Italy from third countries have to:
- provide a self-declaration;
- self-isolate for 10 days and undergo supervision by the competent local Health Authority. After the 10-day period, an additional PCR test is required.
Find out more:
Esteri.it
Viaggiare Sicuri
Exemptions to the requirement of quarantine or pre-departure PCR test
**You will need to carry a self-certification form whenever you leave your home at the Red Zone. The self-certification form, available here for download and printing, will be used to confirm the motive for leaving one's home, which must be related to work, health, or other urgent reasons. Persons are permitted to travel to return to their residence. Violations are subject to fines. +++ Italy government has released the latest classification of regions into different color zones, which is in effect from Monday, 24 May 2021. • Yellow regions: ALL REGIONS (Abruzzo, Basilicata, Calabria, Campania, Emilia Romagna, Friuli Venezia Giulia, Lazio (including Rome), Liguria, Lombardy, Marche, Molise, Piedmont, Puglia, Sicily, Sardinia, Tuscany, Umbria, Veneto, Valle d’Aosta and the autonomous provinces of Trento and Bolzano).
• Orange Zones: Zones classified as having an 'elevated' risk: None.
• Red Zones: Zones classified as having the highest level of risk: None. The Italian government issued a new legislative decree on 17 May, which modifies the roadmap for reopening activities in Italy. It is in effect from 18 May.
While the majority of the measures of the 22 April legislative decree applicable from 26 April - 31 July 2021 still apply, the following critical changes will apply:
Classification of regions: The criteria for the classification of regions has been redefined such that the primary indicators are now (a) hospitalizations and ICU occupancy rates and (b) number of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 inhabitants
• Curfew: Gradually, curfew will be lifted throughout the country:
o From 19 May, curfew starts one hour later and is thus from 23:00-5:00
o From 7 June, curfew is from 00:00-5:00
o From 21 June, curfew will be lifted altogether
o As a reminder, in White Zones, there is no curfew at any point.
• In Yellow Zones, the following timeline for reopening activities will apply:
o 22 May: Malls, shopping centers, markets, and business parks may open on weekends
o 24 May: Gyms may reopen
o 1 June: Foodservice activities (including cafes, restaurants, pubs, ice cream parlors, and pastry shops) with table service will be allowed indoors as well as outdoors AND dinner service will be allowed
o Outdoor sports competitions recognized at the national level may admit audiences up to 25% of capacity. In any case, there may be a maximum of 1000 spectators for outdoor venues. o 15 June: Weddings: both indoor and outdoor wedding receptions will be allowed, but guests will need to possess a Certificazione Verde (aka Green Pass). Conferences and trade shows/exhibitions are allowed to take place.
o 1 July: Indoor pools, spas, amusement parks, arcades, betting halls, casinos, and recreational centers may reopen. Indoor sports competitions may admit audiences up to 25% of capacity and in any case, a maximum of 500 spectators
As a reminder, these are the general rules to continue to follow:
• Measures that are always required:
o Masks: It is mandatory to have a mask on one's person at all times, to be worn in public both in enclosed areas and outdoors, except in cases where social distancing is continuously guaranteed. Exceptions to this requirement apply for children under the age of 6 and for persons with medical conditions incompatible with the use of a mask. Masks also do not need to be worn when engaging in physical activity or while consuming food or beverages. The use of masks is strongly recommended in one's own residence in the presence of visitors. o Social distancing continues to be required; 1 meter interpersonal distance at all times!
o Wash your hands frequently
• Domestic travel:
o Travel between regions classified as Yellow or White Zones will be allowed
o To travel between Orange and Red regions, persons will need a vaccine pass, also known as Certificazione verde or Green Pass. A Green Pass is required for such travel for anybody over the age of 2. Persons traveling between Orange/Red regions for work, health, or other urgent reasons are exempt from this requirement and need only present a self-certification form declaring their motive for travel.
• Certificazione verde or Green Pass:
o The following persons may be granted a Green Pass:
• those who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19
• those who have fully recovered from COVID-19
• those who have a negative COVID-19 test (rapid antigen or molecular) from the past 48 hours.
• Again, infants under the age of 2 are exempt from having to undergo a COVID-19 test and thus do not need a Green Certificate to travel.
o Green Passes are issued by: • the facility that gave you your vaccine
• the facility where you were hospitalized for COVID-19 or your GP
• the facility that administered your COVID-19 test (including pharmacies)
o Vaccine passes granted within the EU are also valid in Italy
The Italian government will review the epidemiological situation every two weeks and may issue amendments to measures.