The state of emergency, due to the spread of the COVID-19 virus, on Italian territory has been extended until 31 December 2021. The government has updated Italy travel restrictions, extending them until December and updating some of them.
Covid-19 updates: information for tourists
Italy applies health restrictions to incoming travellers, which may vary depending on the country of origin. The Italian government’s order continues to be based on five lists of countries, for which different measures are planned. Below there are the disposals to be followed to enter Italy.
- A List: San Marino and Vatican City. Right now, there are no travel restrictions for List A states and territories.
- B List: States and territories at low epidemiological risk. Currently, no state is on this list.
- C List: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark (including the Faroe Islands and Greenland), Estonia, Finland, France (including Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyana, Reunion, Mayotte and excluding other territories outside the European mainland), Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands (excluding territories located outside the European continent), Poland, Portugal (including Azores and Madeira), Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain (including territories in the African continent), Sweden, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Andorra, Monaco. According to Italian law, travel from list C countries is permitted without the need to state reasons.
- D List: Saudi Arabia, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, United Arab Emirates, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Israel, Kuwait, New Zealand, Qatar, Rwanda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (including Gibraltar, Isle of Man, Channel Islands, British bases on the island of Cyprus), Republic of Korea, Singapore, United States of America, Ukraine, Uruguay, Taiwan, Hong Kong Special Administrative Regions and Macau. Under Italian law, all movements from these countries are permitted.
- E List: Rest of the world, all states and territories not expressly listed elsewhere. Travel to Italy from all List E countries is permitted only for specific reasons: work, health, study, absolute urgency, return to domicile, home or residence. Therefore, travel for tourism to List E countries is not permitted.
- Covid-free tourist corridors: Health Minister Roberto Speranza has signed an order establishing – on an experimental basis and with precise safety protocols – COVID-free travel corridors for non-EU tourist destinations. The travel corridors are operational for Aruba, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Dominican Republic, Sharm El Sheikh and Marsa Alam.
Requirements for entry into Italy
Travellers from these countries can enter Italy without quarantine, provided that:
- Have fill out the Passenger Located Form (PLF) before entering Italy. Here you can find the Passenger Locator Form.
- On arrival, present the COVID-19 Green Pass or the certificate issued by your country’s health authority confirming full vaccination against COVID-19, carried out at least 14 days beforehand, using a vaccine recognised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Green Passes must be in Italian, English, French or Spanish and can be submitted in digital or paper format.
- Present a document certifying that they have carried out a molecular or antigenic swab within 48 hours prior to arrival in Italy with negative results.
Travellers who do not present such documentation on entry into Italy may still enter the country, but they must undergo a 5-day quarantine and they must inform the Prevention Department of the competent Local Health Authority. After 5 days of isolation, they must perform an additional molecular or antigenic test.
You can find out the conditions of entry to Italy from your country with a few clicks on viaggiaresicuri.it
Tampon exentions for infants and children under 18 years old
Children under 6 years of age are not required to present proof of negative molecular or antigenic tests on entry into Italy, but they must comply with the isolation requirement when requested.
People under 18 years of age are exempt from the isolation requirement (where applicable) only if they are accompanied by an adult (parent or other accompanying person) holding a Green Pass.
Anti-Covid measures in Italy
To ensure the safety of residents and tourists, the Italian government has introduced a classification of regions based on colours: white (minimum risk), yellow, orange and red (maximum risk). Right now, Italy is all in white zone.
Mask and distancing
Wearing a mask is still compulsory in indoor public places throughout Italy, while they are no longer obligatory outdoors. Children under 6 years of age and disabled persons and their carers are not obliged to wear a mask. It is always advisable to keep a safe distance of one metre from other people and to wash or sanitize hands often.
Local public transportation
Local public transport (buses, metro, trams, etc.) can carry a maximum of 80% passengers. The green COVID-19 pass is not required to use these means of transport.
Cafés and restaurants
Every restaurants o cafés must display a sign indicating the maximum number of people allowed inside simultaneously. Consumption at the table is always permitted, but all persons over the age of 12 must present the COVID-19 digital green certificate for consumption at the table indoors.
Museums and cultural sites
Museums and other cultural sites are open. Before planning a visit, we advise you to call or consult the institutional websites of the museums where the access rules are published (they may vary from museum to museum). All visitors over the age of 12 must show their COVID-19 green digital certificate at the entrance.
Cinemas, theatres and concerts
There are no limits on indoor and outdoor capacity, but people over 12 years old must show their Green Pass.
Sports events
The sports events are open to the public with a maximum capacity of 75% outdoors and 60% indoors, but entry is only permitted with Green Pass.
Discos
Discos are open to the public, with a maximum capacity of 75% outdoors and 50% indoors, but even here entry is only permitted by showing the Green Certificate.
New restrictions due to the Omicron variant
After the increase of infections (with the arrival of the fourth wave) and the discovery of the Omicron variant, many countries are adapting their internal security measures and increasing restrictions, especially for those arriving from abroad.
In the run-up to the Christmas and New Year holidays, many people have already booked, or are in the process of booking, their holidays in Italy.
Here, then, there is the updated guide on what you need to do before you leave and when you arrive in a foreign country, based on Ministry of Foreign Affairs notices and Ministry of Health orders (sites that you should always check before leaving).
In Italy, there are currently no travel and travel restrictions between regions, nor are there any plans to do so. It is only if a region were to enter the red zone that travel restrictions would be in force for everyone. At the moment, however, not only are there no regions in the red zone and not even in the orange zone; only Friuli Venezia Giulia is in the yellow zone.
Entry to Italy is currently prohibited for those who have been in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini, Malawi in the last 14 days. For all others, the rules remained the same.
New restrictions updated to 15 December 2021
The new order by Health Minister Speranza, valid from 16 December to 31 January, concerns those who decide to travel to Italy.
The ordinance requires a negative test on departure for all arrivals from EU countries, even for those who are vaccinated. A negative molecular swab carried out within 48 hours before entry into Italy or an antigenic swab within 24 hours before entry into Italy will therefore be required. For unvaccinated persons, a five-day quarantine is required in addition to a negative test.
For those arriving from non-EU countries, the duration of quarantine is ten days if they are not vaccinated. If you are vaccinated, you must take a molecular test 72 hours before entry or an antigenic test 24 hours before entry. If you arrive from Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the molecular test must be carried out within 48 hours prior to entry.
It remains possible to travel abroad safely for tourism purposes via the Covid free corridors operating to Aruba, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles, Dominican Republic, Sharm El Sheikh and Marsa Alam.
On the other hand, the ban on entry was extended until 31 January for those arriving from South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia and Swatini.
New restrictions updated to 23 December 2021
With the increase in infections come new restrictions on travel and entry into Italy.
With the new decree, the obligation to present a negative swab for those entering the country has been reintroduced in Italy until 31 January 2022, even for those who have been vaccinated. This also applies to those arriving from EU member states. The negative swab may be a molecular swab taken within 48 hours prior to entry, or an antigenic swab taken within 24 hours prior to entry. The presentation of the swab, together with the Green Pass and the Passenger Locator Form, allows you not to undergo fiduciary isolation.
The situation is different for unvaccinated persons: in addition to submitting a negative swab result (molecular or antigenic), unvaccinated persons will have to observe five days of fiduciary isolation with the obligation to be swabbed at the end of quarantine.
Among the new safety measures adopted by Italy is the obligation to wear masks outdoors, even in the white zone. But even more important is the obligation to wear FFP2 masks in cinemas, theatres, museums, events (both indoors and outdoors), as well as on means of transport. In addition, the consumption of food and drink is prohibited in all indoor places.
The new provisions prohibit any demonstration, event or festivity involving an assembly, whether in outdoor or indoor spaces, until 31 January 2022.
In the Decree from 30 December, access to museums, swimming pools, gyms, health centres and spas, amusement arcades, bars and restaurants (also outdoors), religious ceremonies, cultural events and trade fairs requires a Super Green Pass: the certificate issued to vaccinated and cured people. The ‘basic’ certificate, which is issued to those with a negative swab, is no longer sufficient.
All rights reserved © Copyright Altrama Italia