The Italian government periodically updates its travel rules according to the evolving epidemiological situation. According to Italy’s updated travel regulations, valid from 26th October, Italian border is open to US tourists for any reason, including tourism, following some travel rules.
Italy entry requirements
Americans visitors can enter Italy if they have a negative molecular or rapid swab result, taken within 72 hours prior to arrival in Italy, and one of the following:
- A medical certificate issued by your local health authority attesting your healing from Covid-19, dated no more than six months prior to departure.
- A vaccination certificate issued by your country’s health authority confirming full vaccination against Covid-19 (completed at least 14 days prior to travel) with a vaccine recognised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).
Children under the age of six do not have to take the covid pre-departure test, while those over the age of six must.
Travellers who are unable to present a valid certificate of vaccination or healing from Covid-19 may still enter Italy, but they are required to do a 5-days quarantine and they must inform the prevention department of the competent regional health authority. At the end of the five-day quarantine period, travellers must then undergo an additional molecular or rapid swab.
Besides, all passengers arriving in Italy from the United States are required to complete the online EU Digital Passport Locator Form (dPLF).
Which vaccines are authorised in Italy?
The Covid-19 vaccines authorised by the EMA are Pfizer-BioNtech, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson or AstraZeneca.
Vaccinated travellers in the USA can prove this by showing the “white card” with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) logo. The certificates, which may be in digital or paper format, must be issued in one of the following languages: Italian, English, French or Spanish.
What documents are needed to enter Italy from US?
Tourists coming from the United States must present their passport at the border and, if necessary, be in possession of an entry visa, which must indicate the duration of their stay and the place of destination.
The visa must be requested at the Italian consulates in the country of residence (it is generally issued after 90 days from the request), specifying the reason of the trip.
Once at your destination, if you are not staying in a tourist accommodation, you must register with the police headquarters within 8 days of your arrival. For tourists staying in hotels, or other types of tourist accommodation, registration is done automatically by the reception of the establishment.
If you want to discover and know more about Italy restrictions, rules and things that you can do in Covid-19 era, read our last article.
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.
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.
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. 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