Travel into Italy has been heavily restricted for some time, with most travellers from the USA barred since March 2020, while tighter restrictions were placed on travellers from the UK in December.
READ ALSO: Who can travel to Italy at the moment?
All of which means that many second home owners have not seen their properties for many months, while families and couples have also been kept apart by the travel rules.
So does being fully vaccinated - having received both injections - give you a travel exemption?
Unfortunately the answer is no, or not yet anyway.
Several European countries has been discussing the idea of 'vaccine passports' or allowing access to certain services such as travel for those who are fully vaccinated, but at present there are no plans to introduce this. While the idea was embraced by Spain and Greece, Italy has not yet commented.
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As Italy's vaccine rollout is still in its early stages, only the first prority groups - including key workers and over-80s - are being offered the vaccine at the moment.
EXPLAINED
- Who is in Italy's Covid-19 vaccine priority groups?
- Can foreigners in Italy get the Covid-19 vaccine?
- How many people has Italy vaccinated so far?
The rules could also vary by Italian region, as the governor of Sardinia has this week suggested that visitors to the popular holiday island be required to show vaccination certificates.
If a vaccine passport scheme is agreed, either at national or regional level, it seems likely this would only be put in place once the general population can be offered the vaccine - currently scheduled for late spring/early summer.
Italy is due to review its current set of coronavirus restrictions by March 5th, but there has been no indication yet that rules may be relaxed.
Please note that The Local is unable to advise on individual cases. To find the latest information about who is eligible to travel to Italy at the moment, click HERE.
See all our latest updates on the coronavirus situation in Italy HERE.
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