What will change when Italy eases the rules on travel from UK?
Italy's health minister announced that vaccinated travellers from the UK will no longer have to quarantine on arrival from Tuesday. But what exactly are the rules for vaccinated and non vaccinated travellers?
Italy initially re-imposed a 5-day quarantine for travellers arriving from Britain back in June, when the Delta variant was spreading rapidly in the United Kingdom.
On Saturday, Health Minister Roberto Speranza announced that he had signed a new ordinance ending the 'mini-quarantine' for visitors from the UK, starting on the August 31st.
There was some confusion about when the rule change would come into place with the Italian embassy in the UK initially tweeting that the relaxed rule of vaccinated travellers would start on September 1st, before making the correction to August 31st.
Vaccinated travellers from the UK
Fully-vaccinated travellers arriving from the UK will therefore no longer have to undergo the 5-day quarantine upon arrival to Italy. However, they will still have to take a Covid-19 test and show proof of vaccination.
Italy recognises proof of vaccination issued by the UK's NHS and allows it to be used in place of the 'green pass' within to access museums, concerts and other venues within Italy.
Travellers who have been in the UK in the previous 14 days must also present a negative molecular (PCR) or antigen test taken no more than 48 hours before travel.
Children under the age of 6 do not need to take a test.
READ ALSO: Your questions about Italy's quarantine rules for UK arrivals answered
Before travel, you must also complete an online digital form that will generate a QR code, which you may have to present to travel provider and Border Police if requested.
Some things were still unclear however such as whether vaccinated travellers who arrived before the change in rules would still have to spend five days in quarantine or whether it would end on August 31st.
It was also unclear what the policy would be towards those who had recovered from Covid and received one jab of their vaccine.
Note that the Italian travel rules are based on which country you travel from, and not which passport you hold.
Non-vaccinated travellers from the UK
For non-vaccinated travellers, the rules stay the same as before. Those coming to Italy from the UK will have to show a negative test and then quarantine for 5 days upon arrival. They must take another test at the end of the quarantine period.
Vaccinated travellers from the EU
Italy is allowing entry from all EU and Schengen zone countries using the Europe-wide 'green pass' scheme.
What about travellers from outside the EU?
The health minister said that existing restrictions for visitors from other countries will remain in place.
READ ALSO: What to expect if you're flying from the US to Italy
Stay up to date with Italy’s travel rules by following The Local’s travel section and checking the Italian Health Ministry’s website (in English).
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Italy initially re-imposed a 5-day quarantine for travellers arriving from Britain back in June, when the Delta variant was spreading rapidly in the United Kingdom.
On Saturday, Health Minister Roberto Speranza announced that he had signed a new ordinance ending the 'mini-quarantine' for visitors from the UK, starting on the August 31st.
There was some confusion about when the rule change would come into place with the Italian embassy in the UK initially tweeting that the relaxed rule of vaccinated travellers would start on September 1st, before making the correction to August 31st.
Vaccinated travellers from the UK
Fully-vaccinated travellers arriving from the UK will therefore no longer have to undergo the 5-day quarantine upon arrival to Italy. However, they will still have to take a Covid-19 test and show proof of vaccination.
Italy recognises proof of vaccination issued by the UK's NHS and allows it to be used in place of the 'green pass' within to access museums, concerts and other venues within Italy.
Travellers who have been in the UK in the previous 14 days must also present a negative molecular (PCR) or antigen test taken no more than 48 hours before travel.
Children under the age of 6 do not need to take a test.
READ ALSO: Your questions about Italy's quarantine rules for UK arrivals answered
Before travel, you must also complete an online digital form that will generate a QR code, which you may have to present to travel provider and Border Police if requested.
Some things were still unclear however such as whether vaccinated travellers who arrived before the change in rules would still have to spend five days in quarantine or whether it would end on August 31st.
It was also unclear what the policy would be towards those who had recovered from Covid and received one jab of their vaccine.
Note that the Italian travel rules are based on which country you travel from, and not which passport you hold.
Non-vaccinated travellers from the UK
For non-vaccinated travellers, the rules stay the same as before. Those coming to Italy from the UK will have to show a negative test and then quarantine for 5 days upon arrival. They must take another test at the end of the quarantine period.
Vaccinated travellers from the EU
Italy is allowing entry from all EU and Schengen zone countries using the Europe-wide 'green pass' scheme.
What about travellers from outside the EU?
The health minister said that existing restrictions for visitors from other countries will remain in place.
READ ALSO: What to expect if you're flying from the US to Italy
Stay up to date with Italy’s travel rules by following The Local’s travel section and checking the Italian Health Ministry’s website (in English).
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