EXPLAINED: What are the current rules for travel to Italy from the US and Canada?
A new travel ordinance signed by Italy's health minister came into force on Tuesday. Here's what it means for arrivals from the US, Canada, and other countries.
Having significantly tightened its international travel rules for arrivals from North America at the end of August, Italy's Health Ministry has now signed a new travel ordinance implementing minor changes for passengers from certain countries, with things staying the same for most travellers.
The new rules have been in force since Tuesday, October 26th, and will be in place until December 15th.
Here's a closer look at what they say:
United States, Canada, Japan and Israel:
As of August 31st, passengers from the US, Canada, Japan and Israel have had to show proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19 plus a negative test result to avoid quarantining on arrival in Italy (previously only one of the two had been required).
This rule remains broadly the same, but the updated ordinance names only the US, Canada and Japan as countries from which passengers may present a recovery certificate in lieu of proof of vaccination.
Passengers travelling from Israel are now included among all other List D countries, meaning only a vaccination certificate showing the holder has undergone a full vaccination cycle for at least 14 days will be accepted as valid.
The Ministry of Health website states that anyone who arrives from the US, Canada, and Japan or has passed through one of these countries in the past 14 days must now present:
- Either a Covid-19 vaccination certification showing that they have completed a full vaccination cycle for at least 14 days, or a certification showing that they have recovered from Covid-19 within the past 180 days, from their local health authorities.
- And negative results for a molecular (PCR) or rapid antigen test taken in the 72 hours before their arrival in Italy.
The Ministry of Health website makes clear that arrivals from all List D countries, including the US, Canada, and Japan are subject to the five-day quarantine rule if they don’t have both proof of vaccination (or in the case of the three aforementioned countries, recovery) and a negative test result.
The website of the Italian embassy in Canada also says it is possible for arrivals from Canada to enter Italy without one of the required documents, but passengers who do so will be subject to a five-day quarantine, at the end of which they must take a test.
Arrivals from all the countries listed above are also required to fill out a passenger locator form.
All other List D countries:
With the new ordinance, a number of countries have been moved from the less-restricted List D to the more-restricted List E.
Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Lebanon, Moldova, Montenegro, Republic of North Macedonia, and Serbia all appear to have been removed from List D in the latest ordinance, joining the “Rest of World” in List E.
Meanwhile Bahrain, Chile, Kuwait, Rwanda, and Uruguay are new List D appearances, meaning travel is now allowed from these countries for tourism purposes.
Countries currently on Italy's List D are: 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, of the Channel, British bases on the island of Cyprus) , Republic of Korea, Singapore, United States of America, Ukraine, Uruguay, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions.
Anyone who has arrived from or within the past 14 days passed through one of these countries, must in order to avoid quarantining on arrival in Italy present:
- A Covid-19 vaccination certification showing that they have completed a full vaccination cycle for at least 14 days from their local health authorities.
- And negative results for a molecular (PCR) or rapid antigen test taken in the 72 hours before their arrival in Italy (UK arrivals must take their test in the 48 hours before their arrival in Italy, as opposed to 72 hours).
The Ministry of Health makes clear that anyone who arrives in the country without one of these two items may stay, but will be required to quarantine for five days, at the end of which they will need to take a test.
All arrivals from these countries will also need to fill out the passenger locator form.
Other information for travellers arriving from all List D countries
Passengers arriving with a certificate of vaccination must demonstrate that they have been inoculated with a European Medicines Agency (EMA)-approved vaccine. Currently, these are: Pfizer-BioNtech, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson.
All certificates must be provided in Italian, English, French or Spanish.
Passengers travelling from any List D country who have passed through any List E country in the 14 days prior to arriving in Italy are subject to List E entry rules.
List E country rules
Travel to Italy from List E countries (all countries not included in Lists A, B, C, or D) for tourism purposes is not allowed. Travel from these countries is only permitted for reasons related to work, health, study, absolute urgency, or return to your primary residence.
Entry into Italy from List E countries is allowed for Italian, EU, or Schengen citizens, and their family members, as well as long-term Italian residents and their family members. Individuals who can demonstrate a proven and stable relationship with a partner who is resident in Italy may also travel from a List E country for reunification.
All passengers must take a Covid test before arriving in Italy, self-isolate for 10 days on arrival, and take a Covid test at the end of the isolation period.
The restrictions apply to anyone who has passed through any of these countries in the 14 days before arriving in Italy.
India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Brazil
Due to concerns about the high rates of Covid in these countries, travellers coming from these countries were previously subject to their own specific travel restrictions, with travel only allowed under certain specific circumstances.
With the updated ordinance, however, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Brazil now rejoin all other List E countries.
All passengers must take a Covid test before arriving in Italy, self-isolate for 10 days on arrival, and take a Covid test at the end of the isolation period.
The restrictions apply to anyone who has passed through any of these countries in the 14 days before arriving in Italy.
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Having significantly tightened its international travel rules for arrivals from North America at the end of August, Italy's Health Ministry has now signed a new travel ordinance implementing minor changes for passengers from certain countries, with things staying the same for most travellers.
The new rules have been in force since Tuesday, October 26th, and will be in place until December 15th.
Here's a closer look at what they say:
United States, Canada, Japan and Israel:
As of August 31st, passengers from the US, Canada, Japan and Israel have had to show proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid-19 plus a negative test result to avoid quarantining on arrival in Italy (previously only one of the two had been required).
This rule remains broadly the same, but the updated ordinance names only the US, Canada and Japan as countries from which passengers may present a recovery certificate in lieu of proof of vaccination.
Passengers travelling from Israel are now included among all other List D countries, meaning only a vaccination certificate showing the holder has undergone a full vaccination cycle for at least 14 days will be accepted as valid.
The Ministry of Health website states that anyone who arrives from the US, Canada, and Japan or has passed through one of these countries in the past 14 days must now present:
- Either a Covid-19 vaccination certification showing that they have completed a full vaccination cycle for at least 14 days, or a certification showing that they have recovered from Covid-19 within the past 180 days, from their local health authorities.
- And negative results for a molecular (PCR) or rapid antigen test taken in the 72 hours before their arrival in Italy.
The Ministry of Health website makes clear that arrivals from all List D countries, including the US, Canada, and Japan are subject to the five-day quarantine rule if they don’t have both proof of vaccination (or in the case of the three aforementioned countries, recovery) and a negative test result.
The website of the Italian embassy in Canada also says it is possible for arrivals from Canada to enter Italy without one of the required documents, but passengers who do so will be subject to a five-day quarantine, at the end of which they must take a test.
Arrivals from all the countries listed above are also required to fill out a passenger locator form.
All other List D countries:
With the new ordinance, a number of countries have been moved from the less-restricted List D to the more-restricted List E.
Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brunei, Lebanon, Moldova, Montenegro, Republic of North Macedonia, and Serbia all appear to have been removed from List D in the latest ordinance, joining the “Rest of World” in List E.
Meanwhile Bahrain, Chile, Kuwait, Rwanda, and Uruguay are new List D appearances, meaning travel is now allowed from these countries for tourism purposes.
Countries currently on Italy's List D are: 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, of the Channel, British bases on the island of Cyprus) , Republic of Korea, Singapore, United States of America, Ukraine, Uruguay, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions.
Anyone who has arrived from or within the past 14 days passed through one of these countries, must in order to avoid quarantining on arrival in Italy present:
- A Covid-19 vaccination certification showing that they have completed a full vaccination cycle for at least 14 days from their local health authorities.
- And negative results for a molecular (PCR) or rapid antigen test taken in the 72 hours before their arrival in Italy (UK arrivals must take their test in the 48 hours before their arrival in Italy, as opposed to 72 hours).
The Ministry of Health makes clear that anyone who arrives in the country without one of these two items may stay, but will be required to quarantine for five days, at the end of which they will need to take a test.
All arrivals from these countries will also need to fill out the passenger locator form.
Other information for travellers arriving from all List D countries
Passengers arriving with a certificate of vaccination must demonstrate that they have been inoculated with a European Medicines Agency (EMA)-approved vaccine. Currently, these are: Pfizer-BioNtech, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson.
All certificates must be provided in Italian, English, French or Spanish.
Passengers travelling from any List D country who have passed through any List E country in the 14 days prior to arriving in Italy are subject to List E entry rules.
List E country rules
Travel to Italy from List E countries (all countries not included in Lists A, B, C, or D) for tourism purposes is not allowed. Travel from these countries is only permitted for reasons related to work, health, study, absolute urgency, or return to your primary residence.
Entry into Italy from List E countries is allowed for Italian, EU, or Schengen citizens, and their family members, as well as long-term Italian residents and their family members. Individuals who can demonstrate a proven and stable relationship with a partner who is resident in Italy may also travel from a List E country for reunification.
All passengers must take a Covid test before arriving in Italy, self-isolate for 10 days on arrival, and take a Covid test at the end of the isolation period.
The restrictions apply to anyone who has passed through any of these countries in the 14 days before arriving in Italy.
India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Brazil
Due to concerns about the high rates of Covid in these countries, travellers coming from these countries were previously subject to their own specific travel restrictions, with travel only allowed under certain specific circumstances.
With the updated ordinance, however, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Brazil now rejoin all other List E countries.
All passengers must take a Covid test before arriving in Italy, self-isolate for 10 days on arrival, and take a Covid test at the end of the isolation period.
The restrictions apply to anyone who has passed through any of these countries in the 14 days before arriving in Italy.
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