EXPLAINED: How Italy's international travel rules change in February
Italy's entry rules for international arrivals have been updated. Here's what you need to know if you're planning to travel.
This article was last updated on February 7th, 2022.
On January 27th, Health Minister Robert Speranza signed an ordinance updating Italy's international travel rules. The new rules came into force on February 1st and will be in place until at least March 15th.
Starting on February 1st, Italy also slashed the validity of its Covid vaccine pass to six months from the last dose, which was set to impact the ability of foreign visitors who had received their last dose more than six months ago to enter the country.
This rule was amended in a new decree that came into force on February 5th, which states that vaccine certificates showing that the holder has undergone a full primary vaccination cycle (one dose of Johnson & Johnson or two doses of all other recognised vaccines), and received a booster shot, now have unlimited validity.
Here's how all these rule changes affect visitors travelling to Italy from abroad:
Travel from within the EU
On January 27th, the Italian government confirmed there would be a change for arrivals from the EU from the start of February: anyone travelling to Italy from within the bloc now needs to show proof of vaccination, recovery, or a recent negative Covid test to enter the country without a self-isolation requirement.
This simplifies previous rules, which required travellers entering Italy from within the EU and Schengen area to show both proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid and a recent negative test result. Anyone unable to provide both was formerly subject to a five-day quarantine period.
READ ALSO: How do Italy’s Covid ‘super green pass’ rules apply to visitors?
Under the new rules, for those without proof of either vaccination or recovery, Italy accepts a negative result from a rapid (lateral flow) test taken within 24 hours of arrival in the country, or from a PCR (molecular) test taken within the 48 hours before arrival.
Bear in mind that the test must be from a certified provider that issues you with a certificate containing your full name, personal information, and a time stamp showing when the test was taken - a DIY home test result will not be accepted unless it meets this criteria.
These rules are set to be reviewed again by March 15th.
Another change to be aware of at the EU level from February 1st is that health passes issued based on two vaccine doses are now valid for nine months. These rules apply when crossing international borders within the European Union and Schengen area.
READ ALSO: How the rules of the EU Covid certificate for travel will change from February
Travel from outside the EU
According to the Italian foreign ministry's Viaggiare Sicuri (Travel Safe) website, the existing rules for all other countries are extended for six weeks until March 15th, 2022.
The website refers to the same January 27th ordinance that announced the changes to intra-EU travel restrictions.
This document states that rules on travel to and from "foreign countries or territories continue to apply, until the date of March 15th 2022, with the remaining measures set out in the ordinance of the Minister of Health of October 22nd, 2021 and the order of the Minister of Health of December 14th, 2021".
That means that for all countries on Italy's travel 'List D', which includes the US and Canada, it remains the case from February 1st that tourism to Italy is permitted without a self-isolation requirement, provided the traveller produces a valid vaccination or recovery certificate and a negative test result.
Based on Italy's new vaccine pass validity rules that came in on February 1st, a foreign-issued vaccine certificate based on two doses (or one for Johnson & Johnson) is valid for entry to Italy for six months from the date of the last dose. A vaccine certificate based on a booster shot, by contrast, has indefinite validity.
For more details about these rules, see the Italian health ministry's existing travel guidance on their website.
The test result can be from a PCR (molecular) test taken in the 72 hours before arrival or a rapid (antigen) test taken within the 24 hours before arrival in Italy.
The exception is the UK: if coming from here, passengers must take a PCR test within the 48 hours before arrival or a rapid test within the 24 hours before arrival.
Those whose vaccination certificate is expired may still enter the country, but must self-isolate for five days on arrival and test negative for Covid to exit quarantine. They must still take a PCR test within the 48 hours before arrival or a rapid test within the 24 hours before arrival in order to enter Italy.
READ ALSO: ‘Fit to fly’: Are Covid lateral flow tests valid for travel to Italy?
For countries on Italy's more restricted 'List E', it remains the case that travel to Italy is permitted only for work, health, study, absolute necessity, to return to one's residence, or to reunite with an Italian resident with whom the traveller is in a "proven stable relationship".
Travellers from countries on this list must present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival or a rapid test taken within 24 hours of arrival in Italy; and must quarantine for ten days on arrival and test negative for Covid to exit quarantine.
Please note that The Local is not able to advise on individual cases. For more information about how Italy's travel rules apply to you, please see the Italian government's travel website here or consult the Italian embassy in your country.
Find all the latest Italian travel news updates from The Local here.
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This article was last updated on February 7th, 2022.
On January 27th, Health Minister Robert Speranza signed an ordinance updating Italy's international travel rules. The new rules came into force on February 1st and will be in place until at least March 15th.
Starting on February 1st, Italy also slashed the validity of its Covid vaccine pass to six months from the last dose, which was set to impact the ability of foreign visitors who had received their last dose more than six months ago to enter the country.
This rule was amended in a new decree that came into force on February 5th, which states that vaccine certificates showing that the holder has undergone a full primary vaccination cycle (one dose of Johnson & Johnson or two doses of all other recognised vaccines), and received a booster shot, now have unlimited validity.
Here's how all these rule changes affect visitors travelling to Italy from abroad:
Travel from within the EU
On January 27th, the Italian government confirmed there would be a change for arrivals from the EU from the start of February: anyone travelling to Italy from within the bloc now needs to show proof of vaccination, recovery, or a recent negative Covid test to enter the country without a self-isolation requirement.
This simplifies previous rules, which required travellers entering Italy from within the EU and Schengen area to show both proof of vaccination or recovery from Covid and a recent negative test result. Anyone unable to provide both was formerly subject to a five-day quarantine period.
READ ALSO: How do Italy’s Covid ‘super green pass’ rules apply to visitors?
Under the new rules, for those without proof of either vaccination or recovery, Italy accepts a negative result from a rapid (lateral flow) test taken within 24 hours of arrival in the country, or from a PCR (molecular) test taken within the 48 hours before arrival.
Bear in mind that the test must be from a certified provider that issues you with a certificate containing your full name, personal information, and a time stamp showing when the test was taken - a DIY home test result will not be accepted unless it meets this criteria.
These rules are set to be reviewed again by March 15th.
Another change to be aware of at the EU level from February 1st is that health passes issued based on two vaccine doses are now valid for nine months. These rules apply when crossing international borders within the European Union and Schengen area.
READ ALSO: How the rules of the EU Covid certificate for travel will change from February
Travel from outside the EU
According to the Italian foreign ministry's Viaggiare Sicuri (Travel Safe) website, the existing rules for all other countries are extended for six weeks until March 15th, 2022.
The website refers to the same January 27th ordinance that announced the changes to intra-EU travel restrictions.
This document states that rules on travel to and from "foreign countries or territories continue to apply, until the date of March 15th 2022, with the remaining measures set out in the ordinance of the Minister of Health of October 22nd, 2021 and the order of the Minister of Health of December 14th, 2021".
That means that for all countries on Italy's travel 'List D', which includes the US and Canada, it remains the case from February 1st that tourism to Italy is permitted without a self-isolation requirement, provided the traveller produces a valid vaccination or recovery certificate and a negative test result.
Based on Italy's new vaccine pass validity rules that came in on February 1st, a foreign-issued vaccine certificate based on two doses (or one for Johnson & Johnson) is valid for entry to Italy for six months from the date of the last dose. A vaccine certificate based on a booster shot, by contrast, has indefinite validity.
For more details about these rules, see the Italian health ministry's existing travel guidance on their website.
The test result can be from a PCR (molecular) test taken in the 72 hours before arrival or a rapid (antigen) test taken within the 24 hours before arrival in Italy.
The exception is the UK: if coming from here, passengers must take a PCR test within the 48 hours before arrival or a rapid test within the 24 hours before arrival.
Those whose vaccination certificate is expired may still enter the country, but must self-isolate for five days on arrival and test negative for Covid to exit quarantine. They must still take a PCR test within the 48 hours before arrival or a rapid test within the 24 hours before arrival in order to enter Italy.
READ ALSO: ‘Fit to fly’: Are Covid lateral flow tests valid for travel to Italy?
For countries on Italy's more restricted 'List E', it remains the case that travel to Italy is permitted only for work, health, study, absolute necessity, to return to one's residence, or to reunite with an Italian resident with whom the traveller is in a "proven stable relationship".
Travellers from countries on this list must present a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival or a rapid test taken within 24 hours of arrival in Italy; and must quarantine for ten days on arrival and test negative for Covid to exit quarantine.
Please note that The Local is not able to advise on individual cases. For more information about how Italy's travel rules apply to you, please see the Italian government's travel website here or consult the Italian embassy in your country.
Find all the latest Italian travel news updates from The Local here.
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