The rules on travel to (and through) Italy from the US and Canada have changed frequently over the past few months in response to the changing Covid-19 situation.
On May 1st, Italy removed nearly all of its Covid-related social restrictions, including its so-called ‘green pass’ to enter most venues across the country.
READ ALSO: At a glance: What are the Covid-19 rules in Italy now?
But, while visitors no longer need a valid vaccination or recovery certificate to access public transport or enter indoor venues, they may still need one to enter the country.
Here’s a closer look at the current rules.
Entering Italy from the US or Canada
As of May 1st and until June 15th, travellers from the United States and Canada may enter Italy if they are asymptomatic and present one of the following:
- A Covid-19 vaccination certificate recognised by the European Medicines Agency (EMA). Presently, EMA recognises the following vaccines: Pfizer-BioNtech, Moderna, Vaxzevria Johnson and Johnson, Astrazeneca and Novavax. Please keep in mind that the minimum requirement is that you have fully completed the primary vaccination cycle (in this case, your pass will be valid for 9 months). For those who have already received a booster shot, the certificate is valid indefinitely.
- A valid medical certificate confirming recovery from Covid (this is valid for 6 months from the positive swab test)
- A negative molecular (PCR) test carried out within 72 hours of arrival in Italy or a rapid antigenic test carried out within 48 hours of arrival
Once in Italy, there is no quarantine requirement, unless you failed to provide the above-mentioned paperwork. In such a case, you’d be obliged to undergo a five-day quarantine at the address indicated to the competent local health authorities (ASL). This would then be followed by a molecular (PCR) or antigenic swab at the end of the isolation period.
Certificates of recovery, vaccination or testing are accepted both in digital or paper format. The approved languages for such certificates are Italian, English, Spanish and French. For additional information, see the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website or the Italian US Embassy’s website.
Lastly, Passenger Locator Forms (PLFs), which all travellers were previously required to complete ahead of their journey, are no longer required for entry into Italy.
After arriving in Italy
A valid vaccination or recovery certificate is no longer required to access almost all indoor venues and transport services in Italy. All travellers are free to travel throughout Italy and enter restaurants, bars, cinemas, theatres and other indoor locations without having to provide a valid health pass.
The only exception is for hospitals and care homes, which continue to require a ‘super’ or ‘reinforced’ green pass or its equivalent in the form of a foreign-issued vaccine or recovery certificate.
The only remaining Covid restriction – which will be in place until at least June 15th – is the obligation to wear a face mask in some indoor venues (cinemas, theatres and indoor sport venues, though not in restaurants, bars or public offices) and on all means of public transportation.
READ ALSO: Where do you still need to wear a mask in Italy from May 1st?
Keep in mind that only FFP2/KN95 face masks are accepted on public transport.
Please note that The Local is unable to advise on individual situations. Please find more information about Italy’s current health measures on the Italian health ministry’s website (available in English).
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Americans, Brits and Canadians need to think twice before coming to Italy on holiday. Many restaurants and shops will not accept the American, UK or Canadian proof of vaccination – instead they demand the super green pass in order to enter. Although the Italian government has mandated the acceptance of proof of vaccination overseas for tourists, it does not matter to the individual restaurant or shop owner. Until Italy can simplify its rules for proof of vaccination and ensure that overseas vaccinations are accepted countrywide, I would suggest tourists go somewhere else in Europe if they want a hassle free vacation.
we own an Italy travel company and this has been a non issue. We ask our customers weekly if there were any places that they were turned back because of their documentation. This is both for vaccine cards and recovery documents. They have not been turned down once at any of the restaurants, musuems or public transportation. It has been a non issue to all of them.
Mcnev7: I’m not sure where you are referring to where shops/ restaurants are not accepting the foreign vax documents, but I work in tourism in Rome, Florence and Milan and in those 3 cities all forms of proof of vaccination are understood and accepted. Including US and UK.
My husband and I spent 10 days in Rome in October and had no problems when we showed our CDC vaccination cards to enter restaurants, museums, and coffee bars, with just one exception: our favorite coffee bar wouldn’t accept the cards because there was no QR code for their machine to read, so we sat outdoors to drink our coffee. That was a bit frustrating, but hardly a reason not to go to Italy!
we are Canadians in Puglia and we have green passes, but my father in law is visiting and has a Canadian vaccine certificate triple boosted. Every restaurant has asked for the green pass exclusively. They are suspicious and afraid of foreign vaccine certificates and we have not been allowed to enter several restaurants. In one case it was only because we knew the owner of another did they allow us to enter. IT IS NOT HASSLE FREE, SORRY TOUR COMPANIES!
sorry folks, but here in Puglia, my father in law who just arrived last week from Canada, has been refused in several restaurants despite having a valid (three dose!) Canadian vaccine passport. Restaurants are hesitant, confused, fearful of fines and have no clear direction. This is making travel here very difficult. I know tour operators want their clients back, but perhaps you should therefore support and lobby the regional health associations. Because traveling as a tourist in Italy is not working at the moment.
We were in Venice for 3 weeks in October and our Canadian proof of vaccination forms were accepted everywhere. Perhaps it’s a problem in more rural parts of the country, though.
What a wonderful world.