☰

UNLOCKING THE WORLD

Traveling to Italy during
Covid-19: What you need to
know before you go
CNN Sta' • Updated 22nd January 2022

Editor's Note — Coronavirus cases are in flux across

the globe. Health oVcials caution that staying home is
the best way to stem transmission until you're fully
vaccinated. Below is information on what to know if
you still plan to travel, last updated on January 21.

(CNN) — If you're planning to travel to Italy, here's

what you'll need to know and expect if you want to
visit during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The basics

Advertisement

Italy renewed its state of emergency status on

December 14, and will remain so until at least March
31. Although the country has emerged from a third-
wave lockdown, case numbers are being continuously
monitored, and regions are following a traVc light-
style system with varying restrictions dependent on
hospital capacity and infection rates.

New restrictions on entry have been brought in,

including testing requirements for EU arrivals for the
first time.

Entry is largely limited to residents of the European

Union, plus a select list of non-EU countries, including
the United States, Canada, Japan and the United
Kingdom. The entry regulations di'er depending on a
traveler's vaccination status and whether they've
recently recovered from Covid.

Since December 6, a tightening of rules means it is

now diVcult for unvaccinated people to carry out day-
to-day activities. Masks must be worn at all times,
including outside.

What's on offer in Italy

This is one of Europe's big hitters, known for its historic
cities of art such as Florence, one-o' wonders such as
Venice and the seat of the Roman Catholic Church in
Rome.

Incredible food, fantastic wine, unspoiled countryside

and a string of beach resorts mean it's always in
demand.

Who can go
Italy's borders have been open to visitors for most of
2021, with some restrictions in place. The entry
regulations were updated on December 16, and are
valid until at least January 31.

Countries currently allowed in are divided into two

lists:

List C is for Europe: Andorra, Austria, Belgium,

Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark (including Faroe
Islands and Greenland), Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia,
Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco,
the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal (including
the Azores and Madeira), Czech Republic, Romania,
Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.

List D, which was updated on December 14, now

comprises the following countries: Argentina, Australia,
Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Colombia, UAE,
Indonesia, Japan, Kosovo, Israel, Kuwait, New Zealand,
Peru, Qatar, Rwanda, UK, South Korea, USA, Uruguay,
Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao.

The rest of the world is classified as List E. Only

essential travel is allowed from these destinations.

On 14 January, Italy lifted the travel ban on arrivals

from eight southern African countries: South Africa,
Lesotho, Botswana, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Mozambique,
Namibia and Eswatini. They now move to list E.

What are the restrictions?

Advertisement

As of December 23, anyone flying to or from Italy must

wear an FFP2 mask -- for more information, see below.

Regardless of their vaccination status, all visitors must

fill in a self-declaration form. Additionally, the following
requirements must be met, depending on where you
are arriving from.

All fully vaccinated (including boosted) arrivals from

List C (EU countries) must present a negative test
result, taken within 24 hours (antigen) or 48 hours
(PCR) of departure, in addition to their vaccination
certificate.

Non-vaccinated and partially vaccinated EU arrivals

must additionally quarantine for five days on arrival,
and then test negative before exiting quarantine.

Non-vaccinated children under 12 do not have to

quarantine, as long as they are traveling with fully
vaccinated adults.

Travelers arriving from List D countries must present

proof of vaccination (with the conditions above), along
with a negative test, taken within 72 hours of arrival
(PCR) or within 24 hours of arrival (antigen). For those
coming from the UK, the PCR test must be taken
within 48 hours.

Travelers from Canada, Japan and the US could show

proof of recovery from Covid-19, instead of proof of
vaccination.

Those who do not present the correct evidence -- or

unvaccinated arrivals -- must quarantine for five days,
and test at the start and end of quarantine.

Arrivals coming from List E countries (essential travel

only) must also present a negative PCR test taken
within 72 hours of arrival, or a negative antigen test
taken within 24 hours of arrival. They must then
quarantine for 10 days, and test negative to leave
quarantine.

Wherever they are arriving from, children under six

years old do not have to take a test. Furthermore,
unvaccinated kids follow the rules their parents are
following -- in other words, if their accompanying
parent does not have to quarantine, neither does the
child.

What's the Covid-19 situation?

As the first hit European country, Italy has been
through a lot. Restrictions have consistently brought
things under control, with Italy holding out longer than
European neighbors in each subsequent wave.
However, the winter waves of 2020-21 and 2021-22
have taken huge tolls.

Italy holds Europe's second highest death toll (after

the UK), passing the milestone of 100,000 deaths on
March 8, 2021. Over 9.4 million people have been
infected to date, with the death toll at 142,590 as of
January 21. With the arrival of the Omicron variant,
numbers are soaring, with each week over the past
month breaking the previous record. In the week
leading up to January 21, over 1,262,000 new
infections were recorded -- marginally lower than that
of the previous week. Before that, the previous record
was 681,000 new infections between Christmas and
New Year. And before Omicron, the record infection
rate for the pandemic was 248,000 infections in a
week, registered in November 2020.

Around 90% of the adult population has now been fully

vaccinated, and children are now being vaccinated as
well. A vaccine mandate for the over-50s was
announced on January 6. All over-18s can now receive
a booster dose four months after their second dose.

App Immuni uses Bluetooth to track contact with

potential infection. "Green passes" were introduced in
summer 2021 with "super green passes" from
December 6 (see below).

What can visitors expect

Italian regions are currently graded by their infection
and hospitalization rates, running from white (lowest
risk) through yellow and amber to red (highest risk).
The zoning rules have changed for 2022, meaning that
the previous severe restrictions of orange and red
zones are a thing of the past. This year, what you can
and can't do depends more on your vaccination status
than the zone you are in. Proof of vaccination is
required for most everyday activities, from entering
shops to taking public transport.

Note that children under the age of 12 are exempt

from the vaccination requirements.

As of January 21, there is only one orange region, Valle

d'Aosta. There are five white zones: Basilicata, Molise,
Puglia, Sardinia and Umbria. That leaves the rest of the
country yellow. The next update is due January 24.

A nationwide mask mandate since December 23

means that you must wear a mask at all times, even
when walking outside in the street, or risk fines of
around $450.

That mask must be a safer FFP2 model on public

transport (including flights to and from Italy), and
during any kind of performance whether indoors or
outdoors -- cinemas, theaters, music venues and
sporting events. Eating and drinking inside at these
events is also banned.

Any kind of event, party or concert that involves

crowding in open spaces is banned until January 31.
Nightclubs have also been closed.

Social distancing restrictions remain in place, including

on public transport -- except for high-speed trains,
which can run at capacity. Authorities will be given the
authority to halt any train on which a passenger is
showing any symptoms of Covid-19.

Only two people may sit in the back of a taxi, if they

are part of the same family.

The 2022 rules for the white, yellow, orange and red
zones are as follows:

White zones:

The least restricted. The mask mandate and green

pass restrictions are enforced.

Yellow zones:

White zone rules apply, plus:

• Cinemas and live entertainment venues are capped

at 50% capacity.

Orange zones:

Yellow zone rules apply, plus:

• Numbers allowed on the ski slopes have been

restricted (the exact number depends on the region).
Only a limited number of ski passes will be sold each
day.

• On weekends, only those with a super green pass (or

three vaccinations) are allowed in shopping malls.

• Stadium capacity is capped at 35% indoors, 50%

outdoors.

• If not fully vaccinated with a booster, traveling from

one comune (council area) to another is only allowed
for essential reasons.

Red zones:

No region has so far turned red in 2022, but if they do,

this would see the return of 2020/2021 restrictions --
even for the fully vaccinated and boosted.

Red zone status would still mean closures of bars,

restaurants, museums and entertainment venues.
Restrictions on travel and a nightly curfew would be
reintroduced.

Green passes and super green passes:

Enter almost anywhere in Italy and you will be asked to

show your "certificazione verde," or green pass.

As of January 2022, there are two types of green pass:

a basic one and a "super green pass" or
"certificazione verde ra'orzata."

The regular pass shows that the holder has been

vaccinated, has tested negative within the past 48
hours, or has recovered from the virus within the past
six months.

The "super green pass" can only be obtained through

vaccination (including a booster) or previous infection,
but not through testing negative.

Currently, a green pass is required to enter any

nonessential shops and services, including
hairdressers, post oVces and shopping centers. From
February 1, only supermarkets, pharmacies, gas
stations and pet stores will be exempt.

A super green pass is now required to eat both indoors

and outdoors in bars and restaurants, as well as to
access entertainment venues, museums and
exhibitions, gyms, nightclubs, theme parks, ski lifts,
pools, wellness centers, spas and stadiums. You must
also hold the super green pass to use public transport
(including internal flights and ferries), stay in hotels or
attend events such as fairs, festivals and conferences.

From February 1, the validity of a green pass will be

reduced from nine months to six.

Those vaccinated in other countries are not eligible for

the Italian pass, but EU vaccination passes are
recognized and scanned as domestic ones are. Those
holding a certificate with a QR code -- including UK
NHS certificates -- can normally have their passes read
as an Italian one. Check whether yours is valid by
downloading the VerificaC19 app.

If your QR code is not recognized by the app, or you

don't have one, you must show a paper copy of your
certificate from your home country.

Useful links
Italian Health Ministry

Immuni track and trace app

Countries currently allowed in

Verifica C19 app (iPhone)

Verifica C19 app (Android)

Our latest coverage

Can't get to Italy right now? You can always buy a
house for 1 euro -- the price of a cup of co'ee.

A new website has just launched o'ering visit-free

sales around the country. If you're not looking to buy,
the country's alberghi di'usi, or scattered hotels, are
the perfect travel solution in the time of Covid-19. Or
check out our list of small towns perfect for social
distancing.

CNN's Julia Buckley contributed to this report

More from CNN Travel

20 of the world's best soups

Turkmenistan wants The 'Caspian Sea

to close the 'Gates of Monster' rises from
Hell' the grave

7 stunning new Tripadvisor's most

Maldives resorts to popular world
visit in 2022 destination for 2022 is
...

© 2022 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System,

Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Terms of Use Privacy Policy AdChoices