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Italy’s travel ‘green pass’ to be valid from first Covid-19 jab

People who have only had the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine will still be able to claim Italy’s health pass for quarantine-free travel, according to the government’s plans.

Published: 19 May 2021 11:32 CEST
Italy’s travel ‘green pass’ to be valid from first Covid-19 jab
Italy says just one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine will allow you to travel without quarantining. Photo: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP

The certificazione verde (“green pass”) that allows travellers to enter Italy without quarantining will be issued from the first jab, the final text of Italy’s latest Covid-19 decree states.

According to the decree, signed by President Sergio Mattarella on Tuesday night and effective immediately, the green pass will be valid from 15 days after you receive the first injection and until you get the second – so around five to six weeks later for the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, and 10 to 12 weeks for AstraZeneca.

READ ALSO: EU nations agree to open borders to vaccinated travellers from outside bloc

At that point you will be able to claim the final version, which will remain valid for nine months after you’ve been fully vaccinated – less than the 12 months originally proposed by some government sources, but more than the six months currently allowed.

People who receive the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine will be eligible for the nine-month pass as soon as they’ve had their jab.

The provisions apply to people who live in Italy and get vaccinated here, who can use the green pass to travel overseas and return to Italy without quarantining.

Residents will also be able to use it to attend wedding receptions and other large events once they are permitted again from mid-June, the government has said. 

EXPLAINED: How and when weddings in Italy can go ahead this summer

Photo: Miguel MEDINA / AFP

Italy has also promised to recognise vaccinations performed in other countries with any of the vaccines approved by the EU regulator (currently Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, though four others are under review). 

In theory it could offer the green pass to visitors on the same terms – after one jab instead of two – though this has not been confirmed.

The rules may also depend on what the EU decides about its international Covid passport, the bloc-wide equivalent that is due to debut in June. The EU Commission has proposed making the pass available to visitors who have had both recommended doses of a vaccine, not just the first.

READ ALSO:

Italy currently accepts any certificate, paper or digital, that shows the bearer has either been fully vaccinated against Covid-19, has had Covid-19 and fully recovered, or tested negative for coronavirus in the past 48 hours.

It had previously said that certificates issued after recovery or vaccination would remain valid for six months, though in the case of vaccination this has now been extended to nine.

Member comments

  1. What is not clear (to me at least) is after you receive your first vaccination and get your ‘green pass’, will you still have to also get a 48h covid test to re-enter Italy?

    1. My thoughts as well. If I am vaccinated do I need to go through all the testing for a Covid free filght?

      1. Hi, at the moment this depends on where you’re travelling from and your reason for doing so. If you’re coming from the US for tourism, this is currently only allowed on Covid-tested flights regardless of your vaccination status: https://www.thelocal.it/20210515/latest-italy-to-reopen-to-us-tourists-on-covid-tested-flights/
        This could change, as an announcement is expected soon on when and how fully vaccinated travellers may be allowed into Europe. We’ll publish any updates on this as we get them.

  2. So once fully vaccinated the “green pass” is only valid for nine months. This begs three questions:

    1. Is the 9 month pass issued at the time of your second shot?
    2. If not, how long does it take to receive? I ask because my permesso took 18 months to receive and it now expires in 5 months because they used the original application date and did not adjust it for all the months of processing time.
    3. What is the plan for the “green pass” after its 9 months of validity; renewal? If so, how, when and where?

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TRAVEL NEWS

Labour Day: What’s open and what’s closed in Italy on May 1st 2024

Wednesday, May 1st will mark Italy’s Labour Day. But how will shops, transport services and museums be affected by the public holiday?

Published: 26 April 2024 15:33 CEST
Labour Day: What's open and what's closed in Italy on May 1st 2024

First established back in 1890 to celebrate workers’ rights and the achievements made by Italian trade unions, Labour Day (or Festa del Lavoro) is a national public holiday in Italy, meaning a day off for many around the country.

Generally speaking, much of Italy tends to grind to a halt on public holidays and Labour Day is no exception as some services will be significantly limited or, at times, even unavailable on the day.  

But what exactly can you expect to find open, or closed, next Wednesday?

Public transport 

Most local public transport companies in the country will operate on a reduced timetable (also known as orari festivi) on May 1st, with the quality and frequency of services during the day likely to vary significantly between rural and urban areas, as well as between cities.

Areas that are usually served by just the occasional bus may see stripped-to-the-bone services on Wednesday, whereas parts of the country that already have robust public transport networks should keep them fairly active.  

Having said that, Labour Day transport services in both urban and rural areas may experience delays and/or cancellations this year due to a 24-hour general strike involving staff from public and private operators around the country.

There’s currently little information available as to exactly how the walkout will affect travel on Wednesday and what level of disruption passengers can expect, though further details are expected to become available closer to the date of the walkout. 

You can keep up with all the latest updates in our strike news section. 

Rail and air travel

Much like public transport services, regional and local trains will run on fairly reduced timetables on Wednesday, whereas most interregional and long-distance high-speed trains will run on standard weekday timetables. 

However, the normal operation of these services may be affected by the above-mentioned 24-hour general strike. 

As for air travel, inbound and outbound flights shouldn’t be affected by the strike, according to the latest reports. 

Schools and offices

Public schools in all Italian regions will be closed on May 1st. 

Pupils in Molise and Liguria will enjoy a longer break as they’ll be home from school on Monday, April 29th and Tuesday, April 30th as well.

As it’s usually the case on national public holidays, offices in both the public and private sector (this includes banks, post offices, town hall desks and CAF fiscal assistance centres) will be closed. 

Tourist attractions

Most state-run museums and archaeological sites, including Florence’s Galleria dell’Accademia and Rome’s Colosseum, will be open on Wednesday, though some may have slightly reduced hours, which is why it’s advisable to check the opening times in advance if you have a specific site you want to visit in mind. 

Privately run museums, galleries or collections may be closed on the day.

Pasticcerie, panifici and restaurants

Some panifici (bakeries) and pasticcerie (pastry shops) in major cities may remain open on Wednesday morning to allow customers to buy bread and sweets for their Labour Day lunch.  

Many restaurants will remain open on Labour Day to welcome the families who choose to dine out for the holiday. But if you’re planning on eating out on that day, it’s advisable to make a reservation in advance to avoid any unpleasant surprises later on.

Shops and supermarkets

Many supermarket chains around the country will have limited opening hours on Wednesday. For instance, some may open around 9 in the morning and then close in the early afternoon.

Most mini-markets will remain completely closed instead. 

Most shops in non-urban areas will be closed on Wednesday, whereas businesses in big cities around the country may open for either the morning only or the afternoon only.

Doctors and pharmacies

GPs’ clinics will be closed on Wednesday. 

However, should you be in need of an urgent appointment, you can ask to see a doctor from Italy’s Guardia Medica, a medical care centre that operates outside of GPs’ normal working hours and on weekends, or visit your local hospital’s ER (pronto soccorso).

Should you need to buy medicines or pick up a prescription, pharmacies in Italy operate a rota system during national holidays to ensure that at least one is open in each area. 

To find the nearest one, Google farmacia di turno plus the name of the municipality (or comune) you find yourself in.

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