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HEALTH

What are the rules on travelling to Italy right now?

Travellers to Italy are divided into six categories under government guidelines.

Published: 13 October 2020 09:56 CEST
Updated: 9 November 2020 10:01 CET
What are the rules on travelling to Italy right now?
Travel to Italy for tourism is possible from some countries. Photo: Alberto Pizzoli/AFP

The Italian government signed off an another new emergency decree on October 13th, and many were hoping that restrictions on travel to Italy would be lifted under the updated set of emergency rules.

However, the travel rules have overall stayed the same in the latest update.

In fact, many other rules were tightened as cases have risen sharply in Italy recently – meaning it looks unlikely that travel or other restrictions will be eased soon.

The only changes were to the list of countries from which travellers face mandatory testing upon arrival in Italy, with countries including the UK added to the list.

The current travel guidelines divide travellers into six categories, based on the country they are coming from.
 
Here’s a quick overview of these categories, outlining the rules travellers should be aware of.
 
 

Category A:
 
San Marino and Vatican City
 
Travellers from the two microstates within Italy face no limitations.
 
Category B:
 
Unrestricted travel is permitted from most EU countries as well as Schengen zone countries, Andorra, and Monaco. However, travellers from some countries will need to take a test or quarantine on arrival.
 
“Travel to/from EU countries is allowed for any reason, therefore also for tourism, and without the obligation to self-isolate on return. The requirement to fill in a self-declaration form remains,” the Italian government states.
 
Travellers entering Italy from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, Belgium, Spain and parts of France must get tested for coronavirus either within 72 hours of departing for or 48 hours of arriving in Italy (Since October 8th, Croatia, Greece, and Malta are no longer on this list.)
 
Provided they test negative, they are not obliged to quarantine.
 
 
Photo: AFP
 
Category C:
 
People travelling from Romania or Bulgaria are required to quarantine for their first 14 days in Italy. 
 
The rule applies to anyone who has been to either country in the two weeks before arriving in Italy, however briefly.
 
“Travel from/to these countries is allowed for any reason but requires mandatory self-isolation and supervision by the competent health authorities on returning to Italy; travellers must fill in a self-declaration form and may reach their final destination in Italy only by private means,” the Italian government states.
 
For more details travellers are advised to check the relevant country information on the ViaggiareSicuri website. 
 
Photo: AFP
 
Category D:
 
Countries on the EU “safe list”.
 
These are currently: Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Rwanda, Republic of Korea, Thailand, Tunisia, Uruguay
 
“Travel from these countries is allowed for any reason, therefore also for tourism,” the latest guidance states. (Travel to these countries is also permitted by Italy, but depends on the rules put in place by those countries' governments.)
 
“However, on returning to Italy, travellers must self-isolate and undergo supervision by the competent health authorities; they are required to fill in a self-declaration form and reach their final destination in Italy only by private vehicle.”
 
Italy differs from most other EU countries, which do not require travellers from “safe list” countries to undergo quarantine on arrival.
 
 
Category E:
 
Rest of the world.
 
Travel from elsewhere, including from the US, remains possible for essential reasons only and arrivals will still face a 14-day quarantine on arrival.
 
“Travel to and from the rest of the world is allowed only for specific reasons, such as work, health, study, absolute urgency, or returning to one's home or residence,” the government guidelines state. “Travel for tourism is not allowed.”
 
Italian/EU/Schengen citizens and their family members, as well as holders of residence permits and their family members, are allowed to enter Italy from these countries. 
 
 
Photo: AFP
 
The new decree contained a travel ban exemption for those in “stable” relationships – meaning people can travel from these countries to visit their partners in Italy even if they are not married or cohabiting, which as not previously allowed. See more details in a separate article here.
 
All travellers from these countries “must self-isolate and are required to fill in a self-declaration form, and reach their final destination in Italy only by private vehicle,” the government guidance states.
 
Find more details on what is classed as “essential” travel and possible exemptions here.
 
Category F:
 
Banned countries.
 
The decree keeps in place a complete ban on entry from countries on Italy's no-travel list. 
 
There are 16 countries currently included: Armenia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Chile, Colombia, Kuwait, North Macedonia, Moldova, Oman, Panama, Peru, Dominican Republic, Serbia, Montenegro and Kosovo.

The ban applies to anyone who has been to any of those countries within the past 14 days, even if they were just transiting there. 

Direct and connecting flights to and from these countries are suspended until further notice.

Citizens of Italy, another EU country, the Schengen Zone or the UK who live in Italy permanently are allowed to return home from one of the countries on the 'risk list'.

See further details of possible exemptions in the latest update on the Italian government's official website.

For more details travellers are advised to check the relevant country information on the ViaggiareSicuri website. You may also wish to check the Italian Foreign Ministry's website (in English) as well as the latest advice from the government of any countries you're travelling to or from.

Please note: The Local is not able to advise on specific cases. Contact your embassy for official guidance.

Member comments

  2. If we land in milan in transit can we still connect to a flight to somewhere else even though the region is sealed?

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For members

STRIKES

What to expect from Italy’s national rail strike this weekend

Rail passengers in Italy may face disruption on Saturday, May 4th and Sunday, May 5th as staff at state-owned railway company Ferrovie dello Stato plan a 24-hour strike.

Published: 2 May 2024 10:59 CEST
What to expect from Italy's national rail strike this weekend

Passengers travelling across Italy by train may face delays or cancellations this weekend as staff at state-owned railway operator Ferrovie dello Stato, which includes Trenitalia, Trenord, and Trenitalia Tper, plan to strike from 9pm on Saturday, May 4th to 9pm on Sunday, May 5th.

The walkout was called by CAT (Coordinamento Autorganizzato Trasporti) – one of Italy’s major trade unions – in late March to demand the renewal of collective labour agreements in the rail transport sector.

The planned protest is expected to affect all types of rail travel, from long-distance services to regional and local ones, with the overall level of disruption expected to vary by city and operator.

While rail companies are legally required to guarantee the operation of a number of minimum services (servizi minimi) during strikes taking place on weekdays, there’s no such requirement for weekend walkouts.

READ ALSO: The transport strikes that will hit travel in Italy in May 2024

This means that operators are free to decide whether or not to guarantee services for passengers.

Trenitalia 

National rail operator Trenitalia said in a statement that their services “may experience changes or cancellations” for the entire length of the strike, but the protest may also “result in service variations both before its start and after its end”. 

Though the statement provided no information regarding possible guaranteed services, Trenitalia generally operates a number of essential long-distance journeys during weekend walkouts. These are available here.

Trenitalia has advised passengers planning to travel with them during the weekend to check the status of their services via their website or mobile app, or by calling toll-free number 800 89 20 21.

Trenitalia Tper

Trenitalia Tper, which operates train services in the Emilia-Romagna region, has said that their services “may experience changes or cancellations” due to the walkout. 

In the event of cancellations, passengers will be able to “ask for a refund according to the operator’s terms and conditions”.

Trenitalia Tper hasn’t yet provided any details regarding possible guaranteed services.

See their website for the latest updates.

Trenord

Trenord, which operates a number of regional trains in the Lombardy region, including connections to and from Milan’s Malpensa Airport, has said that scheduled services “may be subject to cancellations”.

However, the operator has also said that none of its staff are represented by trade union CAT and previous walkouts backed by the union didn’t affect scheduled services.

Trenord will not operate minimum services during the strike. However, should airport link services be cancelled, replacement buses will run the same routes. 

See Trenord’s website or app for the latest updates.

Italo

Private long-distance operator Italo will not be affected by the strike.

What to do if your train is cancelled

If a pre-booked rail service is cancelled due to strike action in Italy, passengers are normally allowed to travel on other equivalent services instead or will be entitled to a refund.

Passengers travelling with Trenitalia will need to request a refund either at the station or by using this web form. 

Keep up with the latest updates in The Local’s strike news section.

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