Italy travel restrictions from 18the December 2021
The latest news on Italy travel restrictions in 18th December. Italy is taking cautionary measures and tightening its restrictions for all travellers in response to the rising threat of the omicron variant. Stay in touch with our Twitter page to stay up to date on the EU travel news.
Italy’s COVID infection rate is lower than other Western European countries, including the UK, France and Germany. But with around 20,000 new cases a day and rising, it is also tightening domestic measures to get a grip on the highly transmissible omicron variant.
Last night, Italian ministers voted to extend the country’s State of Emergency until 31 March 2022.
The new rules mean that all travellers who are fully vaccinated against the virus will need to show a negative COVID test before setting off for Italy.
What are the latest Italian travel restrictions?
The new rules mean that all travellers who are fully vaccinated against the virus will need to show a negative COVID test before setting off for Italy.
This can be either an antigen test – which must be taken 24 hours before departure – or a PCR test, which must have been taken within a 48-hour window.
Unvaccinated travellers must take a pre-departure test and quarantine for 5 days on arrival in Italy. They can then do a test and if they get a negative result, end their quarantine.
Children aged under 12 are not subject to the five-day quarantine rules if they are travelling with adults who are vaccinated or have recovered from Covid
Travellers from the EU
As of today, 18 December, travellers from the EU countries will have to take a COVID test before arriving in the country.
Previously, proof of vaccination, recent recovery or a negative test was sufficient for visitors from the Schengen zone. But now they must begin the testing process before embarking.
The Italian Council of Ministers also announced that all non-vaccinated travellers “will incur the obligation of quarantine” for five days. They can then test for release.
Signed by the Italian health minister on Tuesday night, these testing rules will stay in place until at least 31 January.
Travellers from the UK
The main changes for travellers from the UK centre around where they enter the EU. But once in the EU, they must provide a negative Covid test.
Other than that have been no changes to the previous rules for non-EU countries. Travellers from non-EU countries, such as the UK, must show a negative COVID-19 test on arrival. This can be either an antigen test – which must be taken 24 hours before departure – or a PCR test, which must be taken up to 48 hours before arrival.
Under this decree, Italian residents and visitors will continue to carry ‘Super Green Passes’ to access a number of social venues.
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