Note: Last update of this article occurred on December 15th.
Can I travel to Italy?
On 7 October 2020, the Italian Government decided to extend the nationwide state of emergency until 31 January 2021, due to the health risks posed by the spread of communicable diseases, especially COVID-19 caused by the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.
On December 3, 2020 a new Decree of the President of the Council of Ministers (DPCM) was adopted, which provides for a series of restrictions on the national territory. The provisions enshrined in the DPCM of December 3, 2020, unless amended, are valid until January 15, 2021.
If you have any doubts about travelling to Italy, please contact the Border Police or the competent local Prefettura or health authorities. Travellers to foreign countries are advised to always check the relevant country information on ViaggiareSicuri website or contact the Embassy or consular offices of the Country of destination in Italy.
The lists of countries for which different restrictions apply can be found below. The lists are in force until November 24th.
1. General rules when entering Italy
Italy adopts different regulations, depending on the countries travelers are coming from. The lists of countries are presented below.
List A
No limitations.
- 🇸🇲 San Marino
- 🇻🇦 Vatican City
List B
Countries with a low infection risk. Travel to/from countries in List B is allowed for any reason and without the obligation to self-isolate on return. The requirement to fill a self-declaration remains. The easing of restrictions on travel from Italy to certain countries does not exclude that these countries may still impose restrictions on entry. Travellers are advised to check the relevant Country information on ViaggiareSicuri website, for information about entry restrictions by local Authorities.
- No country is included in this list at the moment.
List C
From 10 December until 20 December: people entering Italy from one of the countries listed below have to present a declaration to the effect that they have taken a molecular or antigenic swab test, with a negative result, within 48 hours before entering Italy, or alternatively self-isolate in Italy for 14 days.
From 21 December until 6 January: 14-day mandatory self-isolation.
- 🇦🇹 Austria
- 🇧🇪 Belgium
- 🇧🇬 Bulgaria
- 🇨🇾 Cyprus
- 🇭🇷 Croatia
- 🇩🇰 Denmark (including Faroe Islands and Greenland)
- 🇪🇪 Estonia
- 🇫🇮 Finland
- 🇫🇷 France (including Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Réunion, Mayotte, and excluding other French overseas territories)
- 🇩🇪 Germany
- 🇬🇷 Greece
- 🇮🇪 Ireland
- 🇱🇻 Latvia
- 🇱🇹 Lithuania
- 🇱🇺 Luxembourg
- 🇲🇹 Malta
- 🇳🇱 The Netherlands (excluding territories outside Europe)
- 🇵🇱 Poland
- 🇵🇹 Portugal (including The Azores and Madeira)
- 🇨🇿 Czech Republic
- 🇷🇴 Romania
- 🇬🇧 United Kingdom (including the Channel Islands, The Isle of Man, Gibraltar, British territories in Cyprus, and exluding British overseas territories)
- 🇸🇰 Slovakia
- 🇸🇮 Slovenia
- 🇪🇸 Spain (including Spanish territories in Africa)
- 🇸🇪 Sweden
- 🇭🇺 Hungary
- 🇮🇸 Iceland
- 🇳🇴 Norway
- 🇱🇮 Liechtenstein
- 🇨🇭 Switzerland
- 🇦🇩 Andorra
- 🇲🇨 Monaco
List D
People entering Italy from one of the countries listed below must self-isolate for 14 days.
- 🇦🇺 Australia
- 🇯🇵 Japan
- 🇳🇿 New Zealand
- 🇷🇼 Rwanda
- 🇰🇷 The Republic of Korea
- 🇹🇭 Thailand
- 🇸🇬 Singapore
- 🇺🇾 Uruguay
List E
Travel to/from the rest of the world (i.e. all the States and territories not mentioned in other Lists) is allowed only for specific reasons, such as work, health or study, or absolute urgency, returning to one’s home, domicile, or dwelling. Therefore, travel for tourism is not allowed. Travellers are advised to check the relevant Country information on ViaggiareSicuri website, for information about entry restrictions by local Authorities. The return to Italy from this group of countries is always permitted to Italian/EU/Schengen citizens and their family members, as well as holders of residence permits and their family members. (Directive 2004/38/EC). The DPCM of 24 October 2020 allows travellers from the Countries in List E to enter Italy if they have a proven and stable affective relationship (regardless of whether or not they cohabit) with Italian/EU/Schengen citizens or with persons who are legally resident in Italy (on a long-term basis) and if they are travelling to their partners’ home/domicile/dwelling (in Italy). On entering Italy from any of these Countries, travellers will be required to fill in a self-declaration form specifying the reason for entering/returning to Italy. The form must then be presented to the competent authorities if requested. Please be prepared to show any support documents and to reply to any answers by the competent authorities. Travellers will be allowed to reach their final destination in Italy only by private means (airport transit is allowed, however without leaving the dedicated areas of the terminal). Travellers must self-isolate and undergo supervision by the competent health authorities for 14 days.
- 🌎 Rest of the World
List F
List F is no longer in place. Countries previously in this list are now included in list E.
2. Exceptions to mandatory self-isolation
Provided that there are no symptoms of COVID-19, the following categories are exempt from the aforesaid requirements:
a) anyone who enters Italy for a period not exceeding 120 hours due to proven needs of work, health or absolute urgency, with the obligation, on expiry of that period, to leave the national territory immediately or, failing that, to begin the period of surveillance and fiduciary isolation;
b) any person transiting, by private means, through Italian territory for a period not exceeding 36 hours, with the obligation, at the end of that period, to leave the national territory immediately or, failing that, to begin the period of surveillance and trustee isolation in accordance with paragraphs 1 to 5;
c) nationals and residents of the States and territories listed in Lists A, B, C* and D in Annex 20 of Prime Ministerial Decree of December 3 2020, who enter Italy for proven employment reasons; *nontheless, if you stay in or transit through a Country in List C, you are still required to undergo a molecular or antigenic test. If you are taking a connection in or transiting through a Country in List C, take the questionnaire again mentioning also that Country.
f) the personnel of companies and institutions with registered or secondary offices in Italy for travel abroad for proven work requirements of no more than 120 hours;
g) officials and other servants, however, they may be called, of the European Union or international organisations, diplomatic agents, administrative and technical staff of diplomatic missions, consular officials and employees, personnel of the Security Information System of the Republic, and fire brigade workers, and military and police staff in the performance of their duties;
h) pupils and students to attend a course of study in a country other than their country of residence, dwelling or abode, to which they return every day or at least once a week.
i) passengers of “Covid-tested” flights, as defined by the Minister of Health with Order of November 23 2020. For further information on “Covid-tested” flights, kindly contact your airline.
During your stay in Italy, even if you fall into one of the categories above, should any flu-like symptoms compatible with COVID-19 arise, you must report it immediately to the local Health Authority, by calling dedicated local numbers. While waiting for further Health Authority decisions, you must put yourself in self-isolation.
For information related to molecular or antigenic test in Italy, you can refer to the following phone numbers: +39 0232008345 – +39 0283905385 (from abroad), or 1500 (in Italy, free of charge).
For health related queries, kindly contact local Health Authorities in your region.
For queries related to borders and border crossing, kindly contact Border Police of the designated point of entry/exit or local “Prefettura”.
3. Information form
An information form has been prepared for people travelling from/to Italy, based on the current legislation. The form has been designed for information purposes only, it has no legal value and does not guarantee entry in Italy or other Country of destination.
4. General rules on national territory
From 21 December until 6 January: it is not allowed to enter or exit different Regions.
25/26 December and 1 January: during these days it is forbidded to enter or exit different municipalities. People are still allowed to reach their residence/domicile.
Italian regions are divided in three different risk categories (yellow, orange, red). Regions periodically change color. Each regional Governments may impose restrictions on travellers from certain foreign Countries or territories. Travellers intending to travel or return to Italy are advised to check whether any new provisions have been introduced by their region of destination, either by directly contacting the local authorities or checking out the respective websites (click here).
More detailed information available here.
