Italy, in response to the European Council’s recommendations, has reinstated more strict entry and travel restrictions for US citizens, Schengen-Visa.com reports.
The information below regarding the new travel rules are pulled from the website of the US Embassy to Italy. The new rules for Americans include the following:
- US citizens must provide their airline or Italian law enforcement with a self-declaration form prior to travel.
- From 31 August 2021 to 25 October 2021, all travelers from the US must present a negative PCR or rapid antigen test carried out within 72 hours of arrival. This rule goes for both travelers who are vaccinated against Covid-19 and those who are not.
- In addition to a negative Covid-19 test, travelers from the US must also present a vaccination certificate with an EU-approved vaccine or proof of infection and recovery from Covid-19 within the 6 month prior to arrival. The vaccines currently approved by the EU are: Pfizer-BioNtech, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson, and Astrazeneca. Vaccinations must be completed with the final dose at least 14 days before travel to Italy, and Americans can prove that they are vaccinated by presenting the ‘white card’ with the CDC logo.
- Travelers who cannot provide proof of vaccination or recovery must quarantine for a minimum of 5 days and test negative for Covid-19 via a rapid antigen test or PCR test at the end of the isolation period.
- Travelers to Italy are required to complete the EU Digital Passport Locator form.
- Travelers must look into specific localities and regions that they will be going to in order to ensure that they know the rules for that area, as not all Covid restrictions are imposed at the national level.
The new rules listed above are only the relevant and new rules imposed by Italy after the Council’s recommendations, not a comprehensive list of every rule that Italy requires of US citizens.
To read the full list of rules on the US Embassy’s website, click this link.
At the same time, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has criticized the Council’s recommendations against allowed travel from the US, Israel, Montenegro, Lebanon, Kosovo, and North Macedonia.
The organization released a statement by Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA, stating that the recommendations and any decisions following them have the potential to further add insult to injury to the airline industry.
Walsh also implied that the perceived need for Covid-19 testing requirements for vaccinated travelers shows an extreme lack of confidence in government surrounding the vaccines and their effectiveness, which will likely undermine travelers’ confidence in the authorities of the countries they are traveling to.
“While this is a disappointing development for businesses and people who rely on travel, the data from the US and Israel supports the value and benefit of vaccination. As governments rightly urge their populations to be vaccinated, governments need to be confident in the benefits they bring—including the freedom to travel. At a minimum, those who are fully vaccinated should be free to move without restriction,” Walsh said.
To read Walsh’s statement on behalf of IATA, click this link.
To read the Council’s updated list and recommendations click this link.
To read Schengen-Visa.com’s report on the Council’s recommendations, click this link.
