Traveling To Italy? Unvaccinated Americans Need To Know This

Italy has implemented new travel restrictions for unvaccinated Americans due to the high rates of coronavirus infections in the U.S. Unvaccinated travellers must present a negative Covid-19 test taken within 72 hours of arrival and complete a 5-day self-isolation period before taking another test. They will also need a digital green pass to enter restaurants, museums, and many other public places, which can be obtained by verifying full vaccination or a negative Covid-19 test within 48 hours of arriving in Italy. These restrictions add to the challenges unvaccinated Americans face when travelling to Europe, with countries like France, Spain, and Germany imposing similar measures.

Testing requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers

As of June 2021, Italy has waived the quarantine requirement for fully vaccinated travellers from the US. Vaccinated travellers are also exempt from testing upon arrival. However, they must show their CDC vaccination card.

Unvaccinated travellers are welcome but must present proof of recovery from COVID-19 or a negative COVID-19 PCR or rapid antigen test taken within 48 hours of arrival. Children under six are exempt from pre-departure testing. All travellers must also fill out a passenger locator form prior to departure.

From 2025, US citizens will need a visa waiver to visit Italy, known as the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). This will be similar to the Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA) that most non-Americans need to enter the US. The ETIAS will likely be an online application that will take a few minutes to complete, with a small fee of less than €20. It will be valid for four years, so travellers won't need to apply every time they visit Italy or other Schengen countries in Europe.

Quarantine period for unvaccinated travellers

Unvaccinated travellers to Italy from the US must present negative results from a molecular or antigenic Covid-19 test taken no more than 72 hours before their arrival in the country. They must also complete a digital passenger locator form for contact-tracing purposes.

In addition, unvaccinated travellers are required to complete a 5-day self-isolation period before getting tested again (at their own expense). Only after this can they start their vacation in Italy.

Once in the country, unvaccinated travellers will need a digital "green pass" to enter restaurants, museums, train stations, and many other public places. This pass can be obtained by presenting a negative Covid-19 test result from no more than 48 hours before arriving in Italy.

Passenger locator forms

As of 2025, Italy has imposed new travel restrictions for unvaccinated Americans. All travellers, regardless of vaccination status, who have spent the previous 14 days in the U.S. must present negative Covid-19 test results taken no more than 72 hours before arrival in Italy. Unvaccinated Americans must also complete a 5-day self-isolation period before taking another test.

In addition to the above requirements, all visitors to Italy must complete a digital passenger locator form for contact-tracing purposes. This form is mandatory for each visitor, including children.

The EU Passenger Locator Form is required for Italy, France, Malta, and Slovenia. It is important to note that this form must be filled out for each country visited, so if you are travelling through multiple countries, you will need to complete a separate form for each.

The form can be found on the official website: https://app.euplf.eu/#/

It is recommended to check the specific requirements of each country you plan to visit, as they may have additional forms or requirements. For example, Spain has its own Spain Travel Health form that must be filled out via their app or website.

When travelling through Europe, it is important to be aware of the regulations and requirements of each country, as failing to comply may result in difficulties during your trip.

Green pass requirements for entry to public spaces

As of June 1, 2022, the Italian government no longer requires a green pass for entry into the country. This means that travellers do not need to show any Covid-19 documentation such as proof of vaccination, recovery, or a negative Covid-19 test upon entry. However, there are still some requirements for unvaccinated travellers.

Previously, a green pass was required to enter restaurants, museums, train stations, and many other public places in Italy. The pass, in the form of a scannable QR code, verified that the holder was either fully vaccinated or had received a negative Covid-19 test result within 48 hours of arrival in Italy. This is no longer required as of May 1, 2022, when Italy removed its domestic green pass requirement.

However, it is important to note that there may still be some public spaces that voluntarily choose to require a green pass for entry. Additionally, certain hospital and ER situations may still require a green pass. It is always a good idea to check the latest guidelines and restrictions before travelling.

European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS)

The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) is an upcoming travel authorisation system for visitors to the EU from countries that are not part of it. These countries have previously been granted visa-free access to the EU and Schengen member countries due to their good track record on security issues. However, the EU aims to strengthen its border security and digitally screen and track travellers entering and leaving.

ETIAS is not a visa but a visa waiver, similar to the US ESTA system. It will be mandatory for citizens of countries like the US, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. The ETIAS must be applied for online prior to arrival in the EU, and each eligible traveller, regardless of age, will require an ETIAS to visit EU member countries. The cost of an ETIAS is €7, but individuals under 18 or over 70 are exempt from the fee.

The ETIAS application will require personal biometric data (e.g. name, gender, date of birth), passport or travel document information, EU member state of entry, and background questions on the applicant's health, criminal record, and previous EU immigration history. In most cases, a decision on the application will be made within minutes of submission. If approved, the ETIAS will be valid for three years or until the expiry of the applicant's passport, whichever is sooner. If additional documentation is required, processing times can take up to four weeks.

The ETIAS proposal was finalised in November 2016, and the regulation was adopted on 12 September 2018 and entered into force on 9 October 2018. The system was initially slated to start in 2021 but has been delayed due to delays with Europe's travel tracking program and the global health crisis. The exact launch date has not been announced, but it is expected to be implemented in 2025.

Frequently asked questions