All You Need to Know to Travel to Italy During Covid
The pandemic is constantly causing changes in entry requirements in some countries. In addition to the EU Digital COVID Certificate, Italy’s case also requests the Passenger Locator Form (PLF).
But to enter the country safely and with no quarantine, passengers must have stayed or traveled in the countries included in List C within the previous 14 days.
But there is so much more to cover on the topic and this is why we’ve gathered all the information you need to take a flight to Italy during the pandemic.
What Nationalities Can Enter Italy?
At this moment in time, numerous nationalities can enter Italy, but the restrictions vary depending on the country list each nation belongs to.
First of all, let’s go through the country lists and the nations that belong to them.
Before we list all the countries that are allowed to travel to Italy, it’s essential to note that, since November 26, several African countries have been banned. This is due to the discovery of the Omicron variant, and these nations are Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
Countries in List C
The list C has been created for European countries, and the following nations are part of it:
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Travelers coming from these above countries and spending the previous 14 days in them can get into the country for both essential and non-essential travel. They must fill in the Italy passenger locator form and be able to show a Green Pass or an equivalent.
The ones that can’t provide a PLF and/or a Green Pass must quarantine for five days, then take a test, and they will then be released from the hotel or property they stay in.
Countries in List D
The List D includes the countries that aren’t in Europe, but that can still travel to Europe. These nations are:
Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kosovo, Korea, Kuwait, New Zealand, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, UAE, UK, USA, Ukraine, Uruguay, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macao.
Passengers coming from List D countries have to show proof of vaccination as well as a negative PCR or antigen test with results given within 72 hours of arrival.
Travelers coming from the UK must still provide the same paperwork as other countries, but the PCR or antigen test timeframe is reduced to 48 hours rather than 72.
Last but not least, passengers coming from Canada, Japan, and the United States have the option to show proof of recovery from Covid rather than proof of vaccination like other countries.
Similar to list C countries, the ones on the list D must quarantine for five days should they not be able to provide the necessary paperwork. After the 5-day self-isolation, a test is required, and the results must be negative.
Countries in List E
All the remaining countries are part of the list E, and stricter entry requirements apply. For these passengers (whether nationals or travelers from these countries), a negative PCR test with results given within 72 hours of arrival is needed.
In addition, they will need to quarantine for 10 days and take another test before leaving their isolation.
It’s worth noting that kids under six years of age aren’t required to take a test. Also, if they aren’t vaccinated, they will follow their parents’ requirements.
For instance, if the parents do not need to quarantine, then the unvaccinated children under six years old will not need to quarantine either.
Last but not least, transport crew staff such as flight attendants and professional drivers are exempt from taking a PCR test before traveling.
What is the Passenger Locator Form?
The Passenger Locator Form (PLF) is a report used by European health authorities to make passenger tracking and locating easier if individuals are exposed to Covid-19.
When this happens, the authorities contact potentially infected passengers to alert them as soon as possible.
The PLF is a paper-based document, but its alternative, the digital PLF (dPLF) can be used on any mobile phone.
All individuals traveling to the following countries have to fill the form within 72 hours of arrival:
- France
- Italy
- Malta
- Slovenia
It’s crucial to remember that traveling with the PLF isn’t enough to enter Italy, and we recommend following the instructions above.
How Does the Passenger Locator Form Work?
To get your PLF, you first need to register on the EU website and log in after activating your account.
After that, you simply need to fill it in with the correct information within 72 hours of arrival in Italy. These are the details that you need to indicate:
- Your final destination – in this case, Italy
- The transportation method – car, flight, or else
- All travel and personal information
- Previous accommodation and address in Italy
- Emergy contact details
Once you submit your details, you will be sent an email with your QR code as a PDF file.
What is a Green Pass and How Does it Work?
A Green Pass is the EU system in place to track the citizens’ medical status. The application shows whether a traveler has been vaccinated or not, recovering from Covid, and being tested negative in the past 72 hours.
As mentioned above, the Green Pass is necessary to travel between countries, and a quarantine period is required for the individuals that aren’t able to show it.
The Green Pass is a QR, and it can be obtained through the Italian government’s website and by downloading the Immuni mobile application.
In Italy, the QR code is needed for pretty much all the essential daily life tasks such as:
- On long-distance trains or buses
- When going to a party at a nightclub
- Going to watch a movie at the theater
- Having breakfast, lunch, or dinner at a restaurant
For this reason, downloading the mobile and getting a Green Pass before traveling to Italy is not only necessary but recommended.
Final Thoughts
Traveling to and within Italy is undoubtedly more complicated than before the pandemic. However, with the proper paperwork and all the requirements in order, flying to one of the most popular destinations in the world is still doable.
To sum up, prepare your vaccination record, register and fill in your digital Passenger Locator Form, and get tested before taking the plane, car, or boat.
