This week, Prime Minister Mario Draghi said Italy is ready to welcome back travelers. “The world wants to travel to Italy, the pandemic has forced us to close but Italy is ready to welcome back the world,” said Draghi. ”Our mountains, our beaches, our cities are reopening.”
To facilitate travel, the European Green Pass will be available in mid-June while the launch of an Italian Green Pass is scheduled for mid-May. Tourism Minister Massimo Garavaglia has confirmed that this pass will be valid for travelers from the U.S. and U.K. in addition to the European Union. According to the website of the European Commission, “the Digital Green Certificate will be proof that a person has been vaccinated against COVID-19, received a negative test result or recovered from COVID-19. It will be available, free of charge, in digital or paper format. It will include a QR code to ensure security and authenticity of the certificate.”
However, summer travel to Italy isn’t exactly cut and dry – some countries have their own COVID travel rules that might not correspond to Italy’s. To check eligibility, Italy's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published a travel questionnaire on their website – this lets potential travelers know exactly where they stand in terms of being able to travel to Italy, depending on their native country and vaccination situation.
Another option is the COVID-free fights between JFK airport and Rome’s FCO and Milan’s MXP offered by American, Delta, and Alitalia. The flights require travelers to take a COVID test no more than 48 hours before the flight. If the test is negative, they must present the result at check-in – they're not permitted to board the plane without it. In the event of a positive test, travelers can cancel their flights at no additional cost. They're tested immediately upon arrival, and if they're still negative, they don’t have to quarantine. Of course, travelers are expected to maintain social distancing regulations and keep their masks on for the duration of the flight.
At the moment, travelers from the U.K. and other E.U. have to undergo two tests, a safety measure that has been extended until at least May 15. They’re required to get tested within 48 hours prior to the flight and present the negative test result for check-in. Upon arriving in Italy, they must quarantine for five days before taking a second test.
Cover photo: Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre; credit: Getty Images