Italy – Covid-19 – Immigration update

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Update: January 5^th, 2021

New classification system for countries concerning travel and coronavirus

What is the change?

The Italian government replaced its previous COVID-19 classification of countries with an updated series of lists for determining entry policies. These lists will remain in place until at least Jan. 15, 2021.

The lists are as follows:

• List A. Travelers from List A do not face any restrictions when entering Italy. The only countries on this list are San Marino and Vatican City.
• List B. Non-essential travel to and from these countries is allowed, but travelers must complete self-declaration forms upon returning to Italy. As of Dec. 10, no country is on this list. The health ministry may identify additional countries with low epidemiological risk trough a ministerial order.
• List C. Travelers in this category can travel to Italy for non-essential reasons. To gain entry, however, travelers are required to fill out a self-declaration form and must present negative PCR COVID-19 test results taken within 48 hours of entry in Italy. Those who do not present negative PCR COVID-19 test results will be required to quarantine. The countries on this list are Andorra, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark (including the Faroe Islands and Greenland), Estonia, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Norway (including Svalbard and Jan Mayen), Poland, Portugal (including the Azores and Madeira), Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, the Czech Republic, France (including Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique, Mayotte, Réunion), the Netherlands (excluding territories outside the European continent), Romania and Spain (including territories on the African continent), the United Kingdom.
• List D. Travel to and from List D countries is allowed for non-essential reasons, including tourism. Travelers returning to Italy from these countries must quarantine for 14 days and fill out a self-declaration form. The List D countries are Australia, Japan, New Zealand, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand and Uruguay.
• List E. Travel to and from List E countries is only permitted for essential reasons: work, health or study, absolute urgency or return to own home, domicile or residency. All countries not on another list are on List E.

There will be additional travel restrictions between Dec. 21 and Jan. 6, 2021. During this time, any traveler entering Italy who has passed through a List C country, for non-urgent reasons, is subject to mandatory quarantine.

In addition, Italy suspended flights from the U.K. until at least Jan. 6. It also moved to prohibit entry to anyone who has been in the U.K. in the 14 days before Dec. 20. Those who were in the U.K. who have already entered Italy must contact the competent health office to be tested for the virus.

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Update: October 13^th, 2020

Additional entry requirements added for specific countries

What is the change?

The Italian government has announced additional entry requirements for travelers from countries where infections of COVID-19 have been on the rise.

Key Points:

• Foreign nationals must now undergo mandatory swab testing for entry if they are coming from Belgium, the Czech Republic, France, The Netherlands, Spain or the United Kingdom.
• Mandatory COVID-19 testing is no longer required for Croatia, Greece and Malta.
• A 14-day mandatory quarantine period is only required for travelers with positive COVID-19 test results.

Besides the changes above, Italy extended existing travel restrictions until Oct. 15. Travelers are reminded that foreign nationals from countries not on Italy’s “black list” may enter Italy if they are part of an unmarried couple. They must prove they are in a stable, emotional relationship with an Italian, European Union or Schengen area citizen or Non-EU citizen who is legally living in Italy.

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Update: July 30^th, 2020

Mandatory quarantine for travelers from Bulgaria, Romania

What is the change?

Italy has imposed a mandatory quarantine requirement for travelers from Bulgaria and Romania.

Key Points:

• Travelers from Bulgaria and Romania will be permitted to enter but must quarantine for 14 days.
• The mandatory quarantine applies to anyone who has been in Romania and Bulgaria or traveled through those countries in the last 14 days.

Italy has moved to open up to more foreign travelers in recent weeks, lifting some of its COVID-19 entry restrictions.

So far, Italy has lifted travel restrictions for residents of EU/Schengen Area countries as well as Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay. Those traveling from all other countries must be entering to study or for work, urgent or health reasons and returning home or to one’s place of residence.

In addition, Italy has imposed a ban on entry for travelers who have visited or stayed in any of the following countries in the past 14 days: Armenia, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Chile, the Dominican Republic, Kosovo, Kuwait, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Oman, Panama, Peru and Serbia.

The ban does not apply for citizens of Italy, EU, Schengen countries, UK, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City and their family members on condition that they are registered as residents in Italy before 9 July 2020. However, the mandatory quarantine for 14 days is still required for travelers who have stayed or transited in the listed countries.

Those planning travel to Italy should take note of the entry restrictions and quarantine requirements and plan accordingly.

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Update: July 6^th, 2020

Entry, quarantine restrictions updated

What is the change?

Italy has updated entry and quarantine restrictions for travelers wishing to enter the country.

Key Points:

• As of July 1, Italy has lifted travel restrictions for residents of the following Countries: Algeria, Australia, Canada, China (subject to confirmation of reciprocity), Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay.
• Those coming from the above 15 countries no longer need to have “work, urgent or health reasons” for entering Italy.
• Those traveling from all other non-EU countries will still need to have “work, urgent or health reasons” to enter, but may now enter Italy for the purpose of studying.
• Fourteen-day mandatory quarantine is extended for all those traveling from non-EU countries, including those from the above 15 countries.

Italy began easing lockdown restrictions in May, with further easing of restrictions in early June. The most recent changes are consistent the EU travel recommendations that were finalized earlier this week.

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Update: April 20^th, 2020

Government eases lockdown, extends ID, permit validity

What is the change?

Italy has begun easing lockdown restrictions, and recently extended the validity of ID documents and residence permits.

Key points

• As of May 18, the government has ended the lockdown in all regions of Italy, and most business are permitted to open, provided they follow social distancing and other COVID-19-related protocols.
• Until June 3, those traveling from one region of Italy to another must continue to provide documentation for their reasons for travel. After June 3, however, they will no longer be required to justify their travel.
• After June 3, travel between Italy and the other EU and Schengen countries, as well as the U.K., will be permitted. Nevertheless, third-country travel to and from Italy will continue to be restricted until at least June 15.
• The validity of residence permits and entry clearances for work permits and family reasons has been extended until Aug. 31. Renewal applications can be filed from Aug. 31 and thereafter.
• The period for converting study permits to work permits have also been extended until Aug. 31.
  Additionally, the validity of Italian identification documents such as passports and identity cards that expired on March 17 or afterwards has been extended to Aug. 31.

In the last week of April, Italy extended travel restrictions and quarantine measures and extended the suspension of residence and work permit application processing pending on Feb. 23 or afterwards from April 15 to May 15. The government also announced the reopening of some business sectors beginning May 4.

Travel to and from Italy remains restricted with mandatory 14-day quarantine for those allowed to enter the country. The suspension of permit application processing will impact the movement of people into Italy. Nonetheless, the validity extension of some documents will ease immigration compliance for affected employees.