The wait is over to seek la dolce vita—leisure travelers from the United States can now travel to Italy.
A month after travel from the U.S. was first approved on COVID-tested flights (May 16), Americans can now enter Italy as long as they are vaccinated for COVID-19, have recovered from COVID, or present a negative COVID test result.
The Italian government’s new plan for U.S. travelers went into effect on June 21, just three days after the European Union added the United States to its list of countries approved for entry. Following that move, EU countries now have the green light to lift travel restrictions for both vaccinated and unvaccinated Americans.
In order to meet the new requirements for entering Italy, travelers from the U.S. must provide proof of vaccination completed at least 14 days prior to arrival in Italy (so you must have received your second dose, if two are required, at least two weeks before traveling). Italian officials said that they’ll accept the white CDC-issued paper vaccination certificate that Americans receive when they are vaccinated.
Alternatively, U.S. travelers can also present a lab-generated negative COVID-test result—either a rapid antigen or PCR test—that was carried out within 48 hours of departure for Italy (travelers must present certification from the laboratory that performed the test).
The third option is to provide proof of having recovered from COVID-19 “with a medical certificate outlining any necessary information,” according to the Italian government.
As long as U.S. travelers present one of these three forms of health documentation, they will not be required to quarantine after arriving in Italy.
Children under 6 years old are exempt from the above requirements, but those between age 6 and 18 must take a predeparture COVID test even if they have been vaccinated or have recovered from COVID.
All international arrivals into Italy must complete a digital location form prior to arrival. If they are unable to access the form online, passengers can print out a PDF version, manually fill it out, and present it upon arrival.
This is the first time Italy has fully reopened to U.S. leisure travelers since March 17, 2020, when the European Union closed its external borders to limit the spread of COVID-19. For the past month, leisure travelers could fly to Italy but only if they were willing to take a series of COVID tests and fly on specific flights with Delta Air Lines or American Airlines that the Italian government had approved.
The testing regimen included taking a PCR test no more than 72 hours before departure, taking a rapid antigen test at the airport in the U.S. prior to boarding, and taking a rapid antigen test on arrival in Italy.
Delta and American have ended their COVID-testing protocol for Italy flights and their flights to Italy now follow the new entry requirements.
U.S. travelers age two and older will still need to take a COVID-19 test no more than three days prior to their return flight to the United States to satisfy the U.S. testing requirement for international arrivals.
PCR and antigen tests with results available within 72 hours are readily available in Italy, according to the U.S. Embassy in Italy. Antigen tests cost approximately $25, and PCR tests cost approximately $75, the embassy reports.
This article originally appeared on May 14, 2021, and has been updated to include current information.
