Yes, Americans can travel to Italy for tourism. However, they have to arrive on covid-tested flights, approved by the Italian government. Italynews.online has the details.
From May 16, the Italian government allows Americans to visit Italy if they arrive on a covid-tested flight.
What is a Covid-tested flight?
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ website ‘Viaggiare Sicuri’ defines Covid-tested flights as those where “passengers are allowed to board following a mandatory rapid antigen test performed before boarding or upon presentation of certification attesting the negative result of a molecular or antigen swab test taken within 48 hours prior to boarding. Upon arrival in Italy, passengers must test again at the airport of arrival.”
If American leisure travellers arrive on another type of flight they will be refused entry.
If I’m vaccinated do the same rules apply?
Yes, they do. The Covid-tested flight requirement applies to all travellers from the USA. Once in Italy, travellers need to take another test, which if negative means there’s no quarantine.
Which U.S. airlines operate Covid-tested flights?
Delta offers the following nonstop COVID-tested services to Italy:
- Five-times-a-week between Atlanta and Rome, increasing to daily May 26
- Daily service between New York-JFK and Milan
- Three-times-a-week from JFK to Rome, increasing to daily July 1
Additionally, Delta said in a statement that it will “launch three more nonstop routes this summer: New York-JFK to Venice beginning July 2, as well as Atlanta to Venice and Boston to Rome beginning Aug. 5.”
American Airlines also offers Covid-tested flights:
- the daily JFK to Milan Malpensa route
- the three-times weekly service JFK to Rome (FCO)
“With the recent change in Italy’s travel restrictions, any customers, whether traveling for leisure or essential business, are eligible to fly on American’s flights from New York to Italy starting May 16,” the airline said in a statement.
American also operates four-times weekly service between Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and FCO and “expects those flights to become quarantine-free and open to all travelers in the coming days,” the airline said in the same statement dated May 16, 2021.
Digital Passenger Locator Form (dPLF)
As of 23 March 2021, all Americans entering Italy via Covid-tested flights need to complete, before boarding, a digital Passenger Locator Form (dPLF).
The form requires visitors to provide contact information, and the address where they will be staying in Italy. The latter is so the Italian Health Authority can contact them promptly in case of exposure to Covid-19 on their flight. Passengers who do not submit the form will be denied boarding.
You can find the dPLF here.
Restrictions within Italy
From May 19, 2021, Italy’s national curfew will run from 11 pm to 5am. The government announced the curfew will be an hour later, midnight, from June 7 and lifted entirely on June 21.
The use of masks is mandatory in all public spaces, whether outdoors or indoors. You should pay close attention to signage when travelling and carry a mask with you at all times.
