Fully vaccinated with NHS vaccine? Thinking of travelling back to the UK from Italy? Today’s the day, when any fully vaccinated Briton does not need to quarantine when returning from a country on the UK’s amber list, but there are entry requirements.
From today (19th July), anyone who has received both jabs with an NHS vaccine can return to the UK from an amber list country without the need to quarantine. Italy is currently on the UK’s amber list.
However, it’s a different case when entering Italy from the UK.
What you need to enter Italy
Until 30th July, on arrival in Italy anyone who has been in the UK in the previous 14 days must present a negative molecular or antigen test taken in the 48 hours preceding entry. You must also fill in a digital localisation form. This is regardless of whether you are fully vaccinated or not.
You must also self-isolate for 5 days. At the end of the five days, you have to take a rapid antigenic or molecular swab test for COVID-19 and test negative for release. Children under the age of 6, from the UK, do not need to test but are not exempt from self-isolation.
You must also call the COVID-19 helpline for the region you are travelling within 48 hours, to inform them of your visit. The helpline website is in English.
The only exemptions are:
- You are transiting Italy in a private vehicle for less than 36 hours
- You are travelling for proven reasons of work, health or absolute necessity, for less than 120 hours.
What you need to return to the UK
There are two sets of entry requirements, which depend on whether you are fully vaccinated or not. These apply from 19th July.
Fully vaccinated under the UK vaccination programme
Before you travel to England you must:
- take a COVID-19 test – children aged 10 and under do not need to take this test
- book and pay for a day 2 COVID-19 test – to be taken after arrival in England
- complete a passenger locator form
You will need to:
- declare that you have been fully UK vaccinated on your passenger locator form, or are taking part or have taken part in a formally approved UK COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial for COVID-19 vaccine, or you are under 18 and resident in the UK
- show proof of your vaccination status to your carrier (ferry, airline or train) when you travel
On arrival in England, you must take a COVID-19 PCR test on or before day 2 after you arrive. Children aged 4 and under do not need to take this test.
Unless the day 2 test is positive, you do not need to quarantine.
You do not need to quarantine unless the day 2 test result is positive.
If the day 2 test is positive or if NHS Test & Trace informs you that you travelled to England or otherwise come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you must quarantine at home or in the place you are staying.
For complete and up-to-date information, visit the UK government website.
Not fully vaccinated
Before you travel to England you must:
- take a COVID-19 test – children aged 10 and under do not need to take this test
- book and pay for day 2 and day 8 COVID-19 tests – to be taken after arrival in England
- complete a passenger locator form
On arrival in England you must:
- quarantine at home or in the place you are staying for 10 days
- take a COVID-19 test on or before day 2 and on or after day 8
- Children aged 4 and under do not need to take the day 2 or day 8 test but must still quarantine at their home or in the place that they are staying.
- You may be able to end quarantine early if you pay for a private COVID-19 test through the Test to Release scheme.
Information on quarantine and taking COVID-19 tests.
