Italy enters the second wave of lockdown after the country reaches its highest number for both deaths and infections. The country has declared a nationwide curfew between 10 pm to 5 am along with regional restrictions that may limit movement from one area to another depending on where you currently reside. Find out all about the latest steps taken by the authority before you make a visit in the near future.
Disclaimer: This blog is updated weekly to the best of our knowledge. For the latest travel advisories, we recommend checking the official government website.
Travel Restrictions in Rome - An Overview
While unrestricted travel has been permitted to most of the EU countries as well as some of the the non-EU nations, there are a few safety guidelines to be followed that ensure a seamless experience for all visitors.
Apart from this, Italy has now introduced a new regional tier system with colours red, orange and yellow which helps in identifying to what extent each region has been affected by COVID-19. The country by default has been marked a yellow zone. The orange zone shows moderate areas whereas the red zone shows the most affected region in Italy so far. Rules for each area may vary depending on the colour used.
Who Can Visit Rome Now?
Transportation in Rome - Restrictions
With Italy’s nationwide curfew put in place you are now not allowed to step out unless for work or health related reasons. In that case, you’ll need to fill out a self-certification form as well. These are the present transportational guidelines you’ll need to know before visiting Italy.
- The number of passengers on public transport has been reduced from 80 percent to 50 percent, excluding school transportation.
- People are advised to only use public transportation if it is absolutely necessary.
- Most public and private firms have informed residents to work remotely as much as possible.
- Individuals in orange zones are not permitted to travel from one area to another unless for essential needs by either public or private transport.
- Individuals in the red zone will not be allowed to travel from one municipality to another by either public or private transport. Residents will also not be allowed to move within their own area unless for essential reasons.
- Wearing a mask is absolutely compulsory when using public transportation
- Social distancing must be maintained at all times.
Eating out in Rome - Restrictions
As the number of cases begin to rise in Italy, the authorities have taken up stringent safety guidelines to fight coronavirus.
- Starting October 26, the activities of bars, pubs, restaurants, ice-cream parlours, and pastry shops will be open everyday only from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m, including Sundays.
- Dining is allowed for a maximum of 4 people per table, unless they all live together.
- Take-away facilities are allowed with home delivery until the curfew time 10 pm.
- Bars and restaurants have already been closed to the public at 6 pm nationwide under measures introduced in October.
- It is mandatory for all restaurant staff to wear masks in the dining area, at reception and in the kitchen.
- It is advised for guests to avoid going to crowded restaurants or make prior reservations before arriving at the restaurant.
- Face masks must be worn by guests and social distancing should be maintained upon arrival.
Rome Travel Protocols
With much of Italy under lockdown, the Italian Government has announced quite a few changes for passengers traveling to and from Italy:
- Unrestricted travel is granted for most EU countries as well as Schengen zone countries. Travellers are split into six categories. Here, different rules are applicable depending on the country where you’re travelling from.
- Travel for tourism and other purposes is possible to Italy from the following places without any restrictions: EU member states (except for a few countries), other Schengen members including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, the UK and Northern Ireland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City.
- Many of the European countries so far including the UK are required to take a test on or before arriving in Italy. Both the PCR nasal swab and finger-prick tests are accepted, as long as they’re carried out no more than 72 hours before your journey.
- You can also travel from some of the countries outside the European Union as well. The council of European Union had released a list of safe third-countries by analysing their COVID-19 public health status. This confirms that Italy has now opened its borders to Australia, Uruguay, Japan, Republic of Korea, Thailand, Rwanda, New Zealand and Singapore.
However, within Italy, apart from the national rule, there are new regional tier systems introduced with colours red, orange and yellow implementing different restrictions based on the area that you reside in:
Yellow Zones
The country by default has been made a yellow zone (lower risk), where the national rule is applied for all.
Orange Zones
This region covers Puglia and Sicily. For orange zone, the national rule is applied along with the following:
Travel restrictions
- Individuals in orange zones are not permitted to travel from one area to another unless for essential needs.
- You can enter or leave the orange or red zone for reasons such as work, study, health or emergency which must be clarified using a self-certification form.
Business closures
- Bars, cafes, restaurants, pastry shops and other food businesses should be closed to the public.
- Home deliveries will be allowed and takeaways will be granted until curfew at 10pm.
Red Zones
This region includes Lombardy, Calabria, Piedmont and Valle d'Aosta which are higher-risk regions. Here, the national rule is applied along with the following:
Travel restrictions:
- Individuals will not be allowed to travel from one municipality to another. Residents will also not be allowed to move within their own area unless for essential reasons.
- A self-certification form must be carried if you require to enter or leave the orange or red zone for matters such as work, study, health or other emergency reasons.
Business closures
Similar to the orange zone, bars, cafes, restaurants, pastry shops and other catering businesses will be closed to the public.
Shops will also be closed except for those that serve essential needs including supermarkets and other food shops, tabacchi, bookshops, stationery stores and salons.
School closures
Distance learning must be practised for the second grade of middle school and upwards in the red zone region and for high schools nationwide.
No sports activities
All sports activities have been stopped temporarily but solo exercises such as running or jogging is allowed.
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Quarantine Rules in Rome
The Italian government has tightened the coronavirus rules for the fourth time in three weeks due to the country’s deteriorating situation caused by COVID-19. Find out the quarantine guidelines put in place to curb the spread of coronavirus.
- A new three-tier framework has been introduced with colours red, orange and yellow which indicates that certain rules differ based on where you reside in Italy.
- EU member countries and Schengen states will face no quarantine mandates on arrival in Italy.
- If you’re traveling from Belgium, France, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Spain, UK and Northern Ireland, you’ll have to show a molecular or antigenic test result carried out by means of a swab. The result should be negative and needs to be given 72 hours before entering Italy.
- Travelers arriving from safe third-countries must self-isolate for 14 days on arrival.
- Another option would be to undergo a molecular or antigenic test within 48 hours after you enter Italy. You’ll have to quarantine until the results are out.
- In addition to this, quarantine is required for individuals who have been tested positive for COVID-19 virus along with people who have had close contact with them.
- For the rest of the countries worldwide, all arrivals - including EU and Italian citizens along with their family members must quarantine in Italy.
- All travelers need to fill out the self-declaration form to visit Italy.
Quarantine will be exempted for:
- Anyone (regardless of nationality) who enters Italy for a duration not more than 120 hours for proven needs of work, health or absolute urgency. It is mandatory that they leave the national territory immediately, failing that can lead to a period of surveillance and fiduciary isolation.
- Anyone (regardless of nationality) transits by private means via Italian territory for a duration not exceeding 36 hours.
- Cross-border workers entering and exiting the national territory for proven reasons for work and the consequent return to their residence.
- Health personnel entering Italy for the exercise of professional health qualifications.
- For individuals and students who attend a course of study in a country other than their country of residence, to which they can return every day or at least once a week.
Tips For Staying Safe in Rome
- Face masks without a doubt remain mandatory in Italy and must be worn whenever you step outside of your home.
- Social distancing and the need to sanitize and wash your hands regularly also remain mandatory.
- Individuals are requested to keep a safe distance of one meter from others at all times.
- Those with a temperature above 37.5 degree celsius are advised to stay at home.
- Large group gatherings outside are strictly prohibited.
- Due to safety reasons, all museums and galleries will be closed. Shopping centers will be shut during weekends to avoid large crowds as well.
- Cinemas, theatres, gyms and fitness centers will also continue to remain shut.
COVID Travel Resources Rome
- Covid-19, travellers - Ministry of Health, Italy
- Exemptions from quarantine - Ministry of Health, Italy
- EU’s List of Epidemiologically Safe Countries Amid COVID-19 - Schengen Visa Information
