Tourist flows towards Italy in a dive. Covid time rules don't help. Here's what a foreigner needs to enter the beautiful country and enjoy its beauties freely.
Today the president of the Federation of Organized Tourism (FTO), Franco Gattinoni, denounced the major problems created by the tourist flows to Italy following the lack of recognition in our country of the validity of some vaccines (such as the Russian Sputnik) administered to ‘abroad.
What does the Italian legislation provide for foreign tourists entering Italy
Reinforced green pass on international transport
First of all, it should be noted that the new transport rules in force since January 10, 2022 which extend the mandatory nature of the reinforced green pass (vaccination or recovery occurred) to access to means of transport do not apply to international transport services. Therefore it will be allowed to take a plane to arrive in Italy.
Buffer obligation
The Ministry of Health provides that those arriving in Italy (even from the countries in List C) must present a negative molecular swab carried out within 48 hours or a quick antigenic swab within 24 hours, together with a green pass for vaccination or recovery and passenger locator form . Those who do not have a valid vaccination or recovery green pass, in addition to the swab, are required to undergo 5-day fiduciary isolation.
Vaccination certificate valid as a Green pass for restaurants, bars, etc.
According to the circular of the Ministry of Health of 23 September 2021, “without prejudice to the provisions of current legislation on cross-border entry, vaccination certificates issued by the competent national health authorities abroad, following vaccination with vaccines authorized by the EMA or with equivalent vaccines, they are considered as equivalent to the green COVID-19 certification for the purposes provided for by law.
These certifications must contain at least the following contents:
– identification data of the owner (name, surname, date of birth);
– data relating to the vaccine (name and lot);
– date (s) of administration of the vaccine;
– identification data of the person who issued the certificate (State, Health Authority).
Vaccination certificates, in paper and / or digital format, must be drawn up in at least one of the following languages: Italian, English, French, Spanish, German. If the certificate was not issued in one of the five languages indicated, it must be accompanied by a sworn translation. Paper verification (therefore not necessarily through QrCode) is allowed for certifications issued abroad.
The validity of the vaccine certificates is the same as for the green certification COVID-19 (EU digital COVID certificate) issued by the Italian State, therefore nine months today but, from 1 February the validity of the green certification drops to 6 months (from day of the last vaccination, even if it took place before 1 February).
Certificates equivalent to those administered in Italy (valid for green certification)
They are recognized as equivalent to those carried out under the National Strategic Plan of vaccines for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infections vaccines for which the holder of the marketing authorization is the same as in the European Union: Covishield ( Serum Institute of India), produced under license from AstraZeneca; R-CoVI (R-Pharm), manufactured under license from AstraZeneca; Covid-19 vaccine-recombinant (Fiocruz), manufactured under license from AstraZeneca. these vaccines are considered valid for the purpose of issuing the COVID-19 Green Certification in favor of Italian citizens (also residing abroad) to their cohabiting family members and to foreign citizens residing in Italy for work or study reasons, regardless of whether they are registered with the National Health Service or with the SASN (Health Assistance for Navigating Personnel), as well as all subjects registered in any capacity with the National Health Service who have been vaccinated abroad against SARS-CoV-2.
