LATEST UPDATES
9 SEPTEMBER 2020
The Italian Government has approved the state of emergency on the national territory until 15 October 2020 as a consequence of the health risk connected to the new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and the related disease, COVID-19.
The rules to enter Italy are periodically revised based on the course of the global pandemic.
These are the norms valid until October 7, 2020:
1) ITALIAN CITIZENS AND EU CITIZENS COMING FROM HONG KONG AND MACAU
The Italian citizens and the European Union citizens and their cohabiting family members who have stayed in Hong Kong and Macau in the 14 days prior to their entry in Italy will be allowed to enter the national territory without the need to justify the reason, but they will have to undergo quarantine self-isolation.
Upon their arrival, Italian citizens and EU citizens will have to hand in the self-declaration form in which they state the place in which they will spend the period of self-isolation. Furthermore, they must contact the local health authorities to communicate their arrival. In order to reach their final destination they will be allowed to use a private means of transportation or a taxi. Public transportation is not allowed. Airport transit is allowed but without leaving the airport.
At the following link you can download the self-declaration form:
https://www.esteri.it/mae/resource/doc/2020/09/modulo_rientro_da_estero_11_09_20_en.pdf
2) CITIZENS OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND OF OTHER COUNTRIES LIVING IN HONG KONG AND MACAU
The citizens of the People’s Republic of China and of other foreign Countries living in Hong Kong and Macau can enter Italy only for specific reasons, namely: work, health reasons, study, absolute necessity, return home to their place of residence or to reach a citizen living in Italy with whom they have a proven affective relationship.
The holders of valid residence permits are allowed to return to Italy. Entry for tourism is not allowed.
Upon their arrival in Italy, the citizens of the PRC and of other foreign countries living in Hong Kong and Macau entering Italy for one of the valid reasons stated above, will have to hand in the self-declaration form in which they indicate the reason for their entry (supported by valid documents) and the place in which they will spend the self-isolation period. Furthermore, they will have to contact the local health authorities to communicate their arrival. In order to reach their final destination they will be allowed to use a private means of transportation or a taxi. Public transportation is not allowed. Airport transit is allowed but without leaving the airport.
At the following link you can download the self-declaration form:
https://www.esteri.it/mae/resource/doc/2020/09/modulo_rientro_da_estero_11_09_20_en.pdf
3. CITIZENS NOT FALLING INTO CATEGORIES 1 OR 2 OR COMING FROM OTHER COUNTRIES
Please visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the website “Viaggiare Sicuri” for the latest updates on the rules to enter Italy.
http://www.viaggiaresicuri.it/
Finally, we suggest to all those who will be travelling to Italy to download the application called “Immuni”, created with the goal of fighting the COVID-19 epidemic through the use of technology. Immuni alerts its users who have had a risky exposure. You can download it at the following link: https://www.immuni.italia.it/
EXCEPTIONS TO THE SELF-QUARANTINE ISOLATION
For the exceptions to the self-isolation period please refer to the following link of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs https://www.esteri.it/mae/en/ministero/normativaonline/decreto-iorestoacasa-domande-frequenti/focus-cittadini-italiani-in-rientro-dall-estero-e-cittadini-stranieri-in-italia.html
Among the exceptions, anyone (any nationality) may enter Italy for a period not exceeding 120 hours for proven work, health or urgency reasons, with the obligation, at the end of said term, to leave Italy or start a period of self-isolation. The exceptions to the mandatory self-isolation and supervision by the competent health authorities apply also to persons entering the country for reasons that cannot be postponed, including their participation in international sports events or trade fairs, subject to prior authorisation by the Ministry of Health and subject to the obligation to present to the carrier on boarding, or to any other competent authority, a declaration to the effect that they have taken a molecular or antigen swab test, with a negative result, within 72 hours before entering Italy.
(updated on 2 July 2020)
UPDATE ON THE ENTRY RULES IN ITALY FOLLOWING THE PUBLICATION OF THE ORDER OF THE MINISTER OF HEALTH OF 1 JULY 2020
Based on the criteria and conditions set out in the recommendation adopted by the Council of Europe, the Minister of Health published the Ordinance of 1 July 2020, which will be in force until 14 July, on the new travel rules to Italy for both Italian citizens abroad and foreign citizens.
The main points of the Ordinance are highlighted below:
ITALIAN AND EUROPEAN UNION CITIZENS
- from 1 July, Italian citizens residing abroad (and therefore also those residing in Hong Kong and Macao) and their family members, irrespective of their nationality, are allowed to enter Italy without a justified reason. Spouses, partners, children up to 21 years of age, cohabiting parents, other dependent family members for disability reasons, are all considered cohabiting family members. Those who come from countries other than the EU, the Schengen area, United Kingdom and European micro-states, however, will have to observe the 14-day period of quarantine in self-isolation.
- from 1 July all citizens of the European Union (and therefore also those residing in Hong Kong and Macao), foreigners residing in a European Union country and their cohabiting family members of all nationalities are allowed to enter Italy without a justified reason.
CITIZENS OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND OTHER FOREIGN COUNTRIES RESIDING IN HONG KONG AND MACAO
- from 1 July all foreign students are allowed to enter Italy, regardless of their nationality or origin, for justified reasons of study.
- Entry in Italy is also permitted for reasons of work, health or absolute necessity, or to return home or to one's place of residence.
- Traveling to Italy for any other reasons is NOT allowed.
MANDATORY QUARANTINE
Those from countries other than the EU, Schengen, the United Kingdom and European micro-states must observe the 14-day period of fiduciary isolation.
Therefore, the quarantine obligation for those who enter Italy from Hong Kong and Macao remains in force.
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The updated travel declaration form to be submitted to the airline upon boarding can be downloaded here.
For further information, please consult the FAQs published on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation’s website at the following link:
https://www.esteri.it/mae/en/ministero/normativaonline/decreto-iorestoacasa-domande-frequenti/focus-cittadini-italiani-in-rientro-dall-estero-e-cittadini-stranieri-in-italia.html
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HONG KONG
Last update April 21th, 2020
Upon request of the Consulate General of Italy, the Hong Kong authorities withdrew the measure of mandatory 14-day quarantine in the centers set up by the Government for all inbound travelers who visited the Italian Regions of Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia Romagna – included all passengers who were in airport transit in those Regions - in the previous 14 days from their arrival in Hong Kong. The measure will cease to be in place starting from April 17th.
The official note is available at the following link.
Nevertheless, the following measures are still in place until further notice:
- All non-Hong Kong residents coming from overseas countries and regions by plane will be denied entry to Hong Kong;
- Non-Hong Kong residents coming from the Mainland, Macao and Taiwan will be denied entry to Hong Kong if they have been to any overseas countries and regions in the past 14 days;
- All transit services at Hong Kong International Airport will be suspended;
- All travelers coming from Macao and Taiwan, including Hong Kong and non-Hong Kong residents, will be subject to a 14-day compulsory quarantine, which is the same as the arrangements for people entering Hong Kong from the Mainland.
Starting from April 13th, all asymptomatic inbound travelers arriving at the International Airport of Hong Kong from Europe and the United States are required to be tested for COVID-19. Starting from April 22h they will be mandated to wait for test results at a designated location after collecting their deep throat saliva samples for conducting testing for COVID-19 at the Department of Health (DH)'s Temporary Specimen Collection Centre (TSCC) at AsiaWorld-Expo.
Passengers arriving by flights in early mornings and later mornings will stay at the TSCC to wait for test results after collecting their deep throat saliva samples there. They will receive the test results on the same day.
As the test results for passengers arriving in afternoons or at nights will not be available on the same day, they will be taken to the Regal Oriental Hotel by coaches arranged by the Department of Health to wait for their test results.
If tested positive, arrangements will be made to admit them to hospital as soon as possible for treatment, while the close contacts who traveled with them will be sent to designated quarantine centers. Those testing negative can either go home or to a designated place to continue completion of the 14-day compulsory quarantine.
Update April 7th, 2020
The Government of Hong Kong announced the extension, until further notice, of the following measures in force since 0.00am on March 25:
All non-Hong Kong residents coming from overseas countries and regions by plane will be denied entry to Hong Kong;Non-Hong Kong residents coming from the Mainland, Macao and Taiwan will be denied entry to Hong Kong if they have been to any overseas countries and regions in the past 14 days;All transit services at Hong Kong International Airport will be suspended;All travelers coming from Macao and Taiwan, including Hong Kong and non-Hong Kong residents, will be subject to a 14-day compulsory quarantine, which is the same as the arrangements for people entering Hong Kong from the Mainland.
The official notice is available at the following link.
MACAO - Last update March 25th, 2020
The Government of Macao announced that the following measures will be implemented with effect from 0.00am on March 25:
1) Foreign nationals are prohibited from entering Macao;
2) All transit services at Macao International Airport will be suspended;
3) Macao residents may enter Macao but those who have visited a foreign country, Hong Kong or Taiwan 14 days prior their arrival in Macao must go to designated places for 14-day medical observation;
4) All residents in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan that have been to any overseas countries and regions in the past 14 days are prohibited from entering Macao; in case they visited Hong Kong or Taiwan 14 days prior their arrival in Macao they may enter but they will need to go to designated places for a 14-day medical observation. All residents in Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan that have not visited a foreign country prior to their arrival in Macao may enter but they will need to go through a six-to-eight hour medical examination if they come from a region where there is a high incidence of novel coronavirus pneumonia cases.
The official notice is available at the following link.
FAQs
Answers to the most Frequently Asked Questions - FAQs about “Italian nationals returning to Italy and foreign citizens already in Italy” are available on the ItalianMinistry of Foreign Affairs website link.
| PREVIOUS NOTICE |
03/24/2020 - URGENT UPDATE - Restrictions for travelers coming to Hong Kong
03/19/2020 - URGENT UPDATE - Restrictions for travelers coming to Macao
03/18/2020 - URGENT UPDATE - Restrictions for travelers coming to Hong Kong and Macao
03/17/2020 - URGENT UPDATE - Restrictions for travelers coming to Macao
03/14/2020 - URGENT UPDATE - Restrictions for travelers coming to Hong Kong from Italy
03/10/2020 - AVVISO URGENTE AI CONNAZIONALI – Restrizioni all’ingresso a Hong Kong dall’Italia
03/06/2020 - Travel Alert Macao
03/06/2020 - TRAVEL ALERT - HONG KONG
02/29/2020 - Urgent Travel Alert - Hong Kong e Macao
02/03/2020 - Flights between Italy and Hong Kong
| LEGAL MEASURES ISSUED BY ITALIAN GOVERNMENT |
All the legal measures regarding the Coronavirus emergency issued by the Government and the Civil Protection Department, by the Health Minister, by other ministries and regions check are available at the dedicated section of the Italian Civil Protection Department website
A chronology of the main steps and legal acts taken by the Italian Government for the containment of the COVID-19 epidemiological emergency, is available at the following link.
Last update: May 22th, 2020 - 11.05 a.m.
