Italy Abolishes COVID-19 Green Health Pass Requirement for Entering Hotels, Museums, Bars and More

The decision was announced by the country’s Ministry of Health and became effective last Sunday, May 1.

“From May 1, 2022, the COVID-19 green certification is no longer required for activities and services. It remains mandatory to access the inpatient departments of hospitals and nursing homes as visitors,” the Ministry has noted.

The move was taken in spite of the high number of COVID-19 cases detected in the country due to their mildness, the low number of infected persons in critical condition, and in need of hospitalization.

Regarding visits to people housed in hospitality and long-term care facilities, assisted healthcare residences, hospices, rehabilitation facilities and residential facilities for the elderly, self-sufficient and non-self-sufficient, residential social welfare facilities and other residential facilities, green passes will remain mandatory for access to these areas until the end of this year, December 31, 2022, in a bid of the authorities to protect those most vulnerable.

The obligation to show proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19 upon arrival in Italy for all travellers, regardless of their country of departure, will remain effective for at least another month, after on April 28, the Ministry of Health decided to prolong the entry measures.

The extension of the existing entry measures follows a recommendation of the Italian Directorate-General for Health Prevention to extend the move “taking into account the epidemiological situation in some EU and non-EU countries where notification rates remain high.”

However, the Ministry has decided to abolish the obligation to complete a Passenger Locator Form since May 1, as well.

As a result, in order to be able to enter the territory of Italy, EU and non-EU travellers alike must continue to prove they are either vaccinated against COVID-19, they have recovered from the virus recently, or test negative for COVID-19 before arrival.

Those who intend to enter on the basis of a vaccination certificate must make sure their second dose is no older than 270 days or that they have received a booster shot. The vaccines accepted are:

• Comirnaty di Pfizer-BioNTech
• Modern
• Vaxzevria
• Janssen (Johnson & Johnson)
• Nuvaxovid (Novavax)
• vaccines considered equivalent by Italian legislation (Covishield, Fiocruz, R-Covi)

Recovery certificates, on the other hand, are valid for only a period of 180 days. As per those entering Italy with a negative COVID-19 test result, the same must be no older than 72 hours if it is a PCR test and no older than 48 hours if it is a rapid antigen test.

The certificates are accepted in Italian, English, French, Spanish or German.

Travellers who reach Italy without none of the three are obliged to undergo quarantine for a period of five days and then perform a COVID-19 on the fifth day in order to be able to leave isolation.