Italy has come out as the first European Union country to significantly tighten its protocols around U.S. inbound travel, following the EU's decision to remove the U.S. from its safe travel list.
Under Italy's new policy, all travelers coming from the U.S. are now required to present proof of a negative PCR or rapid antigen test taken within 72 hours of arrival, regardless of vaccination status. Children under age 6 are exempt from this testing rule.
American travelers are also required to show either a certificate of vaccination (with the final vaccine dose having been received 14 days prior to travel) or a medical certificate confirming recovery from Covid, dated no more than six months before departure.
Vaccines must be recognized by the European Medicines Agency, with Pfizer-BioNtech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca vaccinations among those currently being accepted.
Travelers unable to provide proof of vaccination or a medical certificate are required to quarantine upon arrival for five days. At the end of that five-day period, they must also take a PCR or rapid antigen test.
As of late June, Italy had previously allowed inbound U.S. travelers to provide either a certificate of vaccination, certificate of recovery from Covid or a negative Covid test taken within 48 hours of arrival in order to enter the country quarantine-free.