Italy – Travel Restrictions over Holiday Period
IT – Travel Restrictions over Holiday Period
On 18 December, Italy’s government approved a new decree which modifies the current, in-force emergency legislation. The aim of the new decree is to contain the spread of the coronavirus during this holiday season. In particular, from 24 December 2020 to 6 January 2021, movements across the national territory and entry into Italy from abroad will be further limited. Moreover, new rules have ceased air travel to and from the United Kingdom until 6 January – a country experiencing the growth of a variant of the virus among its population.
On 18 December, Italy’s government approved a new decree which modifies the current, in-force emergency legislation.1 The aim of the new decree is to contain the spread of the coronavirus during this holiday season.
The system that is currently in force divides Italy into three areas according to the level of risk (red for very high risk, orange for a high risk, and yellow for a moderate level of risk); however, with the new decree comes new limitations aimed at reducing mobility in the country for this holiday season, which will be in place from 24 December 2020 to 6 January 2021.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Given the effectiveness of the measures previously adopted in terms of the virus’ containment, it was deemed appropriate to further strengthen these measures during the holiday period, to help ensure there is no backsliding on the gains that have been made. (For related coverage, see GMS Flash Alert 2020-456, 12 November 2020.)
For these reasons, from 24 December 2020 to 6 January 2021, movements across the national territory and entry into Italy from abroad will be further limited.
As for travel from abroad, the new decree continues to be based on lists of countries, with relevant measures modulated depending on the level of risk and the state of the coronavirus situation in each country. However, different types of measures depend on the countries of departure and the countries visited immediately before coming to Italy.2
Also, recently-approved laws have stopped air travel to and from the United Kingdom until 6 January – a country experiencing the growth of a variant of the virus among its population.3
The restrictions on movement and travel could mean further stress and frustration for residents of Italy and travellers into and out of Italy.
During this time, remote working and work-from-home arrangements would be the best practice for workers (including
globally mobile employees) – apart from essential workers – and employers should facilitate this to support employee safety and business continuity.
Movements within Italy
The new rules establish that regardless of the classification into “risk levels” of the various regions and autonomous provinces, the following restrictions will apply during the period from 24 December 2020 to 6 January 2021 throughout Italy in addition to those already provided for by the primary regulations.
- From 21 December 2020 to 6 January 2021, movements between different regions are forbidden, except when travellers are returning to their official place of residence or domicile.
- From 24 December 2020 to 6 January 2021, movements within an individual’s own municipality, as well as between different municipalities and regions (including those to or from the autonomous provinces of Trento and Bolzano), will be prohibited, except for travel required by proven work needs, situations of necessity, or health reasons.
- on 28, 29, 30 December 2020 and 4 January 2021, movements within an individual’s own municipality will be allowed while travel between regions and municipalities other than one's own will still be forbidden (unless for valid reasons). However, it will be possible to move from municipalities with a population not exceeding 5,000 inhabitants and for a distance not exceeding 30 km from the related borders – with the exclusion, in any case, of movements to the provincial capitals.
- From 24 December 2020 to 6 January 2021, it is possible to move to one’s second homes, as long as that home is located in the same region, that movement is but once a day and between the hours of 5.00 and 22.00, and this movement is limited to two people, additional to those already cohabiting there.
- it will always be possible, even from 24 December to 6 January, to return to one's residence or domicile.
Travel into Italy
The following restrictions apply:
- From 21 December to 6 January, those who come from European Union (EU) countries and European Economic Area (EEA) countries are subject to self-isolation and health surveillance for 14 days.
- Until 15 January 2021, those who have stayed in or transited through the previous 14 days in any non-EU countries must undergo self-isolation and health surveillance for 14 days.
- Entry into Italian territory is allowed for travellers coming from non-EU countries for valid reasons (the immigration authorities are expected to make specific checks on the reason(s) an individual indicates) subject to self-isolation and health surveillance for 14 days.
Travel from the U.K.
Flights between Italy and the U.K. are suspended from 20 December. Entry to and transit within Italy are prohibited to those individuals who in the past 14 days have stayed in or transited through the United Kingdom.3
Those who are currently in Italy and who in the 14 days before 20 December have stayed in or transited through the U.K. are obliged to communicate immediately with the local health-care authority and take a swab test or molecular test.
KPMG NOTE
Individuals living in Italy should reduce their movements to the minimum possible and monitor the government’s Frequently Asked Questions4 in order to avoid the possibility of fines for infringing the regulations.
FOOTNOTES
1 Decreto Del Presidente Del Consiglio Dei Ministri n. 313 del 18 dicembre 2020. For the text (in Italian), see: https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2020/12/18/20G00196/s
2 Decreto Del Presidente Del Consiglio Dei Ministri n. 301 del 03 dicembre 2020. For the text (in Italian), see: https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2020/12/03/20A06767/sg.
3 Ordinanza Del Ministero Della Salute n. 315 del 20 dicembre 2020. For the text (in Italian), see: https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2020/12/20/20A07122/sg .
4 Domande frequenti sulle misure adottate dal Governo: http://www.governo.it/it/articolo/domande-frequenti-sulle-misure-adottate-dal-governo/15638 .
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* Please note that KPMG LLP (U.S.) does not offer immigration services or labour law services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.
The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Italy.
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