COVID -19 – travel information to Italy
(update 02.08.2021)
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AUTODICHIARAZIONE PER IL RIENTRO DALL’ESTERO
FOR ASSISTANCE; PLEASE CONTACT CONSOLATO.ADELAIDE@ESTERI.IT
| ENTRY OR RE-ENTRY IN ITALY (CANCELLED FLIGHTS AND/OR EXPIRING VISA INCLUDED) |
Australia is currently included in the list of those countries from which you can enter Italy, if you have not stayed in any other country in the previous 14 days.
However, if you have Australian citizenship or an Australian permanent residence Visa, you must first get permission to leave the country from the Australian Government (see below), even if you are an Italian citizen.
According to the Italian Minister of Health’s declaration (29 July 2021), in force from 31 July to 30 August 2021, the obligations for people coming from Australia (list D) willing to enter Italy are the following:
– Undergo a molecular or antigen swab test within 72 hours prior to entry;
– Observe a 5-days quarantine at home and undergo a molecular or antigen swab at the end of the period;
– Before departure and starting from 24 May, fill in a digital Passenger Locator Form (dPLF) by visiting the website https://app.euplf.eu/#/ . For guidance on the procedure, please check the handbook attached to this page. The dPLF must be completed and sent before boarding.
In exceptional case and only due to technological impediments, the self-declaration in printed form can be used.
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Upon arrival in Italy, you are NOT ALLOWED to use public transportation in order to reach your final destination, but only cabs or private vehicles. You are allowed to transit inside Italian or foreign airports, only if you do not leave the transit areas.
At the moment, the only operative airline from Adelaide to Italy is Qatar Airways. Emirates and Etihad Airways depart from other Australian cities.
In order to avoid unpleasant inconveniences while travelling and considering we are in a constantly evolving situation, it is highly recommended to contact the airline before the departure in order to monitor any cancellations and/or restrictions at the boarding gate.
Please note that those people with both Italian and Australian citizenships and those with a permanent resident Visa need authorization to leave Australia, even if travelling with an Italian passport (unless some exceptions, e.g.: people habitually residing abroad). The authorization is issued by the Home Affairs office. For further information click on the following link: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/leaving-australia
EXPIRING AUSTRALIAN VISA
If you cannot find a flight before your Visa expiration date, you can request a Visa extension in the Australian territory or ask for a different type of Visa.
Visa management is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Australian authorities. Visa has to be required online using the personal “ImmiAccount”, in compliance with the requirements and rules provided by the Home Affairs.
It is not possible to ask for an Australian Visa prolongation: therefore, it is necessary to request a new Visa before the expiration date of the current one, in order to avoid an irregular situation. After the submission of the application, the Australian authority will provide the applicant with a bridging Visa valid until the new Visa is issued.
For those workers employed in “critical sectors” unable to request alternative types of Visas, the Australian authorities have introduced a new temporary Visa type (subclass 408 COVID-19 Pandemic Visa). Further information provided by Home Affairs can be found at this link.
In case of expired Visa, the Home Affairs Department informed the users of the possibility to request a “Bridging Visa E” for a temporary extension of the Visa only for the time required to organize a flight back to one’s country. It is advisable to contact the offices of the Home Affair Department for any further information.
Please note that Australia introduced new provisions for temporary Visa holders, in particular students and those holding a working-holiday Visa. Click here to view the document.
Further information can be found at:
https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/visa-about-to-expire/stay-longer
https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/
https://covid19inlanguage.homeaffairs.gov.au/it
MEDICARE EXTENSION
The Australian authorities have extended, for the benefit of those eligible under the Italy-Australia reciprocal healthcare agreement, the validity of Medicare health coverage, if already validly active, until 18 September 2020. If the Medicare health coverage has already expired, the period of validity is restored from 18 March 2020 to 18 September 2020. In a follow-up communication, the Australian authorities have clarified that the Medicare coverage expiring on 17 March 2021 is extended until 17 September 2021.
Further information can be found on the Australian Government website by clicking here.
ASSISTANCE TO ITALIAN CITIZENS ABROAD
The decree-law issued on 17 March 2020 no. 18 (“Cura Italia”) has allocated additional funds for the assistance of Italian citizens who, while being abroad, are in conditions of great and compelling need due to the Covid-19 pandemic health emergency.
Those concerned, in order to obtain economic support, will have to prove:
– the condition of great and compelling need;
– that this condition cannot be tackled otherwise (not even through, for example, the support of family).
The Consulate, once received the request, will verify, also through appropriate investigations in Italy, the actual state of indigence. If there are the conditions, the money will be supplied in the form of “Loan with promise of repayment” or, alternatively, of “Subsidy” (both are one-off disbursements, i.e., in a single solution).
Those interested in making the request are asked to write personally to consolato.adelaide@esteri.it , briefly explain their situation and mentioning the documentation they possess in order to prove the above-exposed conditions.
| ENTRY IN AUSTRALIA AND SITUATION OF THE INTERNAL BORDERS |
Entry in Australia is currently allowed only to Australian citizens, permanent residents in Australia, New Zealand citizens ordinarily resident in Australia and family members of Australian citizens or Australian permanent residents.
Foreign citizens are allowed to enter Australia in specific and limited cases and only prior authorization from the Australian Government. For more information and to apply for entry you can consult the website of the Australian Department of Home Affairs by clicking here.
Before entering Australia, it is mandatory to show a negative COVID test to be performed within 72 hours before departure. The provision applies to all travellers, even if vaccinated, who are at least 5 years old. The test result must be translated into English and “preferably” in printed form. Once arrived in Australia, even if with a negative test, it is mandatory to undergo isolation for 14 days in facilities indicated by the Australian Government.
ARRIVALS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Regardless of the departure point, starting from 1 July 2020 all people entering South Australia must complete an online registration with the South Australia Police (SAPOL), at least 7 days before travelling: https://www.police.sa.gov.au/online-services/cross-border-travel-application
Restrictions are in place for interstate travellers, please read carefully the FAQs published by the South Australia Policy at this link
DEPARTURES FROM SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Citizens are allowed to leave South Australia in order to reach other destinations in Australia. However, any restrictions and quarantine requirements in other states must be checked before departure.
We kindly invite you to check the institutional websites of the States of destination to verify any applicable requirement before departure.
