Dhaka: Italy has scrapped the non-essential travel ban allowing non-European travellers to enter the country for travel purposes under facilitated rules as the pre-entry testing requirement.

The news on the easing of the travel rules for third-country nationals was announced by the Minister of Health of Italy Roberto Speranza recently.

According to Speranza, from March 1, travellers from non-EU countries would be subject to the same entry rules as travellers from EU countries when reaching Italy.

Meaning travellers from non-EU countries can enter Italy restriction-free effective currently, provided that they present a valid vaccination or recovery certificate or a negative Covid-19 test result.

“Health Minister Roberto Speranza has signed a new ordinance establishing, with effect from March 1, the same rules for arrivals to Italy from all non-European countries as those already in force for European countries. For entry to the national territory, one of the conditions of the Green Pass will be sufficient: certificate of vaccination, certificate of recovery or negative test result,” the statement of the Ministry of Health read.

Italy currently recognises for entry all vaccination passes that prove that the holder has been fully vaccinated against the virus with one of the EMA-approved vaccines in the last nine months or has received a booster shot.

Nonetheless, it has been emphasised that while in the country, the vaccination certificate is valid only for six months. This means that only travellers who have received their last dose within the last six months can access different activities and services in Italy. Those who have received a booster shot are not subject to restrictions.

As for the recovery certificates, the Italian authorities accept this type of document for entry as long as it proves that the holder has tested positive for the Covid-19 in the last 180 days.