US will lift travel restrictions for vaccinated travellers from Italy from 8 November.

The United States will welcome fully vaccinated and covid-tested air travellers from 33 countries including Italy - with effect from 8 November - ending a travel ban in place for a year and a half.

Under the policy shift unveiled by the Biden administration on Friday, travellers to the US will need proof of full vaccination as well as a negative covid-19 test within three days of departure.

From 8 November, the US will admit fully vaccinated foreign air travellers from the 26 so-called Schengen countries in Europe, including Italy, as well as Britain, Ireland, China, India, South Africa, Iran and Brazil.

Passengers will be subject to contact tracing but there will be no quarantine requirement on arrival.

The US’ new travel policy that requires vaccination for foreign national travelers to the United States will begin on Nov 8. This announcement and date applies to both international air travel and land travel. This policy is guided by public health, stringent, and consistent. https://t.co/uaDiVrjtqi

— Kevin Munoz (@KMunoz46) October 15, 2021

The news, first reported by Reuters, was announced on Twitter by the White House assistant press secretary Kevin Munoz who said: "This policy is guided by public health, stringent, and consistent."

• What are Italy's travel rules for US tourists?

US tourists are currently allowed to visit Italy, provided they undergo testing and are either vaccinated or recovered from covid-19.

In August the EU dropped the US from its safe travel list but the recommendation was non-binding and travellers are still permitted to visit Italy for non-essential travel, subject to the travel rules.

• Italy's travel restrictions: all you need to know  

Travel restrictions on non-US citizens were first imposed on the EU in March 2020, by former president Donald Trump, before being extended by his successor, President Biden.

Washington has come under sustained lobbying from European countries, business leaders and the hard-hit travel industry to ease the travel restrictions.

• Can tourists still travel to Italy from the US?

The Italian government updates its travel rules periodically, based on the evolving epidemiological situation. The latest guidelines can be found - in English - on the website of Italy's foreign affairs ministry.

Photo: Tupungato / Shutterstock.com. This story has been updated with additional information.

Useful resources

• US embassy in Italy
• Italian health ministry
• CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Italy's Green Pass - Certificazione Verde
• Italian National Health Institute of Health - Istituto Superiore di Sanità
• Italian regional authorities