This is to inform that there is an exemption for entry into Italy, justified by non-deferrable reasons, including participation in international trade fairs.

The exemption allows free entry of foreign buyers and exhibitors into Italy, upon presentation to the carrier at the time of boarding and to anyone appointed to carry out the checks, of a certificate showing that the person, in the 72 hours prior to entering the national territory, underwent a molecular or antigenic test, carried out by means of a swab, the result of which was negative.

The law also requires the prior authorization of the Ministry of Health. To this end, the Fair entities and the fair organizers of international trade fairs scheduled in Italy can contact the Directorate General for the Promotion of the Country System - Office XIV; e-mail: dgsp-14@esteri.it) or to the Ministry of Health (General Directorate of Health Prevention; e-mail: m.dionisio@sanita.it or coordinamento.usmafsasn@sanita.it), requesting authorization to allow the entry into the national territory of foreign exhibitors and buyers expected at a specific exhibition, attaching the complete list of the same and excluding from the list the names of guests from the countries referred to in list F of Annex 20 of DPCM of 7 August 2020. Also any transit from one of the aforementioned countries in the last 14 days, self-certified by the interested parties, is also a reason for the prohibition to enter Italy.

The Directorate General for Health Prevention, after having examined the request, through the Foreign Ministry (DGSP-XIV) or directly through the organizers, sends the authorization note containing the protocol with the instructions which guests and the organizers must follow, along with a form to be filled in.

In order to issue the business visa on an extraordinary basis, the organizers must then contact the consular office incharge for the area, sending it the list of approved names, the authorization note, the protocol and the completed form. Then they will have to observe the operational indications sent to them for the presentation of the business visa application at the offices of VFS Global.

Business operators arriving from abroad must bring with them, upon entering the country, the protocol and the form, together with the certification of the negative result of the antigen or molecular test carried out in the last 72 hours.