Are you an American citizen with a Green Pass? How did you get your Green Pass? How did you get along in Italy without a GP?

[PomPoot]

If you are an America citizen and have obtained a green pass, please let me know how to do it. If you know definitely that it is not possible for American tourists to obtain a green pass, please link me to a source explaining. I am aware that many people say a CDC card functions as the equivalent of a green pass. And while that may be true, I would appreciate answers to my specific questions. 

 

Follow up question: If you only have the CDC card and recently visited Italy, were you turned away from any service or not allowed to do anything, such as use public transport?

Edited October 17, 2021 by PomPoot

[steamboats]

I read that France has a website where you can upload photos of your CDC card and your passport and then you get the QR code needed for the various apps (actually you only need one EU app as the QR code is accepted all over Europe). Switzerland is doing this as well. Found the French website.

 

I don´t have any own experiences as I am German so I do have my QR code and my German app. Just some practical experience... When I flew back home from Naples at the airport after they checked my boarding pass someone was checking my vaccination QR code and then off to security. In Italy they scan the QR code at all indoor ventures (like restaurants, museums...).

 

steamboats

[euro cruiser]

From the official Italian tourism web site:

 

Travellers from Canada, Japan, Israel and the United States can enter Italy without quarantine obligation and must:

1. Fill in the Passenger Locator Form before entering Italy

2. Present COVID-19 green certification on arrival, issued by the health authority of their country certifying complete vaccination against COVID-19, performed at least 14 days beforehand, using a vaccine recognized by the European Medicines Agency (EMA)

3. Present a document certifying that they have performed a molecular or antigenic swab test in the 72 hours prior to arrival in Italy with negative results.

Green Passes must be in Italian, English, French or Spanish and can be presented in digital or printed formats.

 

It goes on to say the following about the green pass:

 

In Italy, the COVID-19 green certificate facilitates attendance at certain public events (such as trade fairs, concerts, sports competitions, parties following religious or civil ceremonies) and access to health care facilities for the elderly (RSA). It is also mandatory when moving into and out of areas that may be classified as "red" or "orange" zones in the absence of valid reasons for work, health or proven urgency.

Persons over the age of 12 must present a COVID-19 digital green pass in order to access certain services and activities:

• Travelling by air, train, ship, ferry or bus throughout Italy
• Restaurants, bars, ice cream parlours and pastry shops for consumption at table indoors
• Performances open to the public, sporting events, both outdoors and indoors
• Museums and places of culture, shows
• Swimming pools and gyms
• Private parties, such as wedding receptions
• Festivals and trade fairs
• Conventions and congresses
• Spas and fitness centres
• Gaming halls and betting shops, bingo halls and casinos

Access to these services and activities is allowed on presenting the EU Digital COVID Certificate or an equivalent certificate issued by the health authorities of Canada, Japan, Israel, the United Kingdom and the United States.

 

So, as it says, an American citizen needs to present their official, which means CDC vaccine card.  

 

You can read the entire statement here, but do note that this is a fluid situation and the current regulations are only in effect until October 25, 2021:  Covid-19 updates: information for tourists - Info (italia.it)

[zdcatc12]

We were in Italy two days before and two days after our cruise and had zero issues. Wherever they say to show your green pass, just show your CDC card and you will be fine. There is no reason to jump through hoops trying to get one.

[cruisemom42]

What, you didn't believe us last time? 

[PomPoot]

7 hours ago, cruisemom42 said:

What, you didn't believe us last time? 

The questions in this post are clearly phrased differently than last time to elicit additional information. No American responded that they had a green pass and the main point of this post is determining if it's even possible for an American to get one. Also, the rules as written can be vastly different in practice. While it's it's clear the CDC card should allow you equal access as the Green Pass in some circumstances, there's lots of conflicting anecdotal evidence as to how it works in practice, with some media claiming folks were turned away with a mere CDC card. I wanted to see if that was the experience of those who have actually been there recently. 

[PomPoot]

8 hours ago, zdcatc12 said:

We were in Italy two days before and two days after our cruise and had zero issues. Wherever they say to show your green pass, just show your CDC card and you will be fine. There is no reason to jump through hoops trying to get one.

Thanks, this is exactly the kind of first-hand experience I was looking for. 

[PomPoot]

10 hours ago, euro cruiser said:

From the official Italian tourism web site:

 

Travellers from Canada, Japan, Israel and the United States can enter Italy without quarantine obligation and must:

1. Fill in the Passenger Locator Form before entering Italy

2. Present COVID-19 green certification on arrival, issued by the health authority of their country certifying complete vaccination against COVID-19, performed at least 14 days beforehand, using a vaccine recognized by the European Medicines Agency (EMA)

3. Present a document certifying that they have performed a molecular or antigenic swab test in the 72 hours prior to arrival in Italy with negative results.

Green Passes must be in Italian, English, French or Spanish and can be presented in digital or printed formats.

 

It goes on to say the following about the green pass:

 

In Italy, the COVID-19 green certificate facilitates attendance at certain public events (such as trade fairs, concerts, sports competitions, parties following religious or civil ceremonies) and access to health care facilities for the elderly (RSA). It is also mandatory when moving into and out of areas that may be classified as "red" or "orange" zones in the absence of valid reasons for work, health or proven urgency.

Persons over the age of 12 must present a COVID-19 digital green pass in order to access certain services and activities:

• Travelling by air, train, ship, ferry or bus throughout Italy
• Restaurants, bars, ice cream parlours and pastry shops for consumption at table indoors
• Performances open to the public, sporting events, both outdoors and indoors
• Museums and places of culture, shows
• Swimming pools and gyms
• Private parties, such as wedding receptions
• Festivals and trade fairs
• Conventions and congresses
• Spas and fitness centres
• Gaming halls and betting shops, bingo halls and casinos

Access to these services and activities is allowed on presenting the EU Digital COVID Certificate or an equivalent certificate issued by the health authorities of Canada, Japan, Israel, the United Kingdom and the United States.

 

So, as it says, an American citizen needs to present their official, which means CDC vaccine card.  

 

You can read the entire statement here, but do note that this is a fluid situation and the current regulations are only in effect until October 25, 2021:  Covid-19 updates: information for tourists - Info (italia.it)

"So, as it says, an American citizen needs to present their official, which means CDC vaccine card."

While it says that, it also says:

 

"Persons over the age of 12 must present a COVID-19 digital green pass in order to access certain services and activities:"

And then lists anything a person could possibly do while there. I've seen the policy. Clearly, it's contradictory. It's why I am here trying to find out from people who have actually been there recently. 

  

[euro cruiser]

It is not contradictory at all - read the entire thing.  The line about requiring the green pass is in the beginning, then all the details.  After this is the summary line about what Americans (and certain other nationalities) must do to achieve the same ends.

[Vineyard View]

I am surprised that they accept a paper CDC card over the digital QR code. It seems to me that the digital is more secure. I will be sure to have both next spring when we hopefully return to Italy. 

[cruisemom42]

@PomPoot  Apologies if my response earlier seemed snarky. I meant to include an emoji as it was really intended to be lighthearted. 😖

 

If you are still worried about the Green Pass, I can also refer you to the Rome forum on TripAdvisor where there are several threads on this where US travelers have posted that they had NO problems anywhere using their CDC card in lieu of the pass.

 

Here are a couple of them:

 

See Response 5:  https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187791-i22-k13692085-US_vaccine_certificate_not_good_enough-Rome_Lazio.html

 

See Response 1:  https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g187791-i22-k13704305-EU_Digital_COVID_certificate_Green_Pass_for_Americans-Rome_Lazio.html

 

Perhaps in the early days there may have been some confusion, perhaps in less touristed areas, regarding the vaccination card but I would think that's all sorted by now.

[PomPoot]

5 hours ago, euro cruiser said:

It is not contradictory at all - read the entire thing.  The line about requiring the green pass is in the beginning, then all the details.  After this is the summary line about what Americans (and certain other nationalities) must do to achieve the same ends.

I disagree. After suggesting that American tourists can present a CDC card in lieu of a Green Pass, it states:

 

"Persons over the age of 12 must present a COVID-19 digital green pass in order to access certain services and activities:"

 

"Must" present a "green pass." And there are no qualifications to that, nothing that says American tourists are exempt.

 

The first statement about CDC cards is at odds with the second statement. It only would not be contradictory if the second statement was qualified as I suggest.

Edited October 18, 2021 by PomPoot

[euro cruiser]

I don't know how to help you with this, it's a language issue you seem determined to ignore or misunderstand.  It's about the order of the statements, the first one (persons over the age of 12 ...) is a broad statement and is followed by the "how" statement (access to these services...).  The second statement qualifies the first and clearly says the EU digital certificate OR the equivalent document from your home country.

Edited October 18, 2021 by euro cruiser

[euro cruiser]

Perhaps you will understand it easier in Italian?  From the official decree dated 30 July 2021, which defines the Green Pass and its implementation:

 

le certificazioni  rilasciate  dalle  autorita'  sanitarie  del  Canada,
Giappone, Israele, Regno Unito di Gran Bretagna e  Irlanda  del  nord
(compresi  Gibilterra,  Isola  di  Man,  Isole  del  Canale  e   basi
britanniche  nell'isola  di  Cipro  ed  esclusi   i   territori   non
appartenenti al continente europeo) e  Stati  Uniti  d'America,  sono
riconosciute come equivalenti a quelle di cui all'art.  9,  comma  2,
lettere a), b) e c), del decreto-legge 22  aprile  2021,  n.  52.  Le
certificazioni di cui al presente articolo possono essere esibite  in
formato digitale o cartaceo. 

This says quite clearly that the documents/certificates issued several countries, one of which is the United States, are recognized as equivalent (riconosciute come equivalenti) to those identified in this article (the Green pass).

 

Trova Norme & Concorsi - Normativa Sanitaria (salute.gov.it)

Edited October 18, 2021 by euro cruiser

[cruisemom42]

I read it as euro cruiser does. 

 

Basically the Italian ministry inserted a statement in their policy that says "we consider the CDC vaccination card as the equivalent of the Green Pass for US citizens."

 

By saying that, they are signaling that they intend for you to read every subsequent mention of "Green Pass" as including any or all of the equivalencies they may have listed elsewhere.

[PomPoot]

On 10/18/2021 at 5:48 AM, euro cruiser said:

I don't know how to help you with this, it's a language issue you seem determined to ignore or misunderstand.  It's about the order of the statements, the first one (persons over the age of 12 ...) is a broad statement and is followed by the "how" statement (access to these services...).  The second statement qualifies the first and clearly says the EU digital certificate OR the equivalent document from your home country.

You seem determined to ignore the following statement.

 

"Persons over the age of 12 must present a COVID-19 digital green pass in order to access certain services and activities:"

You are likely correct about what the person who wrote this intended. But the above doesn't say "Italian persons," it doesn't say "non-tourists," it says persons. That implies ALL persons. You can't seem to even admit that the statement above isn't written clearly and contradicts what was stated before it, which indicates to me which of us is being stubborn about this. It's very simple: If the statement above is true as opposed to the other things that were written, the CDC card is not adequate or at least isn't fully equivalent to the green pass. While that may not be the case, it's more that reasonable to have an issue with the way this thing was written and feel the need to seek out clarification. 

I'm clearly not going to change your mind that this is rock solid clear, there is no ambiguity of any kind and that the word "persons" unqualified would not include American tourists who apparently don't qualify as persons in your mind, but given that you went out of your way to discuss what I am "determined to ignore or misunderstand,"  I thought it might be worth underlining why I feel the information is unclear again for anyone else who stumbles on this post. Take care. 

Edited October 20, 2021 by PomPoot

[MeHeartCruising]

@PomPoot And you seem determined to not read what has been posted and clarified for you.  Read the paragraph after the itemized list immediately the sentence you have fixated on.  Note, that sentence ends in a colon, indicating the list is a linked continuation.  I’ve bolded and underlined the critical additional information.  

 

Persons over the age of 12 must present a COVID-19 digital green pass in order to access certain services and activities:

• Travelling by air, train, ship, ferry or bus throughout Italy
• Restaurants, bars, ice cream parlours and pastry shops for consumption at table indoors
• Performances open to the public, sporting events, both outdoors and indoors
• Museums and places of culture, shows 
• Swimming pools and gyms 
• Private parties, such as wedding receptions
• Festivals and trade fairs
• Conventions and congresses
• Spas and fitness centres
• Gaming halls and betting shops, bingo halls and casinos

Access to these services and activities is allowed on presenting the EU Digital COVID Certificate or an equivalent certificate issued by the health authorities of Canada, Japan, Israel, the United Kingdom and the United States.

[euro cruiser]

I read it in Italian, from the official decree, I know what is meant.

 

You are right that even in Italian it doesn't specify citizens, but it goes on to state how non-Italian EU citizens can access services, and then how citizens of certain countries, including the US, can do so also.

 

Please, for your own peace of mind, stay home.  

[PomPoot]

4 hours ago, MeHeartCruising said:

@PomPoot And you seem determined to not read what has been posted and clarified for you.  Read the paragraph after the itemized list immediately the sentence you have fixated on.  Note, that sentence ends in a colon, indicating the list is a linked continuation.  I’ve bolded and underlined the critical additional information.  

 

Persons over the age of 12 must present a COVID-19 digital green pass in order to access certain services and activities:

• Travelling by air, train, ship, ferry or bus throughout Italy
• Restaurants, bars, ice cream parlours and pastry shops for consumption at table indoors
• Performances open to the public, sporting events, both outdoors and indoors
• Museums and places of culture, shows 
• Swimming pools and gyms 
• Private parties, such as wedding receptions
• Festivals and trade fairs
• Conventions and congresses
• Spas and fitness centres
• Gaming halls and betting shops, bingo halls and casinos

Access to these services and activities is allowed on presenting the EU Digital COVID Certificate or an equivalent certificate issued by the health authorities of Canada, Japan, Israel, the United Kingdom and the United States.

You're not making a new point and you're also either not understanding my concern or dismissing it, which is fine but not helpful.

 

There's a reason I am 'fixated" on the sentence you're paying no credence to: it contradicts what else is said. That's the point. You're arguing about what the writer is likely intending to communicate, and I am talking about what was actually written. I'm really not sure why you think anything has been clarified. The sentence in question is literally all that matters. Written improperly, as it may have been, it calls into question all the other statements. Unless they've issued a new statement that says, "Persons over the age of 12 must present a COVID-19 digital green pass in order to access certain services and activities:...unless they are American tourists with a CDC card," then you can't clarify anything using the statement in question.

 

Besides, clarifying the statement was never the intent of this post. It was to get advice from Americans who've been to Italy recently. But as is always the case with boards like this, at least half the responses are from bitter know-it-alls who have no interest in helping and are exclusively concerned with being condescending. Take care. 

In closing, a sincere thank you to the people who were helpful, some very much so. Thank you for actually responding to the question and sharing what you know so kindly. 

Edited October 20, 2021 by PomPoot

[mapleleaves]

Perhaps you should all the US Embassy and speak with someone.

COVID-19 Information - U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy (usembassy.gov)

 

[Host Jazzbeau]

No one on Cruise Critic is going to be able to solve your uncertainty.  There seems to be a consensus about how these paragraphs should be read together, but the other interpretation is technically possible.  Even if you call the Italian government and get an answer, there is no guarantee that some local official won't decide to enforce the more stringent interpretation.  But the point of this thread has long since passed, so it is locked.