Coronavirus Emergency: Information for International Students in Trento

ATTENTION: This page is frequently updated!

Information for International Students in Trento 

COVID-19 Emergency: Starting from 26 April 2021, the new Italian Government Decree modifies restrictions in order to help contain the spread of COVID infections and extends the national state of emergency until 31 July 2021. The Decree is in force throughout Italy and implements the following measures in the Province of Trento which is considered a low risk yellow area: 

• Masks are to be worn always in all indoor and outdoor spaces
• Social distancing practices are required with at least 1 meter between other people at all times
• The majority of university lectures will be held with students physically present in the classroom, but a limit may be placed on the number of people allowed to enter at one time
• Libraries and study areas are open with reduced capacity
• The Decree identifies different areas throughout Italy corresponding to four risk scenarios of escalating severity with differentiated containment measures: white areas are considered minimum risk, yellow areas are low risk, orange areas moderate risk and red areas high risk. For details on specific measures in each area see the relevant Italian Government webpage.
• An obligatory national curfew is strictly enforced between 10:00 PM and 5:00 AM with exceptions only for proven work or health-related reasons
• Movement within a person's city of residence (comune) is permitted and visits to private homes are allowed with a maximum of 4 people between 5:00 AM and 10:00PM
• Travel is possible outside of a person's city of residence (comune) and between other Italian regions which are colored yellow (low risk) and white (minimum risk) only if absolutely necessary 
• Travel between red high risk areas is strictly prohibited
• Private transportation should be prioritized, but use of public transportation is permitted between 5:00AM and 10:00PM with reduced passenger capacity in each vehicle
• Food service establishments (restaurants, bars, pubs, bakeries, etc.) may be open for outdoor food service only from 5:00 AM until 10:00 PM. Take away is also allowed and home delivery may be permitted until later.
• All group gatherings, dance events and parties are strictly forbidden
• Individual physical activity is allowed only outdoors and everyone must still carry a mask with them during exercise to put on when necessary
• Team sports are permitted outdoors only, while gyms and swimming pools will be progressively opening at later dates
• Theaters, museums and cinemas will be gradually opening with the necessary precautions in place
• For more information on policies implemented by the Italian government at the national level please see the Italian Health Ministry's FAQ page. 

Borders with many countries remain open, however currently international travel is strongly discouraged unless absolutely necessary. Certain restrictions may apply for those entering and leaving Italy depending on origin and destination, including a possible period of mandatory self-isolation. Due to the rapid spread of the Coronavirus throughout Europe and the world, new travel restrictions may suddenly be implemented without prior notice. For important details and updates on travel to and from Italy visit the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs travel website and the Italian Health Ministry's COVID-19 travel webpage. If required, the Self-Declaration Travel Form for travel to Italy from abroad is available in the Useful Links Box. 

An on-line travel information form has been created by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for people travelling to or from Italy based on current legislation. The form is intended ONLY as a general guide and it has no legal value, nor does it guarantee entry to Italy or other countries.

Travel Indications and Restrictions

Travel To and From Abroad

Travel rules vary depending on the country of origin or destination and the reason for travelling. Entry to Italy from India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is banned except for persons either resident in Italy since before 29 April 2021 or expressly authorised by the Ministry of Health.

Persons entering Italy who visited or transited through India, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka between 15 and 28 April 2021, even if they do not show symptoms of Covid-19, need to inform the local health authority, take a swab test (molecular or antigenic), self-isolate for a period of 10 days and take another swab test.

Restrictions for persons travelling from the Countries in list C, D and E are extended until 15 May. Subject to an ad hoc circular by the Ministry of Health, the paper declaration form shall be replaced with the compilation of a digital passenger location form.

• From 19 April, it will be compulsory to undergo a molecular or antigenic swab carried out within 48 hours prior to entry into Italy, and the result of which will be negative for those who come from or have stayed/transited, in the previous 14 days, in one or more States or territories included in Lists C, D and E.
• The duration of the fiduciary isolation for persons returning from one or more States or territories included in Lists D and E, has been changed to 10 days. This provision applies only to entries into Italy after the entry into force of the Ordinance of  April 16, 2021. Those who entered Italy before  April 18, 2021 must complete the 14-day isolation period. 
• Obligation to undergo an additional molecular or antigenic swab, at the end of the 10-day period, for those who come from or have stayed/transited, in the previous 14 days, in one or more States or territories included in Lists D and E. This provision applies only to entries into Italy after the entry into force of the Ordinance of  April 16, 2021. Those who entered Italy before  April 18, 2021, must complete the 14-day isolation period, and do not need to carry out any further swabs.
• The specific restrictions for the region of Tyrol cease to apply.
• A special memo issued by the Directorate General of Prevention of the Ministry of Health will introduce a digital Passenger Locator Form (PLF) to be shown before boarding, which will replace the paper self-declaration.

In the case of Brazil, the provisions of the Ordinance of  February 13, 2021 (ban on entry into Italy for all those who come from Brazil or have stayed/transited there in the 14 days prior to entering Italy) have been updated.

• Go to the Brazil section

The Ordinance of  April 2, 2021 provided for some reclassifications of the lists of countries in Annex 20 of the Dpcm of  March 2, 2021, which will be effective from April 7 to 30, 2021.

Browse the below lists of information based on groups of countries:

• List A - Vatican City and Republic of San Marino 
• List B - The States and territories with low epidemiological risk will be identified, among those in List C, by the Ordinance adopted pursuant to article 6, subparagraph 2
• List C - Austria (with specific restrictions for the Tyrol region) Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark (including the Faroe Islands and Greenland), Estonia, Finland, France (including Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyana, Reunion, Mayotte and excluding other territories outside the European mainland), Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands (excluding territories outside the European mainland), Poland, Portugal (including the Azores and Madeira), Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Hungary, Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Andorra, Principality of Monaco, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
• List D - Australia, New Zealand, Rwanda, Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand and the States and territories with low epidemiological risk will be identified, among those in List E, by the Ordinance adopted pursuant to article 6, subparagraph 2
• List E - Rest of the world - (all States and Territories not specifically referred to in any other list)
• Brasil Special rules apply for those who have stayed or transited in Brasil 

COVID-tested Flights - Passenger Locator Forms

Covid-tested flights are flights that have been authorised by the Ministry of Health by means of a special ordinance.
To learn more about the requirements and the compulsory procedure go to the dedicated section: Covid-tested flights - Passenger Locator Form

Limitations Within Italian Territory

The Ministerial Decree of  March 2, 2021, Decree-Law no. 30 of  March 13, 2021, Decree-Law no. 44 of  April 1, 2021 and the Ordinances of the Minister of Health have provided for the application of restrictive measures for the containment of COVID-19 infection, until 30 April 2021.

These provisions confirm several urgent measures to contain the infection throughout the country already in force and introduce new ones.

Please refer to the page Covid-19, situation in Italy, and to the FAQ published on the Government website, for a summary of the different restrictions applied in the yellow, orange, red and white areas.

For more details and updates please see the Italian Health Ministry Travel webpage.

Useful Phone Numbers for the Italian Ministry of Health

• From Italy: 1500 (National Information Hotline)
• From abroad:  +39 0232008345 - +39 0289619015 - +39 0283905385 
• Covid-19 Regional telephone information hotlines

Arrival in Trento

Self-Isolation Indications from the Trentino Board of Health

Immediately upon arrival in Trento, those subject to self-isolation must notify the local Trentino Board of Health (APSS) Prevention Department of their entry into Italy and the starting date of their quarantine by sending an e-mail to segreteria.uoisp [at] apss.tn.it and attaching the completed APSS Self-Declaration Form (see the Download Box) and a copy of an identity document. A swab test may required by the local Health Board.

Important note: Self-isolation cannot be carried out in university student housing facilities.

If COVID-19 symptoms appear later this must be communicated immediately to the APSS Prevention Department.

After a certain number of days without symptoms (to be indicated by the APSS) the quarantine period is considered complete and no further communication with the APSS is required.

For more information please see the relevant APSS website (in Italian).

Throughout the Province of Trentino all of the aforementioned national COVID-19 containment measures are in place in order to comply with the current Decree. Masks must always be worn in all indoor and outdoor spaces. Social distancing practices are still in place and masks are obligatory at all times while using all types of public transportation. 

For more updates about specific Coronavirus emergency measures in place at the local level, visit the English websites of the Province of Trentino and The University of Trento. 

If you are looking for live updates on the COVID-19 emergency during these days at home then tune in to Quarantine Radio! This English langauge radio program created especially for international students also offfers music, health tips, audio books, digital socializing and much more!

2020-2021 Academic Year at UniTrento

Academic Activities:

• To comply with the aforementioned Decree, students will physically attend most university lectures but in limited numbers
• Otherwise, the classes will be taught on-line and students will participate remotely

Services and facilities:

• University offices are currently closed to the public. Staff is working from home and can be contacted by e-mail and phone.
• University libraries and study areas are open with reduced capacity.
• University restaurants and canteens are open with reduced capacity and on-line reservations are required.
• University housing in Opera Universitaria dormitories is only open to certain mobility programs and these students have already been informed about application procedures.
• If a quarantine period is required, it cannot be spent in university student housing facilities.

Inbound Exchange Mobility - 2021 Spring semester:

• Given the rapid and uncertain evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the aforementioned measures taken at the national and international level, we strongly recommend that incoming international students participate in UniTrento academic activities remotely from their home country.
• Should students decide to come to Trento anyway, they will be required to strictly comply with all national and international safety precautions. If a self-isolation period is required, students must arrange and pay for their own quarantine lodging outside of university student housing facilities.

UniTrento Virtual Mobility Website: 

• A dedicated package of on-line services, information and socio-cultural activities is available for exchange students. In this way, they can make the most of their exchange experience and be fully “virtually” immersed in the UniTrento community.

UniTrento will continue to monitor the global and national COVID-19 emergency and may revise the aforementioned university policies as needed. Updates can be found on this webpage.

Furthermore, due to the rapid resurgence of COVID-19, new travel restrictions may suddenly be implemented without prior notice. For important details and updates on a national level please visit the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Italian Health Ministry's webpages.

Counseling Service

For any student who would like to contact us during these difficult times, the Counseling Center is available by appointment via Skype or through other similar means of communication to give advice and support. Generally there are 1 or 2 appointments per student lasting about 20 minutes each. To make an appointment send an e-mail to: 
consulenzapiscologica.studenti [at] unitn.it
E-mails are read daily and you will be contacted to confirm your appointment. 
Students can also call 0461.808.116 Monday through Friday from 9:00 to 17:00
We hope this stressful situation passes and returns to normal as soon as possible. 

Call 1500 or 800.867.388 (toll free numbers) if you have a persistent cough and/or a constantly high temperature.