Global Affairs Canada has upgraded its travel advice for Italy after violent demonstrations erupted in Turin on 31 January 2026—just days before the city co-hosts events for the Milano-Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. The advisory, updated at 08:13 ET on 1 February 2026, urges Canadians in the Piedmont capital to exercise heightened caution, monitor local media and be prepared for a heavy security presence.
While the overall risk level for Italy remains “Exercise a high degree of caution,” officials warn that further civil unrest cannot be ruled out, particularly around Olympic venues and public-gathering areas. The notice comes as Canadian tour operators finalise group itineraries for the Games, which run 6–22 February (Olympic) and 6–15 March (Paralympic).
Travellers are reminded that Italy’s Entry/Exit System (EES)—an automated register for non-EU visitors—became operational in late 2025, meaning Canadian passport holders will be fingerprinted and photographed on arrival. Those planning multi-country itineraries should also track possible temporary Schengen border controls, which Italy can reinstate during major events.
![Canada updates Italy travel advisory ahead of Turin protests and 2026 Winter Games]()
For Canadians who need assistance with the new EES procedures or any other travel-document requirements en route to Italy and the wider Schengen area, VisaHQ offers a streamlined solution. Through its Canadian portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/), the service provides step-by-step online guidance, live customer support and courier options for passport and visa processing—helping Olympic spectators and business delegations avoid last-minute paperwork surprises.
Practical implications for business travellers include potential transport disruptions, hotel rate spikes and stricter security screenings at Turin’s Porta Nuova rail hub and Caselle Airport. Firms with staff on assignment should update emergency-contact protocols and confirm that employees have adequate travel insurance covering civil unrest.
The advisory underscores Ottawa’s broader message that Canadians heading abroad in 2026 should subscribe to real-time email updates and register itineraries through the “Canadians Abroad” service—tools that proved invaluable during recent evacuations from Israel and Sudan.
While the overall risk level for Italy remains “Exercise a high degree of caution,” officials warn that further civil unrest cannot be ruled out, particularly around Olympic venues and public-gathering areas. The notice comes as Canadian tour operators finalise group itineraries for the Games, which run 6–22 February (Olympic) and 6–15 March (Paralympic).
Travellers are reminded that Italy’s Entry/Exit System (EES)—an automated register for non-EU visitors—became operational in late 2025, meaning Canadian passport holders will be fingerprinted and photographed on arrival. Those planning multi-country itineraries should also track possible temporary Schengen border controls, which Italy can reinstate during major events.
For Canadians who need assistance with the new EES procedures or any other travel-document requirements en route to Italy and the wider Schengen area, VisaHQ offers a streamlined solution. Through its Canadian portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/), the service provides step-by-step online guidance, live customer support and courier options for passport and visa processing—helping Olympic spectators and business delegations avoid last-minute paperwork surprises.
Practical implications for business travellers include potential transport disruptions, hotel rate spikes and stricter security screenings at Turin’s Porta Nuova rail hub and Caselle Airport. Firms with staff on assignment should update emergency-contact protocols and confirm that employees have adequate travel insurance covering civil unrest.
The advisory underscores Ottawa’s broader message that Canadians heading abroad in 2026 should subscribe to real-time email updates and register itineraries through the “Canadians Abroad” service—tools that proved invaluable during recent evacuations from Israel and Sudan.
