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Latest News
Italian Embassy in Manila halts all visa appointments 12–18 February
Italy’s embassy in Manila will suspend all visa appointments and passport services from 12 to 18 February due to the global upgrade of the Italian Visa Information System. Travellers are being re-booked after 19 February, creating potential delays for business and crew travel at one of Southeast Asia’s busiest visa posts.
Italian Embassy in Tunis joins global VIS-IT shutdown, pauses visa processing
Italy’s embassy in Tunis will freeze all visa services from the evening of 12 February until 18 February as part of the worldwide VIS-IT system upgrade. The pause affects thousands of Tunisian seasonal and maritime workers heading to Italy, raising the likelihood of processing backlogs in late February.
Italian visa processing worldwide to pause 12–18 February for VIS-IT system upgrade
Italian missions on five continents have confirmed that the national visa database (VIS-IT) will be offline 12–18 February, forcing a worldwide freeze on Italian visa lodgement and issuance. Business-critical travellers must apply before 9 February or face delays of at least a week once processing resumes, while companies should brace for knock-on effects to February trade-fair travel and Olympic test events.
Kuala Lumpur embassy halts Italian visa appointments 9–18 February
Italy’s embassy in Kuala Lumpur will not offer visa appointments from 9–18 February due to the VIS-IT system shutdown, creating potential delays for Chinese New Year travellers and corporate assignees. Booked applicants will be rescheduled, while new filings must wait until 19 February or use another Schengen consulate.
Australian travellers warned of VIS-IT downtime by Consulate in Adelaide
Italy’s Adelaide consulate will suspend all visa intake and issuance from 13–18 February, advising Australians to file by 9 February or expect at least a week’s delay in passport return. The pause could affect both holidaymakers and companies mobilising staff under the upcoming work-permit ‘click-day’.
Italy says presence of U.S. ICE agents for 2026 Winter Olympics will be strictly analytical
Interior Minister Piantedosi confirmed that ICE agents supporting the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympics will work only in an intelligence capacity, reassuring businesses that border and immigration enforcement remain under Italian control and that no U.S.-style policing will occur at venues.
Gulf expats alerted as Muscat embassy adds details on February visa freeze
Italy’s Muscat embassy has published local-time details of the 12–18 February VIS system shutdown, warning Gulf residents that no biometrics or passport issuance will be possible during the period and urging early filing or rerouting via another Schengen post.