Italian travellers warned: UK ETA becomes compulsory from 25 February
Rome publishes emergency security-and-migration decree-law n. 23/2026
Flussi under fire: only 7.9 % of 2025 work-entry quotas turned into permits
Latest News
Italy’s Albania off-shoring plan accelerates: record 90 migrants held in Gjader
Site visits by Italian NGOs confirm that the number of migrants transferred from Italy to the Gjader facility in Albania has surged to about 90, despite pending legal challenges at the EU Court of Justice. The acceleration signals Rome’s determination to externalise detention and could presage broader European outsourcing of asylum processing.
EU Council clears package of accords with Switzerland, easing border frictions for Northern Italy
EU ministers have authorised the signing of a fresh set of market-access and mobility accords with Switzerland, promising quicker A1 social-security clearance and aligned border technology. The move should reduce red tape for thousands of Italian cross-border commuters and for companies posting staff into the Swiss market.
ITA Airways Strike Alert: 26 February Walkout Confirmed After Olympic Reprieve
Trade unions confirmed on 23 February that a nationwide ITA Airways strike postponed during the Olympics will proceed on 26 February, with knock-on effects expected at all major Italian airports. Around half of ITA’s schedule is already cancelled, and coinciding rail strikes could paralyse multi-modal travel. Businesses should rebook travellers now and brief them on EU 261 rights.
Winter Olympics Close in Verona, Triggering Post-Games Travel Surge Across Italy
Italy’s 2026 Winter Games ended on 23 February with a Verona closing ceremony, unleashing a wave of outbound travel by athletes, media and spectators. Airports, railways and border police activated special fast-track measures to cope with record luggage volumes and tight departure windows. The operation doubled as a live rehearsal for the EU Entry/Exit System that will become compulsory later this year, providing valuable lessons for corporate mobility planners.
Italian Foreign Ministry Shuts Prenot@mi Appointment Portal for 72 Hours
On 23 February the Italian Foreign Ministry took its global Prenot@mi appointment system offline for three days to install a new digital-identity module. The shutdown froze all new bookings for visas and passports, forcing consulates to triage urgent cases manually and likely pushing some February quotas into March. Companies moving staff to Italy should anticipate residual delays.
UNHCR Snapshot Shows 2026 Migrant Arrivals to Italy Running 12 % Above 2025 Levels
UNHCR’s Italy snapshot dated 23 February reports year-to-date sea arrivals up 12 % on 2025, with over half of new arrivals falling into the prime working-age bracket. While backlogs in asylum processing persist, redeployment of staff to southern hotspots aims to accelerate decisions, potentially widening the labour pool available under Italy’s Flussi quotas.
EU Parliament Committee Schedules Vote on Common Return System, Spotlight on Italy’s Repatriation Burden
An EU Parliament bulletin on 23 February confirms that MEPs will vote the same day on creating a common EU return system for irregular migrants. Italy, which shoulders a disproportionate share of repatriations, stands to gain financially but must adapt data-privacy rules. Employers may benefit from faster nulla osta processing but should prepare for more rigorous overstay checks.