Italy sets 1 June 2026 go-live date for fully digital Schengen and national visa applications
Fourth ‘Click Day’ opens 8,000 residual work-permit slots under Italy’s 2026 Decreto Flussi
Law 27/2026 extends Ukrainian temporary-protection residence permits to March 2027
Latest News
National rail strike set for 27–28 February to compound post-aviation chaos
Italy’s main rail unions will strike from the evening of 27 February to the evening of 28 February 2026, threatening nationwide train cancellations just one day after an aviation walkout. Guaranteed peak-hour services will run, but knock-on disruption could last into 29 February, forcing business travellers to build extra buffer time into itineraries.
Mobile passport unit heads to Ibiza on 26–27 February to serve Italians abroad
The Italian Consulate in Barcelona will run a two-day mobile passport service on Ibiza on 26–27 February 2026, allowing AIRE-registered citizens to renew passports without leaving the island. The pop-up helps Italian expatriates avoid travel costs and ensures continuous compliance for cross-border work.
Nationwide Aviation Strike Grounds 300 Flights across Italy
A 24-hour national aviation strike on 26 February 2026 forced the cancellation of about 300 flights, hitting ITA Airways, easyJet and other carriers. The protest, postponed from 16 February to avoid Olympic disruption, centred on stalled contract negotiations and exposed labour shortages in Italy’s ground-handling sector. Businesses faced costly re-routing and further rail strikes loom, underlining the need for robust contingency planning.
INPS Scraps Paper Payment Slips, Fully Digitalises Contributions for Domestic Workers
As of 26 February 2026, INPS confirmed that all social-security contributions for Italy’s domestic workers must be paid online via the pagoPA system, ending the use of paper bollettino slips. The move streamlines compliance for families—many of whom employ foreign carers—and advances Italy’s broader digital-government agenda.
UK Electronic Travel Authorisation Becomes Compulsory for Italians Departing Pisa and Florence
From 25 February 2026, all Italian and other visa-exempt travellers must secure a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation before departure; local media on 26 February highlighted the first cases of passengers turned away at Pisa and Florence airports. Companies will need to factor the new £19 digital permit—and its processing time—into urgent business-travel plans.
Swissport Debuts ‘Catullo Lounge by Aspire’ at Verona Airport to Elevate Premium Mobility
Swissport’s Aspire brand opened the Catullo Lounge at Verona Airport on 26 February 2026, bringing showers, work pods and regional cuisine to a strategically important secondary hub. The move enhances comfort for Italy-bound business travellers and underlines the growing role of premium lounge services in corporate mobility programmes.
Opinion Piece Sparks Debate as ‘Remigration’ Politics Gain Ground in Italy
A Guardian opinion column on 26 February 2026 warns that calls for large-scale deportations, branded as “remigration”, are gaining mainstream traction in Italy’s political discourse. The rhetoric amplifies uncertainty for companies reliant on foreign talent and underscores the importance of robust diversity strategies when relocating staff to Italy.