Italy Allocates 8,865 Extra Seasonal Work Permits for 2026 Agriculture and Tourism
11 May Air-Traffic Strikes to Hit Rome and Naples Control Centres and EasyJet Crews
24-Hour National Port Strike on 7 May Threatens Cargo Flows and Island Ferry Links
Latest News
Italy to Suspend Biometric Border Checks at Busy Airports, Reverts to Passport Stamps Until 30 September
Facing two-hour immigration queues, Italy will let border police revert to manual passport stamping whenever lines exceed 45 minutes, suspending mandatory biometric checks at airports until 30 September 2026. The hybrid approach gives terminals time to add e-gates and offers immediate relief for corporate and leisure travellers but requires careful passport-page management and longer connection buffers.
11 May ‘Black Day’: Transport Ministry Bulletin Warns of Nationwide Aviation and Rail Strikes
A 5 May update to Italy’s official strike register shows overlapping airport security, air-traffic-control, airline-crew and rail-maintenance walk-outs that will peak on Monday 11 May. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport urges travellers to check schedules frequently; corporates should reschedule meetings, add buffer days and prepare for flight cancellations under EU 261.
UNHCR: Migrant Arrivals to Italy Rose 14 % in April; 19 Dead or Missing
UNHCR reports a 14 % jump in sea arrivals to Italy in April 2026, with 2,459 migrants landing and at least 19 deaths recorded en route. Rising numbers—led by Bangladeshi, Somali and Pakistani nationals—could prompt tighter border inspections and complicate work-permit planning for employers.
Florence Rail-Maintenance Strike Disrupts Tuscany Services on 5 May
Maintenance staff at RFI’s Florence division walked out for eight hours on 5 May, causing knock-on delays to regional and Intercity trains across Tuscany. While limited in scope, the strike underscores the need for travel-risk monitoring of local rail actions that can disrupt same-day corporate itineraries.
24-Hour National Port Strike Set for 7 May Threatens Ferry and Ro-Ro Schedules
A 24-hour national strike by port-sector unions on 7 May will disrupt cargo and passenger operations at all Italian ports, delaying ferry services and roll-on/roll-off freight. Employers moving household goods or using ferries for employee travel should secure contingency plans.