Italy has confirmed that a new electronic visa system and expanded biometric border controls will begin rolling out in the second quarter of 2026, marking a shift that many travellers may only fully notice once they start applying for visas or passing through passport control.
The plan means visa applications will gradually move online, while airports and ferry ports prepare for more automated identity checks using facial recognition and fingerprint data. For tourists, expats and business travellers heading to Italy, the changes promise faster processes in the long run – but a slightly confusing transition at first.
