ROME, Feb 27: Italy has announced it will launch a fully digital visa platform in the second quarter of 2026, becoming one of the first members of the Schengen Area to commit to an end-to-end online process. Unveiled on 25 February, the new e-visa portal—developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of the Interior—will merge short-stay Schengen visas and long-stay national (D-type) permits into a single digital pathway. Applicants will complete smart forms, upload supporting documents and pay fees electronically, eliminating paper submissions and repetitive data entry that have long burdened travellers and corporate mobility teams.

While biometric data collection will continue for now, with consulates capturing fingerprints and facial images, most administrative procedures will shift online. Officials say remote identity verification for low-risk frequent travellers could eventually replace in-person biometric appointments, though such a rollout remains years away.

In parallel, Italy is expanding automated border gates at Rome–Fiumicino Airport and Milan–Malpensa Airport, aligning preparations with the EU’s upcoming Entry/Exit System and the future European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS).

For companies relocating staff or dispatching executives on short assignments, the overhaul promises faster processing once the transition stabilises. However, authorities caution that implementation will vary by consulate, creating a temporary patchwork of digital and legacy procedures. Mobility managers are urged to confirm which missions accept electronic submissions, secure biometric appointments well ahead of peak travel seasons, and update onboarding protocols to reflect digital confirmations instead of traditional ink-stamped paperwork.