Italy’s diplomatic posts worldwide have begun applying the EU Council’s Implementing Decision 11169/26, published 7 July 2026, which temporarily suspends several facilitations contained in the Schengen Visa Code for citizens of Guinea. The measure—formally notified on 20 July by the Embassy of Italy in Wellington—responds to what Brussels describes as “insufficient cooperation on readmission” by the Guinean authorities. From 10 July 2026, Guinean applicants for short-stay (type C) Schengen visas must submit the full set of supporting documents with no waivers, pay the standard €80 fee even if they hold diplomatic or service passports, and wait up to 45 calendar days for a decision instead of the usual 15. Multiple-entry visas and the progressive “cascade” towards longer-validity permits are also suspended. Long-stay national visas (type D) are unaffected, as are Guinean family members of EU citizens or other categories enjoying free-movement rights. The decision contains explicit safeguards for cases where Italy is internationally obliged to issue a visa—for example, for holders of UN laissez-passer travelling to conferences. Each application will still be assessed on its individual merits, but businesses should expect higher rejection risks if documentation is incomplete. For corporate mobility managers the practical impact is immediate: Guinean employees, clients or partners invited to Italy—even for brief meetings—will face longer lead times and higher cost. Companies should revise travel timelines, budget for possible overnight courier costs, and remind travellers that they may not receive a multi-entry sticker even if they held one previously. Italy is the fourth Schengen country this year to activate the EU’s readmission-pressure mechanism. The move signals Rome’s tougher stance on returns and is a reminder that visa policy can shift abruptly when third countries are deemed non-co-operative. Organisations with exposure to West Africa should monitor pending EU evaluations of Gambia and Sierra Leone, whose nationals could face similar restrictions later in 2026.
Source: Embassy of Italy in Wellington
