Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade updated its Smartraveller advisory for Italy on 23 July, maintaining the ‘Exercise normal safety precautions’ level but adding a detailed warning about the forthcoming Entry/Exit System (EES). The note tells travellers they will be fingerprinted and photographed on arrival and should expect longer queues at land borders where temporary checks with Slovenia remain in place. The advisory comes as the EU begins technical roll-out tests ahead of the EES go-live currently slated for October. Airlines will have to verify pre-registration and authorised-stay balances, adding a new compliance layer for corporate travel desks. DFAT also highlights the re-introduced Italian-French controls for the Alta Felicità festival and reminds dual nationals to carry the passport they plan to exit on to avoid EES over-stay flags. With Australian businesses restarting group incentives in Tuscany and Lombardy, TMCs should brief participants about biometric capture and the need to keep exit-receipts for expense claims. Although the advisory is aimed at Australians, the operational insights on EES and border delays are equally relevant to multinationals relocating staff through Italian hubs such as Trieste and Verona. Mobility managers should begin updating onboarding packs and travel FAQs.
