ITALY – A guide to visas and immigration for the 2026 Winter Olympics. 

January 28, 2025


Clara Excler

By: Clara Excler, Associate, Newland Chase Advisory.

After the excitement of the Summer Games in Paris, Europe is gearing up for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, which will be hosted in Milan, Italy. The event is expected to attract around 2,900 athletes from over 90 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), competing in 116 events across ice and snow. With 3,000 accredited media professionals and over 1.7 million visitors from around the globe, Italian authorities have already started preparing for the influx of people and the necessary visa and entry procedures.

Key information to note for visitors to the Games.

  • The press accreditation process has already begun.
  • A facilitated procedure for issuing entry visas for members of the Olympic Family will be put in place for the duration of the Games.
  • The Milano Cortina 2026 Organising Committee is working to establish a fast-track process for the Olympic Family and Organising Committees for the Olympic Games (OCOG) staff who need to visit Italy for work purposes before the Games begin.

Specific guidelines will apply depending on the type of visitor that is traveling to Italy for the Games.

For Olympic and Paralympic Family members accredited by the 2026 Organising Committee:

  • A simplified Schengen visa process will be in place, similarly to the 2024 Summer Olympics.
  • Pre and post-Games stay will be subject to standard visa and immigration processes. However, the Milano Cortina 2026 is working on a fast-track process to enable this category of individuals to work in Italy prior to the start of the Games.

For companies sending employees to Italy for business or work related to the Games:

  • Standard visa and immigration processes will apply.

For fans and private visitors to Italy:

  • Standard Schengen visa requirements will apply.

It is important to note that Italian immigration processing times are extremely lengthy and work permit applications ahead of the Olympics should be considered now. Italy is also anticipating a significant influx of visitors in 2025 due to the Jubilee celebrations, which, combined with the coordination for the Olympics, could lead to delays in Schengen visa processing and other routine visa applications.

For the same reasons, expect fluctuations in the availability of affordable flights and temporary housing in Italy during 2025 and until the end of the Winter Games in March 2026.

Further details will be provided as they become available. If you have any questions about working in Italy leading-up to or during the Olympics, please contact Newland Chase.

For information regarding Schengen travel visa in Italy, visit CIBTvisas.com.

This immigration update is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal or scenario-specific advice. Furthermore, it is important to note that immigration announcements are subject to sudden and unexpected changes. Readers are encouraged to reach out to Newland Chase for any case- or company-specific assessments.