Travel · Official advice · 31 October 2026
FCDO updates Italy travel advice on Blue Badges and strike
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has announced updated travel guidance for Italy, including new information on UK Blue Badges and a planned national strike. The advice also warns of recent violent demonstrations in northern cities and sets out current passport validity rules for the Schengen area.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office has published updated travel advice for Italy. The new guidance includes information on arrangements that recognise valid UK Blue Badges. It also provides warnings regarding recent demonstrations and a scheduled national strike.
Recent events in northern Italian cities have resulted in violent riots and looting, according to the department. There is now an increased presence of police and military personnel in Milan. A national strike is scheduled for 30 October, which is expected to impact transport systems across the country.
Travellers must ensure their passports meet specific validity requirements to enter the Schengen area. The date of issue must be less than 10 years before the date of arrival. Passports must also have an expiry date at least 3 months after the planned departure date from the Schengen area.
Entry will be denied if a traveller does not have a valid travel document or attempts to use a reported lost or stolen passport. The guidance notes that passports issued before 1 October 2018 might have an invalid date of issue. This advice also covers travel to Vatican City.
Written by StreetOwl from Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office’s own announcement. It was drafted by StreetOwl’s own model, every figure and quotation was checked by code against the announcement, and it was read and approved by Michael Rossi before it went up. It says what was announced, not what anyone should do about it.
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