Canada has quietly but decisively tightened its travel advice for a widening list of popular destinations, with Italy now joining Brazil, Mexico, the Netherlands, France, Belgium, Sweden and other countries under a more vigilant security lens. At the same time, Canadian travellers heading to Europe and the United States are moving into a new era of biometric screening, fingerprinting and digital pre-clearance, reshaping what used to be relatively frictionless trips to some of the world’s most visited nations.

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Canada’s Updated Advisory Puts Italy in a Higher-Risk Spotlight

On January 7, 2026, the Government of Canada updated its official guidance for Italy, confirming the country at the “Exercise a high degree of caution” level due to the continued threat of terrorism and broader security concerns. This keeps Italy above the “Take normal security precautions” baseline and aligns it with a cluster of destinations where authorities believe the risk environment warrants heightened vigilance for Canadian travellers.

Italy’s advisory, which had already been strengthened in October 2025, reflects an accumulation of factors from terrorism risk to opportunistic crime, scams and cyber threats in major tourist centers. The advisory notes that security conditions can change quickly and urges visitors to remain alert, follow local authorities’ instructions and monitor local media while moving around Italian cities and transport hubs.

Officials have also drawn attention to Italy’s upcoming role as host of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Large international events are typically accompanied by reinforced policing, more frequent spot checks, tighter perimeter controls and temporary disruptions to normal city life in host regions. Canadian travellers are advised to anticipate heavier security presence, transport delays and more rigorous identity checks in northern Italy as the Games approach.

From Sweden to Spain: A Wider Web of Elevated Caution Across Europe

Italy’s status is part of a broader pattern across Western and Northern Europe, where several countries popular with Canadian tourists now share similar language in Canada’s advisories. Sweden, France, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands are among those positioned at the “Exercise a high degree of caution” tier, largely on account of terrorism threats, dense urban crowds, sporadic unrest and sophisticated petty crime targeting visitors.

In October 2025, Italy was explicitly grouped with Sweden, France, Spain, Germany and the Netherlands in a Canadian advisory update that warned of a combination of terrorism risk, theft, scams on public transport and demonstrations that can flare without much notice. Travellers are told to be especially attentive in train stations, metro systems, tourist quarters and around major attractions, where thieves and scam artists often operate in teams.

Belgium and other Schengen states have seen similar language reflected in their profiles, underscoring a continental reality in which security services view crowded European capitals as potential soft targets. While the overall risk of being directly affected by terrorism remains statistically low for any individual traveller, Canada’s guidance signals that the context is serious enough to warrant extra caution rather than complacency.

Brazil, Mexico and Beyond: High Caution Extends Well Outside Europe

Canada’s elevated advisories are not limited to Europe. Brazil and Mexico, two of the most visited destinations in the Americas, have for some time carried warnings that stress high levels of crime and localized violence, including armed robbery, organized criminal activity and, in some regions, heightened risks linked to gangs and narcotics trafficking.

For Brazil, Canadian travellers are frequently reminded to avoid certain urban districts after dark, remain discreet with valuables and be cautious in areas where robberies and express kidnappings have been reported. Tourist zones in Rio de Janeiro and other major cities can experience a sharp divide between safe and higher-risk neighborhoods, sometimes separated only by a few blocks.

Mexico’s profile is even more complex, with Canada issuing regional advisories within the country. While some resort areas continue to draw millions of international visitors every year, Canadian and other Western governments have for years pointed to serious security issues in specific states and border regions. Organized crime, carjackings, armed attacks and targeted violence remain part of the official risk calculation, prompting a mixture of “avoid non-essential travel” and “exercise a high degree of caution” labels depending on the locality.

Biometric Borders: Italy and Other Schengen States Roll Out EES

Beyond traditional security risks, Canada is now emphasizing that trips to Italy and other European destinations are entering a new phase of technologically intensive border control. A key turning point came on October 12, 2025, when the European Union’s Entry/Exit System, or EES, formally began operations across the 29 countries of the Schengen area, including Italy, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Germany and Sweden.

The EES replaces the familiar ritual of passport stamping for non-EU travellers with a biometric registration process that records facial images and fingerprints alongside passport data. For Canadians and other visa-exempt visitors, this means that a first trip to an EES-enabled Schengen border can involve longer processing times as officers or automated kiosks capture fingerprints and a live facial image and link them to a digital file that will be reused on subsequent visits.

According to European authorities, the system is being phased in over several months and is expected to be fully operational at all designated entry points by April 2026. The goal is to speed up border checks in the long run, crack down on overstays and provide a more precise digital record of who is entering and leaving the Schengen zone. For travellers, however, the immediate effect is a much more intimate interaction with border technology, and the inability to refuse biometric collection if they wish to enter.

Canada Highlights Privacy, Wait Times and Travel Disruptions

With Italy’s advisory update, Canada is quietly drawing attention to an evolving landscape in which security and privacy intersect. While European officials stress that biometric data collected under EES is held under strict data-protection rules and stored for a limited number of years, the idea that fingerprints and facial scans are now mandatory for short-term tourism has sparked debate among privacy advocates and travel industry observers.

Canadian guidance does not instruct travellers to avoid biometric systems, but it does underline practical implications. Longer queues are likely during the first wave of registrations, especially at major European hubs during peak holiday seasons. Travellers heading to Italy, France, Spain or other Schengen destinations are urged to arrive early at departure airports, allow extra time for connections and be prepared for unfamiliar procedures at arrival checkpoints.

Canada also reminds its citizens that issues such as mismatched fingerprints, partial scans or technical failures can cause delays or secondary inspections. Authorities advise travellers to keep documentation of hotel bookings, onward tickets and travel insurance easily accessible, in case border officials need additional reassurance or supporting evidence while resolving a biometric or data-entry problem.

ETIAS and New Layers of Pre-Travel Screening for Canadians

In parallel with EES, another major change is coming for Canadian travellers to Europe through the European Travel Information and Authorization System, known as ETIAS. This program, which will begin to take effect in the second half of 2026, will require Canadians and other visa-exempt nationals to complete an online authorization before boarding flights or ships bound for most European destinations in the Schengen area.

ETIAS will not be a traditional visa, but it will operate in a similar way to existing electronic systems in other parts of the world. Applicants will need to submit personal details, travel plans and security-related information online, pay a processing fee and wait for an approval that will be valid across multiple trips for several years or until the passport expires. Canadian travellers who have grown used to simply booking a ticket and showing up at the airport for Europe-bound flights will now have to integrate this step into their trip planning.

Canadian travel professionals say the combination of ETIAS and EES effectively closes the final chapter of the old, largely analog border regime in Europe. Together, the systems will allow authorities to conduct automated risk assessments long before a traveller reaches the check-in counter, and then track movements in and out of the Schengen zone with unprecedented precision. For visitors, including those heading to Italy, France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Sweden, careful attention to pre-travel documentation will become as essential as checking passport validity or booking accommodation.

The shift toward biometric border management is not confined to Europe. In late 2025, the United States moved ahead with an expanded biometric entry-exit system and updated visa policies that affect travellers from Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, France, the United Kingdom and other nations. While Canadians entering the U.S. by air or land for short visits often remain visa-exempt, they are increasingly encountering facial-recognition cameras and other biometric tools at airports and border crossings.

Travel industry reports indicate that Mexican nationals using border crossing cards and Brazilian visitors on certain U.S. visas must now ensure their entries and exits are fully logged by biometric scanners to avoid complications with renewals or future applications. European travellers from France, Germany and the UK are also subject to more rigorous exit tracking, with data inconsistencies flagged as potential red lights in later screenings.

Canada, like many advanced economies, has already deployed facial recognition in parts of its own border infrastructure and collaborates with allies on watchlist screening and identity verification. As a result, journeys between Canada and biometric-intensive destinations are rapidly becoming part of a global network in which travellers are continuously verified and reverified across multiple systems and databases.

What This Means for Canadian Travellers Planning Trips to Italy and Beyond

For Canadians preparing to visit Italy, Brazil, Mexico, or European neighbours such as France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Sweden, the convergence of higher-profile security advisories and sweeping biometric reforms adds layers of complexity to what might once have been straightforward itineraries. Officials and travel experts alike stress that these changes do not mean travellers should abandon their plans, but that they should approach international trips with greater preparation and awareness.

In practice, that begins with checking the latest Canadian travel advice for each destination shortly before departure, and again during the trip if staying for an extended period. Since risk levels and specific warnings can shift rapidly in response to events such as protests, crime trends or major sporting and religious gatherings, relying on months-old information is no longer sufficient.

Travellers are also encouraged to factor in biometric processes at both ends of the journey. For Italy and other Schengen states, that means allowing time for potential queues at EES registration points and understanding that fingerprints and facial images are now standard requirements. For trips that include connections through the United States or other global hubs, passengers should anticipate additional identity checks, especially when transferring between international and domestic flights.

As Canada’s latest advisory for Italy illustrates, the modern travel environment is defined as much by data and digital risk assessment as by conventional notions of security on the ground. For those willing to adapt, Italy, Brazil, Mexico, France, Belgium, Sweden, the Netherlands and many more destinations remain accessible. But entering this new era of border management will require Canadians to travel not just with passports and suitcases, but with a clear understanding of the rules, risks and biometric realities that now shape international movement.