A device for applying an adhesive on a wrapping band of a smoking article, in particular the smoking article being a cigarette of the heat-not-burn type, wherein the wrapping band has a longitudinal direction of extension, a first surface and a second surface opposed to the first surface; the wrapping band comprising a first plurality of portions having a first thickness and a second plurality of portions having a second thickness greater than the first thickness; wherein the portions of the first plurality and the portions of the second plurality are disposed alternately with each other along the direction of extension; the device comprising: feed means for moving the wrapping band along a feed direction parallel to the direction of extension; at least one nozzle having a delivery end for delivering an adhesive on the first surface of the wrapping band; the device being characterized in that: the nozzle and the wrapping band are movable towards/away from each other between a first position, where the delivery end of the nozzle and the second surface of the wrapping band are at a first distance which is less than or equal to the second thickness, and a second position, where the delivery end of the nozzle and the second surface of the wrapping band are at a second distance which is greater than the second thickness; it comprises movement means for moving the nozzle and the wrapping band between the first position and the second position so that they are at the first position when the delivery end of the nozzle faces a portion of the first plurality and at the second position when the delivery end of the nozzle faces a portion of the second plurality, wherein the movement means comprise a supporting element that faces the second surface of the wrapping band and that is movable in a direction transverse to the plane of the wrapping band in order to move the wrapping band towards and away from the delivery end of the nozzle. feed means for moving the wrapping band along a feed direction parallel to the direction of extension; at least one nozzle having a delivery end for delivering an adhesive on the first surface of the wrapping band; the device being characterized in that: the nozzle and the wrapping band are movable towards/away from each other between a first position, where the delivery end of the nozzle and the second surface of the wrapping band are at a first distance which is less than or equal to the second thickness, and a second position, where the delivery end of the nozzle and the second surface of the wrapping band are at a second distance which is greater than the second thickness; it comprises movement means for moving the nozzle and the wrapping band between the first position and the second position so that they are at the first position when the delivery end of the nozzle faces a portion of the first plurality and at the second position when the delivery end of the nozzle faces a portion of the second plurality, wherein the movement means comprise a supporting element that faces the second surface of the wrapping band and that is movable in a direction transverse to the plane of the wrapping band in order to move the wrapping band towards and away from the delivery end of the nozzle. the nozzle and the wrapping band are movable towards/away from each other between a first position, where the delivery end of the nozzle and the second surface of the wrapping band are at a first distance which is less than or equal to the second thickness, and a second position, where the delivery end of the nozzle and the second surface of the wrapping band are at a second distance which is greater than the second thickness; it comprises movement means for moving the nozzle and the wrapping band between the first position and the second position so that they are at the first position when the delivery end of the nozzle faces a portion of the first plurality and at the second position when the delivery end of the nozzle faces a portion of the second plurality, wherein the movement means comprise a supporting element that faces the second surface of the wrapping band and that is movable in a direction transverse to the plane of the wrapping band in order to move the wrapping band towards and away from the delivery end of the nozzle.