Just hours after parliamentary hearings began on the EU Pact, Palazzo Chigi doubled down with a new security decree that hardens Italy’s stance on irregular migration. Presented late on 24 June, the draft legislation resurrects the idea of an administrative "naval blockade"—rebranded as the power to interdict territorial waters for up to 180 days—and greatly expands cases in which foreigners with serious criminal convictions can be expelled directly from prison. The decree also trims humanitarian and family-reunification channels. Protection on humanitarian grounds (protezione complementare) will now require five years’ regular residence, certified Italian-language ability and proof of adequate housing and income. Family reunification applicants must meet higher income thresholds and submit full biometric data before entry.
![“Easy Expulsions & Closed Ports”: Government Unveils Tough Security Decree on Irregular Migration]()
For companies and private applicants scrambling to digest these shifting requirements, VisaHQ offers a streamlined way to verify documentation, schedule embassy appointments and secure the correct Italian entry visas. Its dedicated Italy portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) is updated in real time with the latest decree-driven income benchmarks, biometric specifications and electronic residence-permit guidance—resources that can save valuable time as penalties for non-compliance rise.
Critics call the package a "parallel migration code" that risks clashing with EU-level guarantees; the government insists it is merely plugging gaps until the Pact is fully operational. For employers, the most immediate impact lies in the decree’s expansion of workplace spot-checks and the doubling of fines—up to €50 000—for those who hire or host migrants lacking the new electronic residence permits that will start rolling out in September. Multinationals operating seasonal facilities in agriculture, logistics and hospitality may need to audit labour subcontractors quickly. EU officials in Brussels reacted cautiously, noting that internal border checks must be lifted, not reinforced, under the latest Schengen recommendations. A Commission spokesperson confirmed that Italy, like eight other Member States, received a formal "opinion" earlier this month urging a shift from blanket controls to intelligence-led mobile checks—a message seemingly at odds with Rome’s new hard-line stance. The decree enters into force immediately but must be converted into law within 60 days. Given the tight timetable, observers predict intense parliamentary battles over constitutionality and EU compatibility. Mobility practitioners should monitor for last-minute amendments, especially to the sections on employer sanctions and port interdictions.
For companies and private applicants scrambling to digest these shifting requirements, VisaHQ offers a streamlined way to verify documentation, schedule embassy appointments and secure the correct Italian entry visas. Its dedicated Italy portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) is updated in real time with the latest decree-driven income benchmarks, biometric specifications and electronic residence-permit guidance—resources that can save valuable time as penalties for non-compliance rise.
Critics call the package a "parallel migration code" that risks clashing with EU-level guarantees; the government insists it is merely plugging gaps until the Pact is fully operational. For employers, the most immediate impact lies in the decree’s expansion of workplace spot-checks and the doubling of fines—up to €50 000—for those who hire or host migrants lacking the new electronic residence permits that will start rolling out in September. Multinationals operating seasonal facilities in agriculture, logistics and hospitality may need to audit labour subcontractors quickly. EU officials in Brussels reacted cautiously, noting that internal border checks must be lifted, not reinforced, under the latest Schengen recommendations. A Commission spokesperson confirmed that Italy, like eight other Member States, received a formal "opinion" earlier this month urging a shift from blanket controls to intelligence-led mobile checks—a message seemingly at odds with Rome’s new hard-line stance. The decree enters into force immediately but must be converted into law within 60 days. Given the tight timetable, observers predict intense parliamentary battles over constitutionality and EU compatibility. Mobility practitioners should monitor for last-minute amendments, especially to the sections on employer sanctions and port interdictions.
