The Italian Council of Ministers has approved the long-awaited Flows Decree for the three-year period 2026-2028, authorising the entry of up to 500,000 non-EU workers.
230,550 places are reserved for non-seasonal and self-employed roles in manufacturing, construction, road transport, care work and high-tech services, while 267,000 slots are earmarked for seasonal jobs in agriculture and tourism.
The new decree is the largest single expansion of Italy’s legal migration channels in more than a decade and reflects lobbying by business confederations that warn of an acute labour shortage as the country’s workforce ages and unemployment falls below 7 percent.
Government sources say quotas were calibrated against requests filed by employers and the number of work permits actually issued in previous years, to avoid the oversubscription that has plagued past ‘click-day’ rounds.
Rome is also signalling a shift away from the once-yearly scramble for permits. The text mandates pilot projects that will allow companies in shortage occupations to file applications outside the quota system, provided they invest in pre-departure training in the migrants’ home countries.
As companies navigate this expanded pathway for talent, many will need practical help with the underlying paperwork. VisaHQ’s Italy portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) offers clear checklists, real-time fee information and concierge assistance for work visas, allowing HR teams and applicants alike to move through the process with fewer delays and surprises.
![Italy green-lights 500,000 new foreign-worker quotas under 2026-2028 Flows Decree]()
Ministries of Labour and Foreign Affairs have been tasked with drafting bilateral skills programmes within six months.
For mobility managers, the decree offers a clear hiring horizon. Large multinationals can plan staffing for the next three fiscal years and explore cross-border talent pipelines in logistics, IT and hospitality.
Smaller firms, however, will still be limited to three applications per year unless they join accredited employers’ associations that can sponsor additional slots.
Practical next steps: the Interior Ministry is expected to publish the procedural circular within 15 days, after which the online portal for applications will open.
Companies should gather corporate documents and prepare translated job offers now, because the window is normally saturated within hours.
Family reunification and intra-company transferees remain outside the quota and follow existing rules.
230,550 places are reserved for non-seasonal and self-employed roles in manufacturing, construction, road transport, care work and high-tech services, while 267,000 slots are earmarked for seasonal jobs in agriculture and tourism.
The new decree is the largest single expansion of Italy’s legal migration channels in more than a decade and reflects lobbying by business confederations that warn of an acute labour shortage as the country’s workforce ages and unemployment falls below 7 percent.
Government sources say quotas were calibrated against requests filed by employers and the number of work permits actually issued in previous years, to avoid the oversubscription that has plagued past ‘click-day’ rounds.
Rome is also signalling a shift away from the once-yearly scramble for permits. The text mandates pilot projects that will allow companies in shortage occupations to file applications outside the quota system, provided they invest in pre-departure training in the migrants’ home countries.
As companies navigate this expanded pathway for talent, many will need practical help with the underlying paperwork. VisaHQ’s Italy portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) offers clear checklists, real-time fee information and concierge assistance for work visas, allowing HR teams and applicants alike to move through the process with fewer delays and surprises.
Ministries of Labour and Foreign Affairs have been tasked with drafting bilateral skills programmes within six months.
For mobility managers, the decree offers a clear hiring horizon. Large multinationals can plan staffing for the next three fiscal years and explore cross-border talent pipelines in logistics, IT and hospitality.
Smaller firms, however, will still be limited to three applications per year unless they join accredited employers’ associations that can sponsor additional slots.
Practical next steps: the Interior Ministry is expected to publish the procedural circular within 15 days, after which the online portal for applications will open.
Companies should gather corporate documents and prepare translated job offers now, because the window is normally saturated within hours.
Family reunification and intra-company transferees remain outside the quota and follow existing rules.
