Eurostat’s latest snapshot, published on 14 September 2026, shows that 4.43 million people fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine still hold temporary-protection status across the EU. Germany (29 %), Poland (22 %) and Czechia (9 %) host the lion’s share, while Italy’s caseload has stabilised at 53 975—just 1.2 % of the EU total and the equivalent of fewer than 2.5 beneficiaries per thousand inhabitants. The data confirm a gradual east-to-west re-balancing of protection numbers since mid-2024, when Italy briefly exceeded 150 000 registrants. According to the Interior Ministry, many Ukrainians in Italy have either re-migrated to countries with larger diaspora networks or transitioned to national residence permits linked to employment. Sectors absorbing the largest share include home-care, hospitality and IT services—areas where labour shortages persist despite domestic hiring incentives. For employers, the message is two-fold. First, access to the Ukrainian talent pool inside Italy is tightening; companies needing Ukrainian language skills or STEM profiles should act quickly before protection holders exhaust their permitted stay or relocate. Second, the Council of the EU has formally extended the temporary-protection regime to 4 March 2028 but introduced an exemption for military-service evaders. HR teams must therefore verify that future hires do not fall under the new exclusion or risk visa refusals. Assignees arriving from Germany or Poland should also note that Italy recognises their existing residence documents under the intra-EU mobility clauses, but registration with the local Questura is still required within eight days of entry. Mobility advisers should schedule this appointment in advance, given current waiting times of up to four weeks in Rome and Milan. On the policy front, Italy’s low intake could pose challenges when the solidarity-based distribution mechanism of the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum kicks in next year. Businesses may therefore see further adjustments to integration funding at regional level, affecting subsidised language courses and employment services used by foreign staff.
Source: Integrazione Migranti / Eurostat
