The Italian government has switched on the online pre-application system for the 2027 immigration quota programme (Decreto Flussi 2027). From 09:00 on 23 October until 20:00 on 7 December 2026 Italian employers can fill in draft work-permit requests for non-EU nationals on the Ministry of the Interior’s ALI portal. Although no application can actually be submitted during this phase, uploading the data in advance is mandatory for anyone who wants to compete in the January–February ‘click-days’ when the quotas are awarded on a first-come-first-served basis. The overall ceiling for 2027 is 165,850 entries – only 1,000 more than this year – divided into 89,000 seasonal jobs in agriculture and tourism, 76,200 non-seasonal hires (including 14,000 domestic caregivers) and 650 self-employment permits. For the first time Kenya has been added to the list of eligible source countries, following a bilateral mobility memorandum signed on 2 July 2026. The operational rules are contained in joint circular 7185/2026, which also reminds employers that labour-market tests and housing suitability checks remain in force. Pre-application allows companies to complete data validation and obtain the mandatory INPS and revenue-agency confirmations in advance; fields entered at the last moment can take up to six days to be verified, so waiting until December is risky. Between 9 and 13 December a special “editing window” will let users correct or finalise partially saved dossiers but will not accept new ones. The actual click-days are scheduled for 12 January (agriculture), 9 February (seasonal tourism), 16 February (non-seasonal industry/services) and 18 February 2027 (domestic caregivers). Experience shows that most quotas are snapped up within minutes, making early preparation critical. For multinational employers the 2027 calendar offers slightly earlier access to seasonal agricultural labour – advantageous for spring harvest planning – while hospitality companies gain certainty for the summer season. The modest increase in numbers signals continuity rather than expansion, but the inclusion of Kenya may diversify recruitment channels. HR departments should audit housing arrangements in advance and remind local line managers that they now have 15 days (up from eight) after a worker’s arrival to sign the stay contract. Failure to confirm within the deadline will now trigger automatic revocation of the work authorisation. Given persistent labour shortages in logistics, construction and elderly care, demand is expected to exceed supply again. Companies that cannot secure quota places should already be evaluating alternative pathways such as intra-company transfers, EU Blue Card or posted-worker arrangements.
Source: Money.it
