The Italian government has published the long-awaited three-year Flussi Decree, laying out the legal entry quotas for non-EU workers from 2026 to 2028. 497,550 work permits will be available over the period—164,850 in 2026, 165,850 in 2027 and 166,850 in 2028—representing a six-percent increase on the previous three-year cycle. The decree, published in the Official Gazette on 15 October and explained in detail on 27 October, expands hiring opportunities well beyond traditional agriculture and tourism, opening quotas in sectors such as construction, logistics, hospitality, healthcare and advanced business services.
A headline change is the creation of 76,200 annual places for permanent employment, more than double the previous allocation. Employers may recruit workers from a list of 38 “priority” countries as well as from nations that sign new migration-co-operation agreements with Rome, which unlock an additional 18,000–34,000 places per year. Separate micro-quotas reserve 320 permits annually for UN-recognised refugees and 500 for self-employed entrepreneurs, investors and innovative-startup founders.
Seasonal labour remains crucial: the decree earmarks more than 88,000 seasonal visas each year, with reserved sub-quotas for returning workers and for large farm and tourism associations that will oversee recruitment. Domestic caregivers and home-health aides also gain, with yearly ceilings rising from 9,500 under the last decree to more than 13,000 in 2026 and rising thereafter.
Procedurally, the Ministry of the Interior will open its online “click-day” system earlier: 12 January for agricultural seasonal jobs, 9 February for tourism, 16 February for permanent hires and 18 February for domestic roles. Applications that miss quota will remain on file until 31 December 2026, streamlining re-submission once places re-open. Employers must file through Italy’s SPID digital-identity gateway and attach all supporting documents at the upload stage to cut processing times.
For multinationals and Italian companies alike, the wider sectoral coverage and larger caps offer relief amid pervasive skills shortages. Yet tight filing windows, mandatory digital signatures and enhanced document uploads mean HR teams should prepare dossiers well before January. Foreign nationals gain clearer pathways, but competition for slots will remain intense given last year’s ratio of five pre-applications for every available place.
A headline change is the creation of 76,200 annual places for permanent employment, more than double the previous allocation. Employers may recruit workers from a list of 38 “priority” countries as well as from nations that sign new migration-co-operation agreements with Rome, which unlock an additional 18,000–34,000 places per year. Separate micro-quotas reserve 320 permits annually for UN-recognised refugees and 500 for self-employed entrepreneurs, investors and innovative-startup founders.
Seasonal labour remains crucial: the decree earmarks more than 88,000 seasonal visas each year, with reserved sub-quotas for returning workers and for large farm and tourism associations that will oversee recruitment. Domestic caregivers and home-health aides also gain, with yearly ceilings rising from 9,500 under the last decree to more than 13,000 in 2026 and rising thereafter.
Procedurally, the Ministry of the Interior will open its online “click-day” system earlier: 12 January for agricultural seasonal jobs, 9 February for tourism, 16 February for permanent hires and 18 February for domestic roles. Applications that miss quota will remain on file until 31 December 2026, streamlining re-submission once places re-open. Employers must file through Italy’s SPID digital-identity gateway and attach all supporting documents at the upload stage to cut processing times.
For multinationals and Italian companies alike, the wider sectoral coverage and larger caps offer relief amid pervasive skills shortages. Yet tight filing windows, mandatory digital signatures and enhanced document uploads mean HR teams should prepare dossiers well before January. Foreign nationals gain clearer pathways, but competition for slots will remain intense given last year’s ratio of five pre-applications for every available place.
