The Italian Embassy in Colombo has started accepting work-visa applications from Sri Lankan nationals who already hold a valid Nulla Osta (work authorisation) issued under Italy’s 2025 Flow Decree (Decreto Flussi). Published on 26 November, the notice instructs applicants to secure appointments exclusively through outsourcing partner VFS Global; walk-ins and third-party bookings will not be entertained.
Italy’s Flow Decree sets annual quotas for non-EU workers—this year totalling 136,000 permits across seasonal, non-seasonal and self-employed categories. Sri Lanka received 3,500 slots, a figure that was oversubscribed within minutes when the online ‘click-day’ opened in March. Successful candidates must now complete the consular stage, which includes biometric capture and verification of accommodation and labour contracts, before travelling to Italy to finalise their residence permits (permessi di soggiorno).
![Embassy in Colombo opens appointments for 2025 Flow-Decree work visas]()
Appointments are currently “available within a few days,” the embassy says, but warns that demand will spike as agricultural employers rush to bring in workers for the 2026 planting season. Applicants unable to find a slot are advised to email the visa section directly; once lodged, dossiers are expected to be adjudicated in “a short processing timeframe.”
For global mobility teams the update removes lingering uncertainty about post-authorisation timelines. Italian host entities should liaise with their Sri Lankan recruits to ensure they travel within the six-month validity of the Nulla Osta and gather the documents—health insurance, housing contracts and labour letters—needed to convert the entry visa into a residence permit on arrival.
Failure to meet the embassy’s strict appointment protocol could invalidate the Nulla Osta, forcing employers to re-enter next year’s quota lottery. Corporates should therefore review their supply-chain partners and prohibit the use of unlicensed intermediaries, a practice the embassy continues to crack down on.
Italy’s Flow Decree sets annual quotas for non-EU workers—this year totalling 136,000 permits across seasonal, non-seasonal and self-employed categories. Sri Lanka received 3,500 slots, a figure that was oversubscribed within minutes when the online ‘click-day’ opened in March. Successful candidates must now complete the consular stage, which includes biometric capture and verification of accommodation and labour contracts, before travelling to Italy to finalise their residence permits (permessi di soggiorno).
Appointments are currently “available within a few days,” the embassy says, but warns that demand will spike as agricultural employers rush to bring in workers for the 2026 planting season. Applicants unable to find a slot are advised to email the visa section directly; once lodged, dossiers are expected to be adjudicated in “a short processing timeframe.”
For global mobility teams the update removes lingering uncertainty about post-authorisation timelines. Italian host entities should liaise with their Sri Lankan recruits to ensure they travel within the six-month validity of the Nulla Osta and gather the documents—health insurance, housing contracts and labour letters—needed to convert the entry visa into a residence permit on arrival.
Failure to meet the embassy’s strict appointment protocol could invalidate the Nulla Osta, forcing employers to re-enter next year’s quota lottery. Corporates should therefore review their supply-chain partners and prohibit the use of unlicensed intermediaries, a practice the embassy continues to crack down on.
