Italy has finally published the long-awaited Presidential “Flow Decree” (decreto flussi) covering the three-year period 2026-2028. Signed by the Council of Ministers on 6 December and placed online on 7 December, the decree increases legal immigration quotas by 10 percent compared with the 2023-25 cycle, authorising 497,550 new ingresso-lavoro permits. Quotas are allocated as follows: 164,850 slots for 2026, 165,850 for 2027 and 166,850 for 2028. Seasonal hiring in agriculture and tourism captures 267,000 places, while 230,550 permits are reserved for non-seasonal employees and self-employed professionals. A further 20,000 “conversion” slots will let holders of existing stay-permits switch to work status, supporting the government’s pledge to regularise people already in Italy.
Operationally, the Interior Ministry’s ALI portal closed its pre-filling window for 2026 applications at midnight on 7 December, meaning employers now have barely a month to prepare for four fiercely competitive “click days” in January and February. Police certificates, labour-market-test evidence and biometric appointments should be lined up immediately, and companies must ensure they hold SPID or CIE digital credentials to access the portal.
![Italy’s New 2026-28 ‘Flow Decree’ Unlocks 497,550 Work-Visa Slots]()
Politically, the decree walks a tightrope. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing coalition needs migrant labour to offset Italy’s shrinking workforce but also wants to keep faith with voters who demand tougher action on irregular migration. Officials argue that expanding legal pathways undermines people-smuggling networks. Opposition parties counter that the government is quietly increasing immigration quotas while using hard-line rhetoric for electoral advantage.
For global mobility managers the decree is both opportunity and challenge. Employers in vineyards, agri-food processing and resort hospitality can now plan three seasons ahead, but must budget for higher legal and translation costs and stricter post-arrival audits. Multinationals seeking highly skilled talent will welcome the new out-of-quota corridor for ICT managers and STEM graduates, yet they will face more rigorous checks on salary and accommodation standards.
Bottom line: large Italian employers that rely on foreign labour cannot afford to sit back. HR and mobility teams should map their 2026 workforce needs, reserve legal counsel for the January click days and brief line managers on the heightened compliance environment the decree ushers in.
Operationally, the Interior Ministry’s ALI portal closed its pre-filling window for 2026 applications at midnight on 7 December, meaning employers now have barely a month to prepare for four fiercely competitive “click days” in January and February. Police certificates, labour-market-test evidence and biometric appointments should be lined up immediately, and companies must ensure they hold SPID or CIE digital credentials to access the portal.
Politically, the decree walks a tightrope. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing coalition needs migrant labour to offset Italy’s shrinking workforce but also wants to keep faith with voters who demand tougher action on irregular migration. Officials argue that expanding legal pathways undermines people-smuggling networks. Opposition parties counter that the government is quietly increasing immigration quotas while using hard-line rhetoric for electoral advantage.
For global mobility managers the decree is both opportunity and challenge. Employers in vineyards, agri-food processing and resort hospitality can now plan three seasons ahead, but must budget for higher legal and translation costs and stricter post-arrival audits. Multinationals seeking highly skilled talent will welcome the new out-of-quota corridor for ICT managers and STEM graduates, yet they will face more rigorous checks on salary and accommodation standards.
Bottom line: large Italian employers that rely on foreign labour cannot afford to sit back. HR and mobility teams should map their 2026 workforce needs, reserve legal counsel for the January click days and brief line managers on the heightened compliance environment the decree ushers in.
