Italy has completed the last procedural step to lock in its most ambitious immigration-quota programme yet. Law 179/2025, published in the Official Gazette on 11 December and in force as of 12 December, transforms October’s draft “Flow Decree” into ordinary legislation, guaranteeing 497,550 new work-visa slots for non-EU nationals over the next three years.
Background and numbers • The triennial quota rises by almost 50,000 compared with the 2023-2025 plan, reflecting intense lobbying by employer federations faced with chronic labour shortages in agriculture, hospitality, logistics, construction and elder-care. • Annual ceilings are set at 164,850 for 2026, 165,850 for 2027 and 166,850 for 2028. • Seasonal work dominates (267,000 permits) but more than 50,000 places are ring-fenced for highly-skilled staff, road-freight drivers, start-up founders and intra-company transfers.
What changes for business • Employers may file pre-authorisation (nulla osta) requests as early as February, and the Ministry of the Interior has pledged to deliver decisions within 30 days through a new API that can feed status updates directly into HR dashboards. • Quotas for freight drivers will be released in quarterly tranches to help transport companies line up training and obtain EU licence conversions before the 2026 tourist season. • A pilot fast-track is being created for companies that already hold “SEMAFORO VERDE” compliance status, potentially cutting processing times to ten days.
![Italy Converts 2026-2028 ‘Flow Decree’ Into Law, Opening 497,550 Work-Visa Places]()
VisaHQ’s dedicated Italy page (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) offers step-by-step support to both employers and individuals navigating the new Flow Decree. From preparing nulla osta applications to coordinating entry visas, residence permits and document legalisations, our platform centralises every requirement and provides real-time tracking so HR teams and assignees always know where things stand.
Policy context Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is simultaneously pushing a hard line against irregular migration and expanding legal channels that can be tightly managed. Officials argue that bigger, predictable quotas deter clandestine arrivals by offering a clear, lawful alternative. Critics on the left question whether the additional numbers will be enough to offset Italy’s ageing workforce and whether seasonal visas will translate into real integration.
Practical advice Mobility managers should begin workforce-planning exercises now. The first quota click-day is expected in late February and places for construction and transport typically disappear within minutes. Companies with urgent 2026 hiring needs should review digital signature arrangements and regional labour-office registration well in advance. Foreign assignees who entered Italy on intra-company permits in 2024-25 may also tap the new conversion quotas to extend their stay beyond the three-year ICT limit.
Long-term outlook If fully utilised, the Flow Decree will bring almost half a million additional workers to Italy by 2028—roughly equivalent to the population of Bologna. The measure signals that, despite tough rhetoric, Rome views managed migration as indispensable to economic growth.
Background and numbers • The triennial quota rises by almost 50,000 compared with the 2023-2025 plan, reflecting intense lobbying by employer federations faced with chronic labour shortages in agriculture, hospitality, logistics, construction and elder-care. • Annual ceilings are set at 164,850 for 2026, 165,850 for 2027 and 166,850 for 2028. • Seasonal work dominates (267,000 permits) but more than 50,000 places are ring-fenced for highly-skilled staff, road-freight drivers, start-up founders and intra-company transfers.
What changes for business • Employers may file pre-authorisation (nulla osta) requests as early as February, and the Ministry of the Interior has pledged to deliver decisions within 30 days through a new API that can feed status updates directly into HR dashboards. • Quotas for freight drivers will be released in quarterly tranches to help transport companies line up training and obtain EU licence conversions before the 2026 tourist season. • A pilot fast-track is being created for companies that already hold “SEMAFORO VERDE” compliance status, potentially cutting processing times to ten days.
VisaHQ’s dedicated Italy page (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) offers step-by-step support to both employers and individuals navigating the new Flow Decree. From preparing nulla osta applications to coordinating entry visas, residence permits and document legalisations, our platform centralises every requirement and provides real-time tracking so HR teams and assignees always know where things stand.
Policy context Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is simultaneously pushing a hard line against irregular migration and expanding legal channels that can be tightly managed. Officials argue that bigger, predictable quotas deter clandestine arrivals by offering a clear, lawful alternative. Critics on the left question whether the additional numbers will be enough to offset Italy’s ageing workforce and whether seasonal visas will translate into real integration.
Practical advice Mobility managers should begin workforce-planning exercises now. The first quota click-day is expected in late February and places for construction and transport typically disappear within minutes. Companies with urgent 2026 hiring needs should review digital signature arrangements and regional labour-office registration well in advance. Foreign assignees who entered Italy on intra-company permits in 2024-25 may also tap the new conversion quotas to extend their stay beyond the three-year ICT limit.
Long-term outlook If fully utilised, the Flow Decree will bring almost half a million additional workers to Italy by 2028—roughly equivalent to the population of Bologna. The measure signals that, despite tough rhetoric, Rome views managed migration as indispensable to economic growth.
