The Italian Ministry of Labour has published the breakdown of the 40,075 quota places reserved for seasonal workers under the 2026 Decreto Flussi, the multi-year immigration programme that will bring almost 165,000 non-EU nationals to Italy next year. The circular, signed on 16 January 2026 by the Director-General for Social Policies and Migration, Stefania Congia, details how the seasonal quota will be shared among employer associations, regions and authorised intermediaries. (repubblica.it)
Background. The three-year Decreto Flussi (2026-28) was approved in October 2025 and set annual ceilings of 164,850 entries in 2026, rising slightly in 2027-28. Seasonal labour—principally in agriculture and tourism—accounts for more than half of all places. Employers had from 23 October to 7 December 2025 to pre-fill applications on the ALI portal; formal “click-days” for sending those files began on 12 January 2026 for agricultural work and will continue through 18 February for other categories. (confagricolturaro.it)
What’s new. The 40,075 seasonal slots announced this week clarify: (1) how many visas each umbrella association (e.g., Coldiretti, Confagricoltura, Federalberghi) may sponsor; (2) the share reserved to employers who have signed anti-exploitation protocols; and (3) a small reserve (1,500 places) for nationals of countries that recently signed bilateral migration-management agreements with Italy, including Côte d’Ivoire and the Philippines. Applications will be processed chronologically, but the ministry promises to re-allocate unused quotas every 30 days to avoid bottlenecks. (repubblica.it)
![Italy allocates 40,075 seasonal-work visas for 2026 as Decreto Flussi moves into operational phase]()
Business implications. Agribusinesses and hotel chains that rely on peak-season labour now have legal certainty to finalise recruitment. Because past quotas were exhausted within minutes, HR teams are urged to ensure that PEC e-mail credentials, SPID log-ins and digital signatures are tested well before their sector’s click-day. Employers that miss the window may have to rely on short-term local contracts or labour-hire firms—at higher cost—until 2027 quotas open.
For companies and workers that prefer expert assistance when navigating Italy’s fast-moving visa process, VisaHQ’s dedicated Italy portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) offers end-to-end support, from compiling nulla osta documentation to booking consular appointments and tracking application status—helping applicants avoid common errors and meet tight seasonal deadlines.
Practical advice. • Prepare complete employee dossiers, including scanned passports and accommodation certificates, compressed below the 2 MB upload limit. • Budget at least 60 days for nulla osta issuance and a further 30 days for consular visa stamping. • Consider travel-insurance add-ons that cover biometrics appointments, which are now mandatory on arrival.
Looking ahead. The government has hinted at an electronic quota-lottery pilot for 2027 if click-day congestion persists. Companies with continuous needs should monitor parliamentary debate on that reform.
Background. The three-year Decreto Flussi (2026-28) was approved in October 2025 and set annual ceilings of 164,850 entries in 2026, rising slightly in 2027-28. Seasonal labour—principally in agriculture and tourism—accounts for more than half of all places. Employers had from 23 October to 7 December 2025 to pre-fill applications on the ALI portal; formal “click-days” for sending those files began on 12 January 2026 for agricultural work and will continue through 18 February for other categories. (confagricolturaro.it)
What’s new. The 40,075 seasonal slots announced this week clarify: (1) how many visas each umbrella association (e.g., Coldiretti, Confagricoltura, Federalberghi) may sponsor; (2) the share reserved to employers who have signed anti-exploitation protocols; and (3) a small reserve (1,500 places) for nationals of countries that recently signed bilateral migration-management agreements with Italy, including Côte d’Ivoire and the Philippines. Applications will be processed chronologically, but the ministry promises to re-allocate unused quotas every 30 days to avoid bottlenecks. (repubblica.it)
Business implications. Agribusinesses and hotel chains that rely on peak-season labour now have legal certainty to finalise recruitment. Because past quotas were exhausted within minutes, HR teams are urged to ensure that PEC e-mail credentials, SPID log-ins and digital signatures are tested well before their sector’s click-day. Employers that miss the window may have to rely on short-term local contracts or labour-hire firms—at higher cost—until 2027 quotas open.
For companies and workers that prefer expert assistance when navigating Italy’s fast-moving visa process, VisaHQ’s dedicated Italy portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) offers end-to-end support, from compiling nulla osta documentation to booking consular appointments and tracking application status—helping applicants avoid common errors and meet tight seasonal deadlines.
Practical advice. • Prepare complete employee dossiers, including scanned passports and accommodation certificates, compressed below the 2 MB upload limit. • Budget at least 60 days for nulla osta issuance and a further 30 days for consular visa stamping. • Consider travel-insurance add-ons that cover biometrics appointments, which are now mandatory on arrival.
Looking ahead. The government has hinted at an electronic quota-lottery pilot for 2027 if click-day congestion persists. Companies with continuous needs should monitor parliamentary debate on that reform.
