Just six weeks after Parliament converted the 2026-2028 ‘Decreto Flussi’ into law, the Ministry of Labour issued a late-night circular on 16 January that divvies up this year’s seasonal-work quota among Italy’s 20 regions and the main employer associations. The details—published on 18 January—confirm 40,075 entry slots for 2026, the first tranche of a record 497,550 foreign-worker admissions planned over the next three years. (visahq.com)
Agriculture dominates the allocation, receiving 27,000 visas, followed by tourism and hospitality (13,000) and smaller slices for road haulage and fisheries. The numbers reflect persistent labour shortages in Italy’s agri-food supply chain and its coastal resort industry, both of which have struggled to staff peak operations since the pandemic. The first online ‘click-day’ opened at 09:00 on 12 January, and officials expect the agricultural quota to be exhausted in minutes, replicating last year’s record 20-minute sell-out. (visahq.com)
For global mobility managers, the practical challenge is speed. Employers must pre-populate contracts, housing certificates and INPS clearances, then log into the Interior Ministry’s ALI portal the moment it opens—preferably via fibre-optic connections to avoid time-outs. Visa consultants report that some companies rehearsed dry-runs over the weekend to shave seconds off submission times. Rejected files go to a waiting list unlikely to advance unless competitors withdraw, making first-time accuracy critical. (visahq.com)
![Italy Allocates 40,075 Seasonal-Work Visas for 2026 as New Decreto Flussi Becomes Operational]()
If the race against the clock feels overwhelming, VisaHQ’s Italy specialists can shoulder the burden—drafting region-specific contracts, uploading documents to the ALI portal, and tracking prefectural approvals in real time through an online dashboard. Their end-to-end service gives HR teams a buffer against last-minute glitches and maximises the odds of securing a coveted seasonal slot. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/italy/.
Beyond this year’s harvest, the decree offers a medium-term talent pipeline. Seasonal permits can be converted into multi-year contracts after two renewals, giving agri-businesses and resorts a path to retain experienced workers. HR teams, however, must budget for language training, occupational-health exams and local-integration programmes to maximise retention and productivity. Firms with operations in multiple EU states are also weighing whether Italy’s larger quotas and comparatively low minimum wages justify shifting seasonal headcount from Spain or Greece.
The next key date is 9 February, when tourism firms battle for their 13,000 places. With the 2026 Winter Olympics on the horizon, demand is expected to outstrip supply. Companies that miss out should keep draft applications alive—the Ministry hinted that unused quotas may be redistributed mid-year, offering a second bite at the apple.
Agriculture dominates the allocation, receiving 27,000 visas, followed by tourism and hospitality (13,000) and smaller slices for road haulage and fisheries. The numbers reflect persistent labour shortages in Italy’s agri-food supply chain and its coastal resort industry, both of which have struggled to staff peak operations since the pandemic. The first online ‘click-day’ opened at 09:00 on 12 January, and officials expect the agricultural quota to be exhausted in minutes, replicating last year’s record 20-minute sell-out. (visahq.com)
For global mobility managers, the practical challenge is speed. Employers must pre-populate contracts, housing certificates and INPS clearances, then log into the Interior Ministry’s ALI portal the moment it opens—preferably via fibre-optic connections to avoid time-outs. Visa consultants report that some companies rehearsed dry-runs over the weekend to shave seconds off submission times. Rejected files go to a waiting list unlikely to advance unless competitors withdraw, making first-time accuracy critical. (visahq.com)
If the race against the clock feels overwhelming, VisaHQ’s Italy specialists can shoulder the burden—drafting region-specific contracts, uploading documents to the ALI portal, and tracking prefectural approvals in real time through an online dashboard. Their end-to-end service gives HR teams a buffer against last-minute glitches and maximises the odds of securing a coveted seasonal slot. Learn more at https://www.visahq.com/italy/.
Beyond this year’s harvest, the decree offers a medium-term talent pipeline. Seasonal permits can be converted into multi-year contracts after two renewals, giving agri-businesses and resorts a path to retain experienced workers. HR teams, however, must budget for language training, occupational-health exams and local-integration programmes to maximise retention and productivity. Firms with operations in multiple EU states are also weighing whether Italy’s larger quotas and comparatively low minimum wages justify shifting seasonal headcount from Spain or Greece.
The next key date is 9 February, when tourism firms battle for their 13,000 places. With the 2026 Winter Olympics on the horizon, demand is expected to outstrip supply. Companies that miss out should keep draft applications alive—the Ministry hinted that unused quotas may be redistributed mid-year, offering a second bite at the apple.
