Italy’s immigration debate took a dramatic turn on 30 January when a coalition of far-right groups calling itself the Committee for Remigration and Reconquest filed a so-called popular-initiative petition for a “remigration” law. Under Article 71 of the Constitution any proposal that gathers 50,000 certified signatures within six months must be placed on Parliament’s agenda. Organisers said they collected more than 15,000 signatures in the first morning alone, signalling that the threshold could be reached quickly.
The draft bill would create a new Institute of Remigration with sweeping powers to deport all irregular migrants and even naturalised Italian citizens convicted of certain crimes. Legal migrants would be offered cash incentives to “voluntarily” return to their countries of origin, while those refusing could face compulsory removal. Critics note the text borrows almost verbatim from a blueprint published by Austrian extremist Martin Sellner and contravenes multiple EU free-movement directives.
![Far-right petition seeks ‘remigration’ law empowering mass deportations]()
Amid such regulatory uncertainty, companies and individuals can find practical, up-to-date guidance on Italy’s current entry and residence rules through VisaHQ’s dedicated portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/). The service aggregates visa requirements, processing times and document checklists in one place and offers expert assistance that can quickly flag policy shifts—such as any fallout from the proposed “remigration” law—so mobility teams and travellers stay compliant and avoid costly disruptions.
Politically, the initiative puts Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing coalition in an awkward position. MPs from Matteo Salvini’s League quickly voiced support, but members of Meloni’s own Brothers of Italy party remained silent. Centre-left and liberal deputies stormed the petitioners’ press conference, accusing them of reviving Mussolini-era racial laws. If Parliament debates the bill, mainstream parties will be forced to vote on provisions that hard-line voters favour but which business lobbies fear could worsen labour shortages and damage Italy’s reputation with investors.
For global-mobility managers the proposal, while far from becoming law, is an early warning of the direction in which parts of Italy’s political spectrum wish to push immigration rules. Companies employing third-country nationals should monitor the debate and be prepared to reassure staff about Italy’s current legal-migration pathways, which remain unchanged for now. Should the measure advance, expect higher compliance costs, reputational considerations and potential challenges relocating dual citizens with criminal records.
The draft bill would create a new Institute of Remigration with sweeping powers to deport all irregular migrants and even naturalised Italian citizens convicted of certain crimes. Legal migrants would be offered cash incentives to “voluntarily” return to their countries of origin, while those refusing could face compulsory removal. Critics note the text borrows almost verbatim from a blueprint published by Austrian extremist Martin Sellner and contravenes multiple EU free-movement directives.
Amid such regulatory uncertainty, companies and individuals can find practical, up-to-date guidance on Italy’s current entry and residence rules through VisaHQ’s dedicated portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/). The service aggregates visa requirements, processing times and document checklists in one place and offers expert assistance that can quickly flag policy shifts—such as any fallout from the proposed “remigration” law—so mobility teams and travellers stay compliant and avoid costly disruptions.
Politically, the initiative puts Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing coalition in an awkward position. MPs from Matteo Salvini’s League quickly voiced support, but members of Meloni’s own Brothers of Italy party remained silent. Centre-left and liberal deputies stormed the petitioners’ press conference, accusing them of reviving Mussolini-era racial laws. If Parliament debates the bill, mainstream parties will be forced to vote on provisions that hard-line voters favour but which business lobbies fear could worsen labour shortages and damage Italy’s reputation with investors.
For global-mobility managers the proposal, while far from becoming law, is an early warning of the direction in which parts of Italy’s political spectrum wish to push immigration rules. Companies employing third-country nationals should monitor the debate and be prepared to reassure staff about Italy’s current legal-migration pathways, which remain unchanged for now. Should the measure advance, expect higher compliance costs, reputational considerations and potential challenges relocating dual citizens with criminal records.
