On 1 December 2025 – and published in the Official Gazette only weeks ago – Italy’s Law 179/2025 converted Decree-Law 146/2025 into permanent legislation, substantially rewriting the immigration framework for labour and volunteer activities. The Law Library of Congress released an English digest on 30 January 2026, bringing the details to international attention.
Key changes. 1) Employers must now pre-populate work-permit applications on the Interior Ministry’s online portal; most companies are limited to three applications per year unless they are accredited professional associations entitled to higher quotas. 2) Foreigners awaiting the issuance or conversion of a residence permit for more than 60 days may legally work while the application is pending. 3) Residence permits issued for social-protection reasons (anti-trafficking, exploitation, domestic violence) can be extended from six to twelve months under defined risk conditions.
Care-worker quotas. Recognising Italy’s ageing population, Law 179 extends special quotas for hiring non-EU caregivers assisting the elderly or disabled, smoothing previously cumbersome renewal procedures.
![Italy enacts Law 179/2025, overhauling rules for hiring foreign workers and volunteers]()
Volunteering track. Foreign nationals accepted into approved non-profit or social-utility programmes can now remain up to three years, and sponsoring organisations face stricter reporting duties. The law also authorises licensed private employment agencies to recruit abroad, aiming to curb illegal intermediaries.
Business impact. • HR teams must update compliance checklists before the next “decreto flussi” click-day. • Firms relying on seasonal labour gain clarity but also face a stricter three-permit cap. • The ability to start working while a permit is pending helps avoid costly production gaps, especially in agrifood and hospitality.
For applicants who prefer professional support in navigating these changes, VisaHQ’s Italy portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) offers real-time guidance, personalised document checklists, and end-to-end application handling. Their specialists track legislative updates such as Law 179/2025 and translate them into actionable steps, easing the burden for employers, caregivers, and volunteers alike.
Legal counsel recommend mapping current permit holders to the new categories and revising onboarding processes accordingly.
Key changes. 1) Employers must now pre-populate work-permit applications on the Interior Ministry’s online portal; most companies are limited to three applications per year unless they are accredited professional associations entitled to higher quotas. 2) Foreigners awaiting the issuance or conversion of a residence permit for more than 60 days may legally work while the application is pending. 3) Residence permits issued for social-protection reasons (anti-trafficking, exploitation, domestic violence) can be extended from six to twelve months under defined risk conditions.
Care-worker quotas. Recognising Italy’s ageing population, Law 179 extends special quotas for hiring non-EU caregivers assisting the elderly or disabled, smoothing previously cumbersome renewal procedures.
Volunteering track. Foreign nationals accepted into approved non-profit or social-utility programmes can now remain up to three years, and sponsoring organisations face stricter reporting duties. The law also authorises licensed private employment agencies to recruit abroad, aiming to curb illegal intermediaries.
Business impact. • HR teams must update compliance checklists before the next “decreto flussi” click-day. • Firms relying on seasonal labour gain clarity but also face a stricter three-permit cap. • The ability to start working while a permit is pending helps avoid costly production gaps, especially in agrifood and hospitality.
For applicants who prefer professional support in navigating these changes, VisaHQ’s Italy portal (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) offers real-time guidance, personalised document checklists, and end-to-end application handling. Their specialists track legislative updates such as Law 179/2025 and translate them into actionable steps, easing the burden for employers, caregivers, and volunteers alike.
Legal counsel recommend mapping current permit holders to the new categories and revising onboarding processes accordingly.
