At 09:00 CET on 16 February the Ministry of the Interior opened its online portal for the first 2026 Decreto Flussi “click day”, releasing 76,200 quota places for non-seasonal employees. Italian companies had pre-loaded draft applications during a December compilation window and had until 20:00 to transmit them. Observers reported that many quotas were snapped up within the first 15 minutes, echoing last year’s record demand. (fanpage.it)
The non-seasonal tranche is part of a three-year plan that will admit almost half a million third-country nationals between 2026 and 2028 to plug skills gaps in manufacturing, logistics, hospitality and elderly care. Eligible workers must hold citizenship of 34 partner countries—including Albania, India, Morocco and Ukraine—or have UNHCR refugee status. Applications are processed strictly in chronological order; once the nulla osta (authorisation) is issued, the worker must obtain a consular visa and convert it to a residence permit within eight days of arrival.
For employers or assignees who need hands-on assistance with the Italian consular visa and residence-permit process, VisaHQ offers an end-to-end service that includes appointment scheduling, document review and real-time status updates. Its dedicated Italy page (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) outlines how the platform can streamline applications and minimise the risk of delays that might jeopardise a hard-won quota slot.
![Decreto Flussi 2026: Non-Seasonal Work-Permit ‘Click Day’ Goes Live]()
Two further click days follow this week: 18 February for family-care aides (colf and badanti) and 20 February for seasonal agricultural staff. Employers who miss the windows will have to rely on EU hires or wait until the 2027 decree.
Why it matters for multinationals: securing quota slots early can shave three to four months off mobilisation lead-times, particularly for projects starting in Q3. HR teams should verify that digital signatures, SPID credentials and contingency power-of-attorney measures are in place well before the portal opens, and schedule consular appointments as soon as the nulla osta is approved to avoid spring backlogs.
Key take-aways for assignees:
• Have original diplomas and police certificates ready for the visa interview.
• Expect biometric capture at the Questura within eight days of entry.
• Plan for a 12- to 18-month pathway to long-term EU residence under current rules.
The non-seasonal tranche is part of a three-year plan that will admit almost half a million third-country nationals between 2026 and 2028 to plug skills gaps in manufacturing, logistics, hospitality and elderly care. Eligible workers must hold citizenship of 34 partner countries—including Albania, India, Morocco and Ukraine—or have UNHCR refugee status. Applications are processed strictly in chronological order; once the nulla osta (authorisation) is issued, the worker must obtain a consular visa and convert it to a residence permit within eight days of arrival.
For employers or assignees who need hands-on assistance with the Italian consular visa and residence-permit process, VisaHQ offers an end-to-end service that includes appointment scheduling, document review and real-time status updates. Its dedicated Italy page (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) outlines how the platform can streamline applications and minimise the risk of delays that might jeopardise a hard-won quota slot.
Two further click days follow this week: 18 February for family-care aides (colf and badanti) and 20 February for seasonal agricultural staff. Employers who miss the windows will have to rely on EU hires or wait until the 2027 decree.
Why it matters for multinationals: securing quota slots early can shave three to four months off mobilisation lead-times, particularly for projects starting in Q3. HR teams should verify that digital signatures, SPID credentials and contingency power-of-attorney measures are in place well before the portal opens, and schedule consular appointments as soon as the nulla osta is approved to avoid spring backlogs.
Key take-aways for assignees:
• Have original diplomas and police certificates ready for the visa interview.
• Expect biometric capture at the Questura within eight days of entry.
• Plan for a 12- to 18-month pathway to long-term EU residence under current rules.
