ROME – The Italian Ministry of Labour has issued Directive No. 531 confirming the territorial split of the 43,300 non-seasonal work permits authorised for 2026 under the three-year immigration Flow Decree (2026-2028). The circular, dated 16 February but published in the ministry’s online register and circulated to regional labour offices on 20 February, translates national quota ceilings into concrete hiring room for employers in manufacturing, logistics, hospitality and home-care services. Of the total, 25,000 slots are reserved for nationals of 40 “partner” countries (including Albania, Morocco, India and the Philippines). A further 18,000 permits are earmarked for countries that sign new labour-migration agreements with Italy during the year, while 300 are set aside for stateless persons and refugees.
![Italy Divides 43,300 Non-Seasonal Work-Permit Quotas Among Regions for 2026]()
For companies and foreign workers who want help turning these allocations into actual entry visas, VisaHQ provides a streamlined document-preparation and filing service. Its Italy desk (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) offers step-by-step guidance on the forms, police certificates and consular appointments required, and the team can pre-screen files so that submissions on the ‘ALI’ portal move through the system without costly rejections.
Regional labour inspectorates must now open dedicated online counters on the ‘ALI’ portal to receive employer sponsorship requests and monitor utilisation in real time. Unlike previous years, unused quotas may be re-allocated mid-year to territories reporting labour shortages, a change welcomed by northern industrial districts but criticised by some southern regions that fear a shortfall in available permits. Trade bodies representing construction and agri-food firms say they will lobby for a second quota release before the summer if applications exceed supply, as happened in 2025 when the ceiling was reached in less than four weeks. For multinational companies, the publication removes uncertainty around head-count planning. HR teams should prepare sponsorship documentation early, as police clearances and housing certificates must be uploaded together with job offers on the ‘ALI’ system; incomplete files will be rejected automatically. Processing times last year averaged 28 days but can stretch to 60 days in peak periods. Employers are reminded that entry visas must be stamped within six months of authorisation or the permit lapses. The decree also dovetails with the EU Blue Card reform: highly qualified applicants who fit Blue Card criteria can apply outside the quota. Firms recruiting managers, engineers or IT specialists should therefore assess whether the more flexible Blue Card stream is preferable to the strictly capped Flussi channels.
For companies and foreign workers who want help turning these allocations into actual entry visas, VisaHQ provides a streamlined document-preparation and filing service. Its Italy desk (https://www.visahq.com/italy/) offers step-by-step guidance on the forms, police certificates and consular appointments required, and the team can pre-screen files so that submissions on the ‘ALI’ portal move through the system without costly rejections.
Regional labour inspectorates must now open dedicated online counters on the ‘ALI’ portal to receive employer sponsorship requests and monitor utilisation in real time. Unlike previous years, unused quotas may be re-allocated mid-year to territories reporting labour shortages, a change welcomed by northern industrial districts but criticised by some southern regions that fear a shortfall in available permits. Trade bodies representing construction and agri-food firms say they will lobby for a second quota release before the summer if applications exceed supply, as happened in 2025 when the ceiling was reached in less than four weeks. For multinational companies, the publication removes uncertainty around head-count planning. HR teams should prepare sponsorship documentation early, as police clearances and housing certificates must be uploaded together with job offers on the ‘ALI’ system; incomplete files will be rejected automatically. Processing times last year averaged 28 days but can stretch to 60 days in peak periods. Employers are reminded that entry visas must be stamped within six months of authorisation or the permit lapses. The decree also dovetails with the EU Blue Card reform: highly qualified applicants who fit Blue Card criteria can apply outside the quota. Firms recruiting managers, engineers or IT specialists should therefore assess whether the more flexible Blue Card stream is preferable to the strictly capped Flussi channels.
