A report released on 24 February 2026 by the civil-society coalition “Ero Straniero” reveals that Italy’s 2025 immigration quota (decreto flussi) vastly under-delivered: of the 181,450 workers theoretically admitted, just 11,276 had secured residence permits by year-end—7.9 % of the target. A further 14,349 applications were still pending.
Researchers cite multi-layered bureaucracy as the primary culprit. Applicants must pass through employer sponsorship, prefecture clearance, embassy visa issuance and post-arrival contract signing; a breakdown at any point voids the process, often leaving migrants in limbo. High brokerage fees—reported at up to €20,000—compound the risk of exploitation when job offers evaporate.
International employers and individual migrants grappling with these procedural chokepoints may benefit from specialized assistance. VisaHQ, for instance, provides detailed guidance on Italian visa categories, prepares document packets and schedules consular appointments, all via its dedicated platform (https://www.visahq.com/italy/). Leveraging such support can reduce errors and help applicants track their case in real time.
![Only 7.9 % of 2025 immigration-quota places translated into residence permits, watchdog warns]()
The under-performance has tangible economic costs. Farming cooperatives in Puglia and Veneto report unfilled seasonal roles, construction firms in Lombardy have postponed projects and families seeking home-care aides face growing wait-lists. Business associations are urging the Interior Ministry to simplify the IT portal, cut document-translation requirements and allow digital signatures.
Politically, the data land as the government drafts the 2026 quota. Opposition lawmakers argue that simply raising numerical ceilings, as Rome did last year, is meaningless without procedural reform. The Interior Ministry says it will pilot a “fast-track” lane for accredited employers and introduce milestone tracking visible to both sponsor and worker.
For global mobility teams the findings are a red flag: even approved quota slots do not guarantee timely employee onboarding. Companies are advised to start dossiers months in advance, explore EU intra-company transfer permits as back-up and budget for potential delays.
Researchers cite multi-layered bureaucracy as the primary culprit. Applicants must pass through employer sponsorship, prefecture clearance, embassy visa issuance and post-arrival contract signing; a breakdown at any point voids the process, often leaving migrants in limbo. High brokerage fees—reported at up to €20,000—compound the risk of exploitation when job offers evaporate.
International employers and individual migrants grappling with these procedural chokepoints may benefit from specialized assistance. VisaHQ, for instance, provides detailed guidance on Italian visa categories, prepares document packets and schedules consular appointments, all via its dedicated platform (https://www.visahq.com/italy/). Leveraging such support can reduce errors and help applicants track their case in real time.
The under-performance has tangible economic costs. Farming cooperatives in Puglia and Veneto report unfilled seasonal roles, construction firms in Lombardy have postponed projects and families seeking home-care aides face growing wait-lists. Business associations are urging the Interior Ministry to simplify the IT portal, cut document-translation requirements and allow digital signatures.
Politically, the data land as the government drafts the 2026 quota. Opposition lawmakers argue that simply raising numerical ceilings, as Rome did last year, is meaningless without procedural reform. The Interior Ministry says it will pilot a “fast-track” lane for accredited employers and introduce milestone tracking visible to both sponsor and worker.
For global mobility teams the findings are a red flag: even approved quota slots do not guarantee timely employee onboarding. Companies are advised to start dossiers months in advance, explore EU intra-company transfer permits as back-up and budget for potential delays.
