The Italian government has given its final green light to the long-awaited Decreto Flussi for the 2026–2028 period, authorising 497,000 non-EU workers over three years. According to details published on 7 April, the quota for 2026 is set at 164,850 entries, followed by 165,850 in 2027 and 166,300 in 2028. For 2026, some 73,000 slots are reserved for seasonal agriculture and tourism, 61,500 for non-seasonal employees in construction, transport and care work, and 25,000 for self-employment and start-ups. A pilot “fast-track” channel will allow multinational companies holding UNIEMENS compliance certification to secure nulla osta within 30 days, down from the current 60-day statutory period. The decree also introduces language-training vouchers redeemable on Italy’s new SIISL e-learning platform and makes pre-arrival housing contracts mandatory for domestic-care hires.
![Government finalises 2026–2028 work-visa plan: 164,850 permits available this year]()
To help employers and applicants navigate these new rules smoothly, VisaHQ offers a full suite of Italy-focused services, from apostille and translation support to online application filing and real-time status tracking—learn more at https://www.visahq.com/italy/
Employers must post job vacancies on the SIISL portal at least 15 days before submitting an application, a move designed to demonstrate the absence of suitable EU candidates. Applications will open in staggered windows from 12 January 2026, with the online ALI portal accepting pre-filled drafts from October. Immigration lawyers expect systems to crash within minutes, as happened in previous years, and recommend companies prepare dossiers well in advance, including apostilled diplomas and translated police certificates. For HR and mobility managers the expanded quotas are a relief, but competition remains fierce. Companies should audit payroll codes now to ensure UNIEMENS alignment, brief assignment managers on the new housing-proof requirement, and set realistic start dates for transferees—April or May at the earliest under best-case processing scenarios.
To help employers and applicants navigate these new rules smoothly, VisaHQ offers a full suite of Italy-focused services, from apostille and translation support to online application filing and real-time status tracking—learn more at https://www.visahq.com/italy/
Employers must post job vacancies on the SIISL portal at least 15 days before submitting an application, a move designed to demonstrate the absence of suitable EU candidates. Applications will open in staggered windows from 12 January 2026, with the online ALI portal accepting pre-filled drafts from October. Immigration lawyers expect systems to crash within minutes, as happened in previous years, and recommend companies prepare dossiers well in advance, including apostilled diplomas and translated police certificates. For HR and mobility managers the expanded quotas are a relief, but competition remains fierce. Companies should audit payroll codes now to ensure UNIEMENS alignment, brief assignment managers on the new housing-proof requirement, and set realistic start dates for transferees—April or May at the earliest under best-case processing scenarios.
