Italian authorities have dismantled a sophisticated criminal network that allegedly sold counterfeit work-visa packages for up to €20,000 each, exploiting the annual ‘Decreto Flussi’ quota system designed to channel legal labour migration. The operation, revealed on 3 November 2025 by the Chieti branch of the Carabinieri’s labour-inspectorate unit, led to the arrest of a 45-year-old Bangladeshi ringleader and the indictment of 19 accomplices across Italy, Bangladesh and India.
Investigators say the group created shell companies, forged employment contracts and even sold bogus payslips and housing declarations to foreign nationals desperate to secure one of Italy’s limited non-seasonal work permits. Preliminary forensic accounting traces more than €3 million in illicit profits and links the syndicate to at least six front companies registered in Abruzzo and Lazio.
![Carabinieri Bust €3 Million Fake-Visa Ring Exploiting Italy’s ‘Decreto Flussi’]()
The bust highlights persistent vulnerabilities in the click-day application process, where quotas are snapped up online in seconds. Employers and relocation providers should expect heightened scrutiny of sponsorship documents during the 2026 quota round. Consulting firms recommend conducting internal audits now—verifying that job offers, salary levels and social-security contributions align with Ministry of Labour standards.
For global-mobility teams, the case is a cautionary tale: engaging unvetted intermediaries can expose companies to charges of aiding irregular migration, with penalties that include prison terms for managers and multi-year bans on hiring foreign workers. Firms should use only certified immigration counsel and the Interior Ministry’s official portal, and consider staggered recruiting strategies to reduce dependence on single-day quota releases.
Policy-wise, the scandal may accelerate discussion in Parliament about replacing click-days with rolling, points-based allocations tied to verified labour shortages—similar to recent reforms in Spain and Portugal.
Investigators say the group created shell companies, forged employment contracts and even sold bogus payslips and housing declarations to foreign nationals desperate to secure one of Italy’s limited non-seasonal work permits. Preliminary forensic accounting traces more than €3 million in illicit profits and links the syndicate to at least six front companies registered in Abruzzo and Lazio.
The bust highlights persistent vulnerabilities in the click-day application process, where quotas are snapped up online in seconds. Employers and relocation providers should expect heightened scrutiny of sponsorship documents during the 2026 quota round. Consulting firms recommend conducting internal audits now—verifying that job offers, salary levels and social-security contributions align with Ministry of Labour standards.
For global-mobility teams, the case is a cautionary tale: engaging unvetted intermediaries can expose companies to charges of aiding irregular migration, with penalties that include prison terms for managers and multi-year bans on hiring foreign workers. Firms should use only certified immigration counsel and the Interior Ministry’s official portal, and consider staggered recruiting strategies to reduce dependence on single-day quota releases.
Policy-wise, the scandal may accelerate discussion in Parliament about replacing click-days with rolling, points-based allocations tied to verified labour shortages—similar to recent reforms in Spain and Portugal.
