Skip to content Italian Flow Decree 2026 2028 guide to work visas
The Italian Flow Decree determines how many people residing abroad may enter Italy for seasonal employment, non seasonal employment and certain forms of self employment. The 2026–2028 programme provides a total of 497,550 entries. The annual quota increases from 164,850 in 2026 to 166,850 in 2028.
The decree does not directly issue a visa. For employed work, the employer must first apply for a work authorisation, known as a nulla osta, from the Immigration Office. Once the work authorisation has been issued, the worker applies for a national visa at the competent Italian consulate. After entry, the procedure is completed in Italy through the residence contract and residence permit application.
What the Italian Flow Decree is
The quota system regulates certain entries for work by nationals of countries outside the European Union. The Decree of the President of the Council of Ministers of 2 October 2025 programmes the 2026–2028 period, identifies the eligible categories and sectors, reserves quotas for certain countries or applicants and establishes the initial application dates.
The Flow Decree mainly concerns people residing outside Italy. It should not be confused with the conversion of certain permits already held in Italy or with work routes outside the quotas, such as the EU Blue Card, scientific research and other categories governed by Article 27 of the Consolidated Immigration Act.
Quotas for 2026 2028
| Category | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
| Non seasonal employed work | 76,200 | 76,200 | 76,200 |
| Self employment | 650 | 650 | 650 |
| Seasonal employed work | 88,000 | 89,000 | 90,000 |
| Total | 164,850 | 165,850 | 166,850 |
The national employment quotas are distributed geographically. Actual availability therefore also depends on the province and application form. A correctly filed application may remain outside the quota if the relevant allocation has already been used.
Non seasonal employed work
The decree provides 76,200 entries for non seasonal employed work in each year. The eligible sectors are:
- agriculture, forestry and fishing
- food, beverage and tobacco industries
- textile, clothing and footwear industries
- metallurgical and metal product industries and the other industrial activities identified by the decree
- construction and wholesale and retail trade
- accommodation, food service and tourism services
- transport, logistics and warehousing
- operational support services for businesses and individuals
- healthcare, social care, private health services and the other services identified through the ATECO 2025 codes
A substantial portion of the quotas is reserved for nationals of countries that cooperate with Italy on migration matters, more specifically: Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, South Korea, Côte d’Ivoire, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Philippines, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Japan, Jordan, Guatemala, India, Kyrgyzstan, Kosovo, Mali, Morocco, Mauritius, Moldova, Montenegro, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, North Macedonia, Senegal, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Tunisia, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
Other quotas are reserved for countries with which migration cooperation agreements enter into force during the three year period, recognised refugees and stateless persons, and family assistance workers. A portion of the quotas is not reserved.
Family assistance and domestic work
The decree provides 13,600 quotas in 2026, 14,000 in 2027 and 14,200 in 2028 for domestic employment relationships. These include domestic cleaners, carers and childminders. Hiring by healthcare or social care organisations does not use the domestic employment quota.
A domestic employer must normally complete the prior labour market test with the Employment Centre (Centro per l’impiego) and obtain the statutory certification. Employers whose illness or disability limits their self sufficiency are exempted from the income requirement and certification, provided that the adequate medical evidence is supplied.
Seasonal employment
Seasonal quotas cover the agricultural and tourism sectors. The decree provides 88,000 entries in 2026, 89,000 in 2027 and 90,000 in 2028. The worker must be a national of a country listed by the decree or a country with which a migration cooperation agreement enters into force during the three year period.
Priority quotas are available for applications filed by the agricultural and tourism employers’ organisations. Separate quotas are reserved for workers who have previously entered Italy for seasonal employment at least once during the preceding five years and for whom an employer applies for a multi year seasonal work authorisation. A returning seasonal worker may also have priority if they complied with the conditions of the previous permit and returned to their country of origin when it expired.
Self employment
Each year includes 650 self employment quotas. Five hundred quotas cover the categories specified by the decree, including entrepreneurs with an investment plan of at least EUR 500,000 that creates at least three jobs, eligible professionals, holders of certain corporate offices, renowned or highly qualified artists and founders of innovative start ups.
The self employment route has different requirements and competent authorities from the work authorisation procedure initiated by an employer. The applicant’s category should be assessed before starting the consular process.
Click days and application calendar
The Decree establishes the same opening dates for every year of the 2026–2028 period. The pre completion phase is set by the annual memorandum issued by the Government. For 2026, applications were pre completed from 23 October to 7 December 2025, followed by a period from 9 to 13 December for completing and saving applications that had already been started.
The 2026 click days have passed. Applications may still be filed until 31 December 2026 if the ALI Portal permits submission and quotas remain available. For 2027, the opening dates set by the Decree are 12 January, 9 February, 16 February and 18 February 2027. The annual memo will confirm the pre completion period and operating instructions.
Who files the application
For employed work, the application is filed by the Italian employer or by an authorised representative acting on the employer’s behalf. The worker cannot file the work authorisation application independently. An employer using the ALI Portal as a private user may file up to three applications in each of 2026, 2027 and 2028. The limit does not apply to qualifying employers’ organisations, authorised professionals or eligible temporary work agencies.
Access to the ALI Portal requires an Italian digital identity. The employer must also have a certified email address registered with INI PEC when subject to registration in the Companies Register, or with INAD in other cases. The Immigration Office (Prefettura) sends all case communications, including the request for confirmation before visa issuance, to this digital domicile.
Processing time for the work authorisation
The statutory maximum period for issuing the work authorisation runs from the allocation of a quota to the application, not from filing. It is sixty days for non seasonal employed work and twenty days for seasonal work. If no grounds for refusal emerge within the relevant period, the automatic issue mechanism under the Consolidated Immigration Act may apply.
Employer confirmation before visa issuance
After the checks on the visa application and before the visa is issued, the employer receives a notice through certified email and the reserved area of the ALI Portal. The employer has seven days to confirm that they still intend to hire the worker. Failure to confirm results in refusal of the application and automatic revocation of the work authorisation. The employer must therefore monitor the registered digital domicile throughout the process.
Entry to Italy and the residence contract
The worker and employer must sign the residence contract within eight days of entry. They may use digital signatures. The worker may also sign by hand, after which the employer digitally signs the electronic copy. The employer returns the document to the Immigration Office through the ALI Portal within the same eight day period so that the residence permit formalities can begin.
The worker may begin employment after entry while the residence contract and permit application are pending, provided that the employer files the required employment notifications. If employment is formalised only after digital signature of the residence contract, the system may generate the notification automatically. For domestic work, the employer remains responsible for the required notification to INPS.
Frequently asked questions about the Flow Decree
Who can use the Italian Flow Decree
Third country nationals residing abroad may qualify if they meet the sector, nationality and work category conditions of an available quota. Employed workers need an employer in Italy willing to file the application.
When can applications be filed for 2027
The Decree opens applications on 12 January for seasonal agricultural work, 9 February for seasonal tourism work, 16 February for non seasonal employment and 18 February for family assistance. The annual memo will establish the pre completion period and detailed filing instructions.
Can an application be submitted after the click day
Yes, until 31 December of the relevant year if the application can be submitted and quotas remain available. Allocation depends on filing time and the territorial distribution of quotas.
Can the worker submit the application
Not for employed work. The employer or an authorised representative acting on the employer’s behalf applies for the work authorisation.
Which documents are required
The list depends on the application form. It normally includes employer and worker documents, proposed employment terms, accommodation, the Employment Centre test when required, the statutory certification and evidence of financial capacity.
Does the work authorisation guarantee the visa
No. The consulate assesses the visa application and may request additional documents. The employer must also confirm the intention to hire before the visa is issued.
What happens if the employer does not confirm within seven days
The application is treated as refused and the work authorisation is automatically revoked.
Can the employee start working immediately after arrival
Italian law allows work to begin while the residence contract and permit application are pending, provided that all required formalities and employment notifications are completed.
Can A&P find an employer for the worker
No. Studio Arletti & Partners is not an employment agency. Assistance can begin once there is an existing job offer or an employer interested in hiring the worker.