Italy Work Visa 2026: How the Decreto Flussi Quota System Works and How to Apply

If you live outside the European Union and want a salaried job in Italy, the route you will hear about most is the Decreto Flussi (the "flows decree"). It is the government's quota system for admitting non-EU workers, and it works very differently from the points-based or sponsorship systems in other countries. This guide explains how the 2026-2028 decree works, who actually applies, what the nulla osta is, how the famous click days run, and what to do once your employer's application is approved. EU citizens do not need any of this: they can simply move and work, which we cover briefly below.

What the Decreto Flussi Is

Each planning period, Italy publishes a decree that caps how many non-EU nationals may enter for work. The current framework is the DPCM of 2 October 2025, which covers three years (2026, 2027 and 2028) and sets a total of roughly 497,550 entries across the period. Quotas are split by type of work and, for some categories, by nationality, with places reserved for countries that have migration cooperation agreements with Italy.

The key point many applicants miss: you do not apply yourself. An employer based in Italy files the request on the Ministry of the Interior's online portal. Only after the authorities issue a work authorisation, the nulla osta, can you apply for a visa at the Italian embassy or consulate in your country.

2026 Quotas at a Glance

For the 2026 year, the decree allocated around 164,850 places. The split, as reported in the official decree and ministry circulars, looks like this:

For 2027, ministry guidance (circular no. 7185 of 1 October 2026) refers to around 165,850 entries, with a slightly larger seasonal share. Treat all figures as indicative and check the official circular for your category.

Who Needs the Decreto Flussi (and Who Does Not)

• EU, EEA and Swiss citizens: No work visa needed. You register your residence with the town hall after three months and get a codice fiscale.
• Non-EU nationals for ordinary jobs: You need the Decreto Flussi route, sponsored by an Italian employer.
• Highly qualified professionals: The EU Blue Card and certain special categories (such as researchers, some managers and university-level specialists) are handled outside the quotas, under separate rules with salary and qualification requirements.
• Students and family members: Different permits apply, and some can later be converted into work permits.

How the Process Works, Step by Step

1. Find an employer in Italy willing to hire you for a specific role. This is the hardest step and must happen before anything else.
2. Labour market check (non-seasonal jobs): The employer asks the local job centre (Centro per l'Impiego) whether a suitable worker is already available in Italy. If no answer arrives within about eight working days, the employer can proceed.
3. Pre-filling: The employer, or a labour consultant or employers' association acting for them, pre-fills the application on the Ministry of the Interior's ALI portal during the official window.
4. Click day: On the set date, the pre-filled application is submitted. Applications are processed in order of arrival until the quota runs out.
5. Checks and nulla osta: The Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione (the immigration desk at the local prefecture) checks the employer and the application, then issues the nulla osta, which is sent electronically to the consulate.
6. Visa application: You book an appointment at the Italian embassy or consulate, or its visa centre, and apply for a national (type D) work visa, using the nulla osta.
7. Entry and contract: Within eight days of arriving, the employment contract (contratto di soggiorno) is signed, now usually online, and you apply for your residence permit (permesso di soggiorno).

Click Days and the 2027 Timetable

In 2026 the click days were 12 January (seasonal agriculture), 9 February (seasonal tourism), 16 February (non-seasonal work) and 18 February (home care). Applications were accepted from 9:00 and could be filed until 31 December, as long as places remained.

For the 2027 round, pre-filling on the ALI portal opened on 23 October 2026 and runs until 7 December 2026, with a short technical reopening from 9 to 13 December only to finalise drafts. Reported click days are 12 January 2027 for seasonal agriculture, 9 February 2027 for seasonal tourism and 16 February 2027 for non-seasonal jobs, and 18 February 2027 for home care workers. If you are talking to an employer now, ask whether they have already pre-filled an application for you, because without pre-filling there is nothing to send on click day.

What the Employer Must Show

Recent decrees have tightened checks after cases of fraudulent applications. Employers generally need to demonstrate:

• Financial capacity: A minimum income or turnover, reported as around €30,000 for most businesses, with lower thresholds for households hiring domestic or care workers.
• Asseverazione: A certification from a registered labour consultant or an accredited employers' organisation confirming the business is genuine and the job offer is realistic, except in limited cases.
• A real contract: Terms in line with the relevant national collective agreement (CCNL) and suitable accommodation for the worker.
• Clean record: No relevant convictions or past applications that led to no actual hiring.

Timelines and Costs

The government application itself is not something you, the worker, should be paying anyone large sums for. Expect to cover your flight, visa centre fees, document translations and the residence permit fees. Under Italian law, licensed employment agencies are generally not allowed to charge job seekers for finding them work.

Realistic Expectations

Demand on click day is intense, and in past rounds the number of applications far exceeded available places in several categories. Even after a nulla osta is issued, some workers wait months for consular appointments. Most successful applicants found their employer through personal networks, a recruitment agency licensed in Italy, or an employer who already employs people from their community. Learning basic Italian before arrival makes a real difference to both hiring and daily life.

Scam Patterns to Avoid

• Selling nulla osta: Anyone asking for thousands of euros to "get you a place in the Decreto Flussi" is a red flag. The quota is free and filed by a real employer.
• Ghost employers: Italian authorities have uncovered networks filing applications for companies that never intended to hire. Ask for the company's VAT number (partita IVA) and check it exists.
• Fake click day guarantees: No agent can guarantee a place, since applications are processed in order of arrival.
• Unofficial visa sites: Only use vistoperitalia.esteri.it and the official consulate or visa centre for appointments.
• Payment to cover a "contract fee" after arrival: Deductions for recruitment are not lawful; contact a trade union or patronato if this happens.

Final Thoughts

The Decreto Flussi is a genuine and large legal route into Italy, but it rewards preparation. Secure a credible employer first, make sure they pre-file well before the deadline, keep copies of everything, and use only official portals. If your profile is highly skilled, also look into the EU Blue Card, which avoids the quota race altogether.

Frequently Asked Questions

Disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal advice. Quotas, dates, fees and procedures change frequently. Always confirm details on official sources such as integrazionemigranti.gov.it, interno.gov.it and vistoperitalia.esteri.it, or with a qualified immigration adviser.