According to the Italian Ministry of Interior, the quota for the Decreto Flussi 2024 set aside as 151,000 in total. There have been separate quota distributions for the seasonal, non-seasonal, and self-employment visas. For self-employed 700, for seasonal workers 89,050, and the nonseasonal workers, 61,250 quota has been reserved.
Italy’s work visa mainly works under the Decreto Flussi program. In which the candidates choose the visa categories as per their occupation they are going to work in Italy.
The categories distribution is as follows:
a) Seasonal Work Visa Quota
This is also called “Lavoro Stagionale” and its distribution of quota is as follows:
| Type of visas | Quota |
| Citizens of states running campaigns against irregular migration trafficking | 3,000 |
| Citizens of countries with future immigration agreements | 12,000 |
| Citizens of countries with immigration agreements in the agricultural sector (application submitted by employer associations) | 41,000 |
| Citizens of countries with migration and multi-seasonal agreements | 2,000 |
| Stateless persons and refugees | 50 |
Citizens of countries with current immigration agreements in the tourism sector (application submitted by employer associations) | 31,000 |
| Total | 89,050 |
b) Self-Employed Work
| Type of visas / Agreements | Quota |
| Citizens of states running campaigns against irregular migration trafficking | 120 |
| Workers of Italian origin residing in Venezuela | 10 |
| Stateless persons and refugees | 20 |
| Citizens belonging to specific categories | 500 |
| Conversion of other residence permits into permits for self-employment work | 50 |
| Total | 700 |
c) Non-Seasonal Work Visa Quota
This category is also called “Lavoro Subordinate” and the quota distribution is as follows:
| Type of visas / Agreements | Quota |
| Citizens of states running campaigns against irregular migration trafficking | 2,380 |
| Citizens of countries with current immigration agreements | 25,000 |
| Citizens of countries with future immigration agreements | 20,000 |
| Workers of Italian origin residing in Venezuela | 90 |
| Stateless persons and refugees: | 180 |
| Workers in the family and socio-healthcare sector | 9,500 |
| Conversion of other residence permits into permits for employment | 4,100 |
| Total | 61,250 |
d) Conversion into residence permits for subordinate work or self-employment in 2024
Conversions can be made into residence permits for subordinate work with the following quota allocation:
- 4,000 residence permits for seasonal subordinate work;
- 100 EU residence permits for long-term residents issued to third-country nationals by another European Union member state in subordinate employment;
- 50 EU residence permits for long-term residents, issued to third-country nationals by another European Union member state in self-employment.
e) Special Quota for Indian Nationals
Italy will give Indian nationals 10,000 work visas in 2024 through the Migration and Mobility Program. Starting from 1 April, interested candidates will be able to apply for this program for seasonal and nonseasonal visas. As per distribution, 6,000 visas will be given for the nonseasonal and 4,000 for seasonal categories. You can read here more about it.
Work visa quotas outside of the Decreto Flussi
There are also other categories, that are not counted when awarding visas as part of the Decreto Flussi quotas. These are:
- strengthening of professional and civic-linguistic education and training activities organized in the countries of origin and consequent increase in the entry of foreign workers, stateless refugees, recognized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees or by the competent authorities in the countries of first asylum or transit, who have completed these activities;
- entries for subordinate work, even of a seasonal nature, of citizens of countries with which Italy has signed understandings or agreements regarding repatriation;
- valorization of the study and training paths of foreign citizens in Italy, and also through the conversion of permits issued for study and training purposes into residence permits for work purposes, outside of quotas.
When is Decreto Flussi 2024 starting?
The Decreto Flussi 2024 application submission has already started (named Clickday) according to the following dates:
- 18 March 2024 for non-seasonal subordinate workers from countries that have cooperation agreements with Italy;
- March 21, 2024, for other non-seasonal workers;
- March 25, 2024, for seasonal workers.
How do the application steps work?
If your application for authorization is approved by the One Stop Shop (this step is processed by the employer), you will be able to request a visa for Italy at the Italian embassy or consulate in your country of origin. The authorization is valid for 6 months. This means that you must enter Italy and request a residence permit within 6 months from the date of issue of the authorization.
Once you have obtained the visa, you will be able to enter Italy and request a residence permit to stay regularly and carry out your work.
If your application for authorization is denied, you will not be able to receive a visa to enter Italy. It is not possible to apply twice in the same year, but it is possible to try again the following year if you meet the requirements set out in the new flows decree.