Italy has officially announced the application timetable for Decreto Flussi 2027, offering 165,850 places for non-EU workers seeking employment in the country. The programme covers seasonal agricultural and tourism jobs, permanent and other non-seasonal employment, family assistance and a limited number of self-employment opportunities.
According to the Italian government’s joint circular No. 7185, issued on 1 October 2026, employers can begin preparing their online applications from 23 October 2026, while the actual submission dates, known as click days, will take place between January and February 2027.
The government has confirmed that 76,200 places will be available for non-seasonal employment, 89,000 for seasonal workers and 650 for self-employed applicants. These are authorised entry quotas, not visas already issued to workers.
Another important development is the inclusion of Kenya among the countries covered by the programme from 2027, following a migration and mobility agreement signed with Italy on 2 July 2026.
For thousands of workers in countries such as Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Philippines and Morocco, the programme provides a legal route to employment in Italy. However, obtaining a place depends on meeting the eligibility conditions, securing a genuine Italian employer and completing the required immigration procedures.
What Is Italy’s Decreto Flussi?
Decreto Flussi is Italy’s immigration quota system for workers coming from countries outside the European Union. Through this programme, the government decides how many foreign workers may enter Italy for certain types of employment during a particular year.
The system is designed to help Italian businesses recruit workers from abroad, particularly in sectors where employers need additional staff.
Unlike some immigration systems where applicants can independently request permission to look for work, the standard Decreto Flussi employment procedure begins with an Italian employer.
The employer must offer a genuine job and request work authorisation, known as a nulla osta, through the relevant immigration authorities.
If the request is approved and the worker satisfies the applicable visa requirements, the worker can apply for an Italian employment visa at the responsible Italian embassy or consulate.
After arriving in Italy, the worker and employer must complete the required residence and employment formalities.
The programme is therefore not an open job-search visa. Having an eligible nationality or professional experience does not automatically qualify someone for a work permit.
The current framework was established by a decree dated 2 October 2025, which covers the three-year period from 2026 to 2028.
During these three years, Italy has planned a total of 497,550 employment-related entries.
| Year | Total authorised entries |
| 2026 | 164,850 |
| 2027 | 165,850 |
| 2028 | 166,850 |
| Total | 497,550 |
The circular published in October 2026 provides the operational timetable for the second year of this programme.
Italy Work Visa Quotas for 2027
Italy has divided the 165,850 places into three principal categories.
| Employment Category | 2027 Quota |
| Non-seasonal employment | 76,200 |
| Seasonal employment in agriculture and tourism | 89,000 |
| Self-employment | 650 |
| Total | 165,850 |
Within the 76,200 non-seasonal places, 14,000 have been allocated to family assistance and domestic employment.
Non-Seasonal Employment: 76,200 Places
Non-seasonal employment generally involves jobs that are not limited to a short agricultural harvest or tourist season.
The eligible sectors include construction, manufacturing, food production, transport, logistics, wholesale and retail trade, hospitality and various other services. The 2027 non-seasonal quota has several allocations.
| Allocation | Places |
| Workers from the 38 countries specifically listed in the original decree | 25,000 |
| Workers from countries covered by qualifying new migration agreements during 2026–2028 | 26,000 |
| Eligible recognised refugees and stateless persons | 300 |
| Family assistance and domestic workers | 14,000 |
| Non-reserved places | 10,900 |
| Total | 76,200 |
The 26,000 places linked to new migration cooperation agreements are particularly important because they allow the system to incorporate additional partner countries during the three-year programme.
These allocations are part of the overall quota, not extra places added on top of the 76,200.
Seasonal Employment: 89,000 Places
Seasonal work represents the largest part of Decreto Flussi 2027. It mainly covers employment in agriculture and tourism, where labour demand changes during different times of the year.
For example, agricultural employers may need additional workers during planting, harvesting and other intensive periods. Tourism businesses may require staff during busy holiday seasons.
The seasonal quota includes specific reservations for applications involving certain employer organisations and returning seasonal workers.
| Seasonal Allocation | 2027 Quota |
| Countries covered by qualifying new migration agreements | 12,750 |
| Eligible returning seasonal workers applying through the multi-year procedure | 6,000 |
| Applications through designated agricultural employer organisations | 47,000 |
| Applications through designated tourism employer organisations | 14,000 |
| Non-reserved seasonal places | 9,250 |
| Total | 89,000 |
The 47,000 and 14,000 figures relate to specific application channels involving employer organisations. They should not be interpreted as the complete national quotas for agriculture and tourism respectively.
Self-Employment: 650 Places
A smaller quota of 650 places is available for certain qualifying self-employment categories.
These include eligible entrepreneurs, professionals, corporate officeholders, highly qualified artists and innovative start-up founders, subject to the relevant legal requirements.
For example, one eligible entrepreneurial route requires an investment of at least €500,000 in an activity of interest to the Italian economy and the creation of at least three new jobs.
However, the €500,000 requirement does not apply to every self-employment category. Applicants must examine the conditions for the specific route they intend to use.
Decreto Flussi 2027 Application Dates
The Italian government has confirmed two distinct stages: application pre-filling during 2026 and final online submission on the designated 2027 click days.
This distinction is important because preparing an application does not mean it has been formally submitted.
| Important event | Date |
| Online pre-filling opens | 23 October 2026, 9:00 AM |
| Pre-filling closes | 7 December 2026, 8:00 PM |
| Portal reopens to complete existing applications | 9–13 December 2026 |
| First click day | 12 January 2027 |
| Second click day | 9 February 2027 |
| Third click day | 16 February 2027 |
| Fourth click day | 18 February 2027 |
| Final possible submission deadline, subject to available quotas | 31 December 2027 |
All times refer to Italy’s local time. During the initial pre-filling period, employers can access the official online system, enter application information and prepare the required documents.
The portal will also be accessible on weekends and public holidays. After pre-filling closes, employers who started applications close to the deadline will have an additional opportunity to complete them between 9 and 13 December 2026.
However, new applications cannot be started during this additional period. Only previously prepared applications can be completed, corrected and saved.
Italy Decreto Flussi 2027 Click-Day Schedule
The four click days are allocated according to the type of employment.
| Click day | Employment category | Application form |
| 12 January 2027 | Seasonal agricultural employment | C-Stag agricolo |
| 9 February 2027 | Seasonal tourism employment | C-Stag turistico |
| 16 February 2027 | Non-seasonal employment | B2020 |
| 18 February 2027 | Family assistance and domestic employment | A-bis |
All four click days begin at 9:00 AM Italian time.
The employer must submit the application electronically through the designated government portal.
Although applications may continue to be submitted until 31 December 2027, this is conditional on places remaining available in the relevant quota.
Applicants should therefore not assume that places will remain open until the end of the year.
The four dates above concern the specified employee categories. Applicants considering self-employment must follow the separate requirements applicable to that route.
Complete List of Eligible Countries for Decreto Flussi 2027
The original 2026–2028 immigration programme identifies 38 countries for its established country-specific employment quotas.
For 2027, Kenya has also been included following its migration and mobility agreement with Italy.
The following table presents the 38 originally listed countries together with Kenya’s newly confirmed inclusion.
| Albania | Algeria | Bangladesh |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | South Korea | Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) |
| 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 | Uzbekistan | Kenya (added for 2027) |
The distinction between the established country list and newly qualifying partner countries matters because the decree provides different reserved quota allocations.
Other countries may also qualify under specific provisions or migration cooperation agreements, depending on the applicable category and whether an agreement has entered into force.
In addition, family assistance has different nationality rules. The Italian authorities have clarified that the reserved domestic family-assistance quota is not restricted to the original list of countries.
Therefore, the table should not be treated as a universal nationality restriction applying to every Decreto Flussi category.
Workers must still meet all employment, documentation and visa requirements.
What Jobs Are Available Under Decreto Flussi 2027?
The programme covers several sectors of the Italian economy. For non-seasonal employment, the government’s listed sectors include:
- Agriculture, forestry and fishing
- Food, beverage and tobacco manufacturing
- Textile, clothing and footwear industries
- Metalworking and metal-products manufacturing
- Other manufacturing industries
- Construction
- Wholesale and retail trade
- Hotels, restaurants and accommodation services
- Tourism services
- Transport, logistics and warehousing
- Business and personal support services
- Healthcare, social assistance and private health services
- Other specified services
Eligibility depends on the employer’s business activity and its relevant ATECO classification, which is Italy’s official economic activity coding system.
The government has stated that the existing ATECO lists remain applicable for the 2027 programme.
For seasonal workers, the main opportunities continue to be in agriculture and tourism.
A worker’s previous experience may be useful when approaching an employer, but the authorities must still examine the proposed job, the employer and the applicable immigration conditions.
How to Apply for Italy Decreto Flussi 2027
Step 1: Find a Genuine Italian Employer
For a standard Decreto Flussi employment application, the first requirement is an employer in Italy willing to offer employment.
This may be an agricultural business, a hotel, a construction company, a manufacturing employer or an eligible household seeking domestic assistance.
The overseas worker does not normally submit the initial employment authorisation request independently.
Step 2: Employer Checks Eligibility
The employer must confirm that the employment falls within an eligible category and that the relevant financial, contractual and administrative conditions are satisfied.
For non-seasonal employment, including domestic family assistance, employers generally must first check whether a suitable worker is available in Italy through the competent employment centre, known as the Centro per l’Impiego.
This preliminary check is not required in the same way for seasonal employment.
Under the applicable procedure, if the employment centre does not communicate the availability of suitable workers within eight calendar days, the check may be regarded as having produced a negative result, subject to the legal conditions.
Step 3: Prepare the Online Application
The employer accesses the Portale Servizi ALI, operated through Italy’s Ministry of the Interior.
Official portal: Click here to check.
The employer must select the appropriate application form and supply the required employment and worker information.
Supporting documentation may include the proposed employment terms, information about accommodation, proof of employer eligibility and other documents required for the specific application.
Where applicable, professional certification of the employer’s compliance with the employment requirements, known as asseverazione, must also be obtained.
Step 4: Submit on the Correct Click Day
After completing the pre-filling process, the employer submits the application on the designated click day.
Applications are handled within the applicable quota arrangements.
Timing matters because the system uses the chronological order of submission when allocating applications within the relevant provincial and category limits.
However, submitting early does not guarantee approval. The application must satisfy the legal requirements and an appropriate quota place must be available.
Step 5: Obtain Work Authorisation
The application is examined through the competent immigration authorities, including the Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione.
If the necessary conditions are satisfied, a work authorisation or nulla osta may be issued.
This document is an important part of the immigration process, but it is not the same as an entry visa.
Step 6: Apply for the Italian Work Visa
Once the necessary authorisation is available and the applicable consular steps can proceed, the worker applies for an employment visa through the responsible Italian diplomatic mission.
The embassy or consulate may require identity documents, a valid passport and other supporting evidence, depending on the worker’s circumstances.
Applicants should use the official visa information provided by the relevant Italian mission.
Step 7: Complete Formalities After Arrival
After entering Italy, the worker and employer must complete the required residence and employment procedures.
These include signing and transmitting the contratto di soggiorno, or residence contract for employment, within the applicable legal deadline.
The worker must also follow the procedure for obtaining a residence permit.
Important Changes to Employer Responsibilities
The October 2026 circular reminds employers about procedural changes already introduced through earlier legislation.
One important development concerns the confirmation of the work authorisation request during the visa process.
Under the updated rules, the employer has 15 days from notification that the checks on the visa application have concluded to confirm the request to the immigration office.
If the employer does not confirm within the required period, the request is treated as refused and any authorisation already issued may be revoked.
The employer is also required to inform the foreign worker promptly about communications received concerning the progress of the application.
Another change concerns the residence contract.
The deadline for the employer and worker to sign the contract after the worker enters Italy has increased from eight days to 15 days.
The employer must also transmit the contract electronically within that period.
These requirements are important because obtaining a visa is not the final administrative step. Employers and workers must continue to comply with immigration rules after the worker arrives.
Financial Requirements for Italian Employers
The programme also requires employers to demonstrate that they can afford to employ the foreign worker.
Under the operational rules carried forward from the 2026–2028 framework, the general annual taxable income or turnover threshold for employers outside the family-assistance sector is €30,000, subject to the applicable assessment rules.
For domestic employment, different income conditions apply. The previously established thresholds include:
| Employer category | General income requirement |
| Employer operating outside the family-assistance sector | €30,000 annually |
| Domestic employer living alone | €20,000 annually |
| Domestic employer with a household comprising multiple cohabiting family members | €27,000 annually |
There are exceptions, including specific arrangements for people who require personal assistance because of illness or disability affecting their independence.
In these circumstances, the ordinary domestic-employer income requirement may not apply, provided the relevant medical and legal conditions are satisfied.
These figures concern the Italian employer’s financial capacity, not a minimum bank balance that every overseas worker must personally hold.
Italy Work Visa Fees for 2027
The joint circular announcing the 2027 timetable does not establish one single visa fee applicable to every applicant or employment category.
Applicants should distinguish between the employer’s application for work authorisation, the subsequent consular visa application and the residence permit formalities required after arrival. Different administrative costs may arise at these stages.
Visa applicants should check the current consular fee schedule and any relevant residence-permit charges through official Italian government channels before making a payment.
An authorised quota place should never be confused with a guaranteed visa, and workers should be cautious about agents demanding large sums in exchange for a promised place.
What Should Applicants Do Before 23 October 2026?
With the pre-filling stage approaching, workers interested in the 2027 programme should concentrate on finding legitimate employment rather than simply waiting for the click days.
A worker who already has an interested Italian employer should make sure their passport details and other information are accurate and consistent with the intended application.
Employers should verify the correct application category, prepare supporting documents and review the financial and administrative conditions before the portal opens.
Careful preparation is particularly important because incomplete information or missing documentation can delay the process.
For workers outside Italy, a realistic approach is to focus on genuine companies, established recruitment arrangements and recognised employer organisations.
Applicants should avoid anyone who claims that a visa can be guaranteed merely by paying a registration fee.
What Decreto Flussi 2027 Means for Foreign Workers
Italy’s 2027 immigration programme provides another significant legal employment opportunity for workers outside the European Union.
The confirmed quota of 165,850 places offers opportunities across agriculture, tourism, construction, manufacturing, logistics, domestic assistance and other eligible sectors.
However, the most important issue for prospective workers is not simply whether their country appears on the eligibility list. It is whether they have a genuine employer who can satisfy the requirements and submit a valid application within the applicable quota.
For employers, the first key date is 23 October 2026, when online application pre-filling begins. For final submission, the relevant dates fall between 12 January and 18 February 2027.
Workers should begin preparing early, verify employment offers carefully and follow updates published through Italy’s official immigration authorities.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many work visas will Italy offer under Decreto Flussi 2027?
Italy has authorised 165,850 employment-related entry places for 2027. This includes 76,200 non-seasonal places, 89,000 seasonal places and 650 self-employment places. The figure represents quotas, not the number of visas already granted.
2. When do Italy Decreto Flussi 2027 applications open?
Online pre-filling begins on 23 October 2026 at 9:00 AM Italian time. Final submission starts on the appropriate click day in January or February 2027.
3. Can Pakistani, Indian and Bangladeshi citizens apply?
Yes. Pakistan, India and Bangladesh are among the countries specifically listed in Italy’s 2026–2028 immigration programme. However, applicants must meet the relevant conditions and generally need an Italian employer to initiate the standard employment process.
4. Is Kenya eligible for Italy’s 2027 work programme?
Yes. Italy’s October 2026 circular confirms Kenya’s inclusion from 2027, following the migration and mobility agreement signed on 2 July 2026.
5. Can I apply for Decreto Flussi without an Italian employer?
For ordinary seasonal and non-seasonal employment applications, the process is initiated by an eligible employer in Italy. The self-employment category follows different rules and should not be confused with an ordinary open work visa.
6. Does submitting an application on click day guarantee a visa?
No. The application must fall within the relevant quota and satisfy the applicable immigration requirements. Work authorisation and the consular visa process are separate stages, and approval is not automatic.
Article support by Migration Expert Umer Rasib.