Immigration and employment: the latest news

This article provides a brief overview on the main provisions contained in the above-mentioned regulations.

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The Prime Ministerial Decree on the planning of legal entry flows into Italy for foreign workers for the three-year period 2026-2028 (‘Flows Decree’), in accordance with the relevant provisions of the CIL, sets the annual entry quotas for employed and self-employed workers at 164.850 in 2026, 165.850 in 2027 and 166.850 in 2028. 

Early completion of applications for authorisation is permitted from 9:00 a.m. on 23 October 2025 until 8:00 p.m. on 7 December 2025. The system will be available 24 hours a day, every day of the week, including Saturdays, Sundays and 1 November.

Further implementing provisions relating to the application of the Flows Decree are set out in Interministerial Circular n. 8047 dated 16 October 2025.

Law Decree n. 146 dated 3 October 2025 (‘Decree’) introduces changes to the existing CIL legislation and consolidates certain measures already provided for in Law Decree no. 145 dated 11 October 2024, converted into Law n. 187 dated 9 December 2024. 

Among the most significant changes introduced is the one of Article 1, letters a) and b) of the Decree concerning the deadline for issuing work permits, which now starts from the date on which the application is allocated to the annual entry quotas and no longer from the date of submission. This amendment also applies to the procedures for seasonal work provided for in Articles 22 and 24 of CIL.

Furthermore, in Article 1 of the Decree, under letters c) to h), there is another significant regulatory change: mandatory checks have been introduced to verify the accuracy of declarations made by employers, hosting entities and research institutes. These checks, to be carried out in accordance with the procedures laid down in Article 71 of Presidential Decree no. 445 dated 28 December 2000, will also extend to declarations relating to:

Among the provisions confirmed by the Decree is Article 2, which establishes the institutionalisation of the pre-filled application system through the electronic procedure made available by the Ministry of the Interior for the issuance of work permits, extended also to seasonal workers within the quotas established by the Flows Decree. The limit of three individual applications per year for each employer operating as a private user is also confirmed. Hence, both measures, introduced on an experimental basis for 2025, become definitive.

Also in this case the competent authorities are required to verify the accuracy of the declarations made by employers during pre-compilation, in accordance with the provisions of Article 71 of Presidential Decree n. 445 dated 28 December 2000.

As provided for in Article 3 of the Decree, foreign workers will be expressly authorised to work not only while awaiting the issuance or renewal of their work permit, but also during the conversion phase, provided that they meet the legal requirements and have a receipt certifying that the relevant application has been submitted.

The commitment to fighting labour exploitation and human rights violations also continues. Pursuant to Article 4 paragraph 1, letters from a) to c) of the Decree, the duration of residence permits issued to victims of human trafficking (Article 18 CIL), domestic violence (Article 18-bis CIL) and labour exploitation (Article 18-ter CIL) has been extended from 6 to 12 months. Holders of such permits are now eligible for the inclusion allowance provided for in Law Decree n. 48 dated 4 May 2023, thus ensuring equal treatment for the various categories of vulnerable persons.

Furthermore, according to Article 8 of the Decree, the Interinstitutional Coordination Table for Fighting Labour Exploitation ('Tavolo Caporalato'), established by Article 25-quater of Law Decree n. 119 dated 23 October 2018, becomes permanent. Participation is expanded to include civilly recognised religious bodies and third sector organisations.

Article 5 of the Decree extends to the three-year period 2026-2028 the regulation providing for 10.000 annual permits outside the quotas for workers employed in family services or assistance to disabled persons and persons over 80 years of age.

Article 6 of the Decree establishes that the ministerial measure regulating the admission of young foreign volunteers to programmes of general interest and social utility will now be issued every three years, rather than annually, in line with the timing of other decrees on entry quotas.

The last provision worth mentioning is contained in Article 7 of the Decree and concerns family cohesion. The deadline for issuing authorisation for family cohesion has been increased from 90 to 150 days, for the purpose of harmonising Italian procedures with the maximum deadline provided for by European legislation (Directive 2003/86/EC).