What is Decreto Flussi 2026-2028

The Decreto Flussi is a regulation by the Italian government that defines how many workers from non EU countries can enter Italy each year, from which country and for which job categories. The relevant decree is D.P.C.M. 2 October 2025 published in Gazzetta Ufficiale on 15 October 2025.

This decree sets a total of 497,550 places (so-called entry quotas) for non-European workers who can enter Italy for subordinate, seasonal, and self-employed work, divided across the triennium 2026–2028 as follow:

• 2026: 164,850 places
• 2027: 165,850 places
• 2028: 166,850 places

Main work categories

• Seasonal work (e.g., agriculture, tourism)
• Non-seasonal / subordinate / long-term work
• Self-employed (autonomous) work.

For information about the previous Decreto Flussi 2023-2025, see this article.

Who can apply

To apply under the Decreto Flussi, you must have a job offer from an Italian employer (or a legally resident foreign employer).

• Most of the quotas are reserved for citizens of third countries that have migration cooperation agreement with Italy, namely: Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bosnia‑Herzegovina, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Philippines, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, India, Jordan, Kirghizstan, Korea (Republic of), Kosovo, Mali, Mauritius, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Pakistan, Peru, Senegal, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Thailand, Tunisia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.
• Some quotas are reserved for citizens of countries with which cooperation agreements on migration will come into force during the three-year period 2026-2028.
• Additionally, a few quotas are available for stateless persons and refugees recognized by the UNHCR or by the competent authorities in the countries of first asylum or transit.

How to apply: step by step

1.  Get a job offer

Your employer (Italian or a foreign employer legally resident in Italy) must agree to hire you and start the online procedure to request the nulla osta for employment via the Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione (SUI).

2. Employer Prepares Documents

Your employer must access the Portale Servizi — ALI (via SPID or CIE) opening the section “Decreto Flussi 2026-2028 Click Day / Precompilation” and upload the following documents (according to Circolare Interministeriale 8047/2025 and ALI portal instruction):

Worker’s documents:

• Copy of the passport (main ID page).
• Worker’s personal data for the application.

Housing documents (digitally signed):

• Idoneità alloggiativa
• Housing proof (one of the following): Dichiarazione di ospitalità, cessione di fabbricato, or rental contract.

Employer’s documents:

• Employer’s identity and tax details.
• Certificato di asseverazione, when required.
• Documentation showing the employer contacted the Centro per l’Impiego (CPI) for labour-market availability checks, for non-seasonal work.

If any document is not yet available, the employer may upload a declaration of commitment (dichiarazione di impegno) to provide it later during verification.

3. Pre-fill the application (pre-compilazione)

Pre-filling allows your employer to enter all required information and check that the application is ready before the Click Day.

Pre-compilation period: from 23 October 2025, 09:00 until 7 December 2025, 20:00

A partial reopening for editing existing applications: 9–13 December 2025, 09:00–20:00

4. Submit the application on the Click Day

Your employer must submit the completed application at the exact time of the Click Day:

• 12 January 2026, 09:00 → Seasonal agricultural work
• 9 February 2026, 09:00 → Seasonal tourism/hotel work
• 16 February 2026, 09:00 → Non-seasonal work (selected countries)
• 18 February 2026, 09:00 → Other non-seasonal work and care work

Applications are processed in chronological order, so submitting at the exact opening time increases the chance of success.

All applications for the 2026 quota must be submitted by 31 December 2026.

5. After submission: SUI / ALI checks

The Sportello Unico will:

• Verify the documents
• Confirm labor-market checks (including CPI verification when required)
• Request any missing documents (if the employer uploaded a “dichiarazione di impegno”)

When the nulla osta is approved, the employer must confirm it within 7 days via the ALI portal or PEC.

If the nulla osta is rejected, you cannot obtain a work visa that year.
You may try again the next year, if you meet the requirements.

6.  Apply for the work visa at the Italian consulate

Once the nulla osta is issued, the worker has 180 days to request a work visa at the Italian Embassy/Consulate in their country as per: Art. 22(6) T.U. Immigrazione.

Visa processing times:

• 60 days → Non-seasonal work
• 20 days → Seasonal work

If approved, you will receive a type D national work visa.
Some consulates may also issue a temporary codice fiscale.

What happens after your arrival to Italy

To learn what happens after your visa is issued and what you must do once you arrive in Italy, read our full guide: After You Enter Italy With a Work Permit: Step-by-Step Post-Arrival Guide.

Attention: Work visa scams are rising in Italy

If you are planning to enter Italy through the Decreto Flussi please be cautious, as many people are being deceived by scammers who offer to “help” with visas and work permits, charge money, and then disappear, leaving individuals without employment and in vulnerable situations. 

It is important to remember that no one can legally charge for a visa or work permit, and all procedures must be followed through official channels. 

According to the 2024 annual report from the National Anti-Trafficking Helpline (Numero Verde Antitratta – 800 290 290), labor exploitation now affects mostly adult male migrants. 

In 2024 alone:

• 139 men were scammed and left without work, 
• cases of labor exploitation reported to the Helpline reached 80%, compared to 16% for sexual exploitation. 

This trend is highlighted in the 2025 Immigration Statistical Dossier (IDOS). More information can be found at the following link: Lo sfruttamento lavorativo dei migranti.

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This article is written by Refugee.info Italy team and reviewed for accuracy by legal professionals.