The excerpt you provided correctly highlights the historic nature of Italy’s new Flow Decree (Decreto Flussi) 2026–2028. It is a major shift toward long-term immigration planning and the country’s largest allocation of work permits to date.
Here is a detailed breakdown of the decree’s scope, quotas, and key reforms:
1. Quota Breakdown (2026–2028)
The decree authorizes the entry of 497,550 non-EU workers over three years, with a gradually increasing annual cap:
| Year | Total Work Permits |
| 2026 | 164,850 |
| 2027 | 165,850 |
| 2028 | 166,850 |
| Total | 497,550 |
The total quotas are broadly split between two main categories:
| Category | Allocation (3-Year Total) | Key Sectors |
| Seasonal Work | 267,000 | Agriculture, Tourism, and Hotel sectors. |
| Non-Seasonal & Self-Employed | 230,550 | Construction, Manufacturing, Transport, Food, Textiles, and Family Care. |
2. Targeted Job Sectors (Non-Seasonal Work)
The non-seasonal quota is specifically directed at filling critical skill gaps in the following industries:
| Sector Cluster | Specific Industries |
| Industry & Manufacturing | Metal and metal products, Food, Beverages, Tobacco, Textiles, Clothing, and Footwear. |
| Infrastructure | Construction, Freight Transport, Logistics, and Passenger Transport (Bus). |
| Social & Care | Family and Social Care (e.g., housekeepers and caregivers). This sector has a dedicated sub-quota. |
| Other | Fishing, Forestry, and other high-demand technical and service roles. |
3. Key Policy Reforms and Innovations
The decree introduces significant procedural and strategic changes to improve the system’s effectiveness:
- Multi-Year Planning: The primary shift from annual to a three-year plan offers predictability for employers and enables long-term workforce planning.
- Provincial Quota Allocation: For the first time, the national quota will be divided and allocated at the provincial level in 2026. This aims to better align migration with specific local labor demands and decentralize processing.
- Extra-Quota/Simplified Channels:
- Caregivers: There is a move to increase and potentially make permanent (or quota-free) the admission of non-EU workers for assisting the elderly and people with disabilities, reflecting high demand.
- Trained Workers: Workers who complete certified professional and civic-linguistic training programs in their country of origin can be admitted outside the standard quotas.
- Application Process (Click Days): The “Click Day” online application system is retained, but the new framework signals a strategic intent to eventually reduce reliance on this often-criticized system through the promotion of the non-quota channels mentioned above. The key “Click Day” dates for 2026 have been published for different worker categories.
- Combating Exploitation: The decree is linked to Italian foreign policy, offering preferential quotas to workers from countries that cooperate with Italy in discouraging irregular migration. It is explicitly aimed at combating irregular employment and worker exploitation.
Join The Discussion