Italy to Grant 500,000 Work Visas to Foreign Workers

Italy has decided to issue around 500,000 visas for non-European workers over the next three years to address labour shortages in the country. Italy’s current government has recently announced that it will allow 497,550 non-EU workers to enter the country in the next three years. 

The cabinet said in a statement, “The quotas were determined taking into account the needs expressed by the social partners and the actual applications for work permits submitted in previous years, with the aim of a programme that responds to the needs of businesses and is also realistic.”

Almost 165,000 people will receive their Italy’s visa in 2026. Given the stats, this current quota to offer visas is higher than the previous one that was supposed to offer 450,000 visas to non-Europeans between 2022-2025. About 267,000 visas will be granted to seasonal workers in agriculture and tourism over the next three years.

Italy’s Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni wants to reduce the number of undocumented migrants coming to Italy. Her government is also offering pathways for legal migration to manage job gaps occurring mainly because of an ageing population and low birth rate.

Coldiretti, the country’s main farming group, welcomed this move and stated it an important step to secure farm workers and protect food production. On the contrary, an official from CGIL said that visa quotas do not address the real estate behind migration and labour needs.