Decreto Flussi 2026–2028 approved: what changes and what doesn’t

The Italian government has approved the new Decreto Flussi for the 2026–2028 period, setting a roadmap for the entry of 497,550 foreign workers—a record number that surpasses the quotas of previous years.

Annual distribution and types of workers

The plan provides for the admission of 164,850 workers in 2026, 165,850 in 2027, and 166,850 in 2028. Of this total, 230,550 spots will be allocated to non-seasonal subordinate workers and self-employed workers, while 267,000 will be reserved for seasonal jobs, mainly in the agricultural and tourism sectors.

Main innovations in the 2026–2028 Decreto Flussi

One of the key innovations is the territorial distribution of quotas. From now on, the Ministry of Labour will divide the quotas by province within ten days after the deadline for submitting applications. The goal is to better align local labor needs with the permits granted.

Additionally, the "click day" mechanism is confirmed and will continue to be the main channel for submitting applications, although the government acknowledges the need for future reforms to improve the system.

Despite criticism of the click day system, the government defends its continuation as a tool that—though improvable—allows for an orderly management of a high number of applications. However, there is openness to testing alternative solutions for high-demand job profiles.

Click day calendar

The application process will begin in 2026, with different dates depending on the type of worker:

• Non-seasonal subordinate and self-employed workers: February 9–16, 2026
• Caregivers and qualified professionals (entrepreneurs, artists, startup founders): February 18, 2026
• Seasonal workers, agricultural sector: January 12, 2026
• Seasonal workers, tourism sector: February 9, 2026

Caregivers: possibility of admission outside the quota

The government plans to reintroduce the possibility of entry outside the quota for caregivers of people with disabilities and elderly individuals in critical condition, as was already provided in 2024. The aim is to eliminate the current cap of 10,000 authorizations, given the high demand in this sector.

Previous years’ results and ongoing reforms

Data from the last click day show a significant drop in seasonal job applications: only 72,238 in 2025, compared to over 280,000 in 2023. Another notable figure is that only 7.8% of the quotas assigned in 2024 resulted in valid residence and work permits. To address this issue, the new decree seeks to simplify procedures and stipulates that work permits not leading to visa issuance within six months will be automatically cancelled.

Goals of the 2026–2028 Decreto Flussi

With this new three-year plan, the Italian government aims to balance the needs of the productive sector with a transparent, controlled, and more effective migration policy. The challenge now is to ensure that procedures work not only on paper but also translate into real, beneficial workforce integration for both the workers and the country.

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The content of this article is intended to provide general information on the topic. For doubts or specific cases, it is advisable to seek specialized legal advice tailored to your particular situation.