Decree Flows 2027: quotas, requirements and new procedures for working in Italy

The Decreto Flussi is one of the main instruments through which Italy plans the entry into its territory of citizens of countries outside the European Union for employment purposes.

For the three-year period 2026–2028, the Italian Government has provided for a total of 497,550 entries for subordinate employment, seasonal employment and self-employment.

The programme provides for 164,850 entries in 2026, 165,850 in 2027 and 166,850 in 2028. For 2027, 76,200 entries are planned for non-seasonal subordinate employment, 89,000 for seasonal subordinate employment and 650 for self-employment.

The regulatory framework was established by the D.P.C.M. of 2 October 2025, published in the Official Gazette on 15 October 2025, and by the subsequent interministerial circulars governing its practical application.

Who can enter Italy through the Decreto Flussi?

The Decreto Flussi mainly concerns foreign citizens residing abroad who intend to enter Italy to carry out employment activities.

Different entry possibilities are provided for, including:

• non-seasonal subordinate employment, in specific productive sectors;
• seasonal subordinate employment, mainly in the agricultural and tourism sectors;
• self-employment, for certain specific categories provided for by the legislation.

For non-seasonal subordinate employment, the DPCM covers numerous sectors of the Italian economy, including agriculture and fishing, the food industry, textile and manufacturing industries, construction, trade, catering and accommodation services, tourism, transport and logistics, business and personal services, healthcare and social assistance.

Part of the quotas is also reserved for citizens from countries with which Italy has concluded, or will conclude, migration agreements.

Specific quotas are also provided for certain categories, including workers of Italian origin residing abroad, stateless persons and refugees, and workers employed in the domestic assistance sector.

Decreto Flussi 2027: dates to know

For 2027, the procedure provides for a preliminary application-completion phase preceding the so-called “click days”.

Applications may be pre-completed from 9:00 a.m. on 23 October 2026 until 8:00 p.m. on 7 December 2026 through the ALI Services Portal of the Ministry of the Interior.

Applications may then be submitted on the following dates:

12 January 2027 for seasonal subordinate employment in the agricultural sector;

9 February 2027 for seasonal subordinate employment in the tourism sector;

16 February 2027 for non-seasonal subordinate employment;

18 February 2027 for non-seasonal subordinate employment in the domestic assistance sector.

Applications may be submitted until 31 December 2027, subject in all cases to the availability of quotas.

Submitting the application is not enough: it is essential to prepare in advance

One of the most important aspects of the Decreto Flussi is that the procedure should not be approached only on the day of the click day.

The application must be prepared in advance and must contain information and documentation concerning, among other things, the employer, the proposed employment relationship and the worker whom the employer intends to hire.

The pre-completion phase also allows the authorities to carry out checks on the information entered before the application is finally submitted.

For this reason, proper preparation of the application is particularly important: any errors, incomplete documentation or inconsistent information may jeopardise the procedure.

A procedure subject to increasingly stringent checks

The most recent legislation has strengthened checks on applications for work authorisation (nulla osta).

For applications submitted directly by private employers, an ordinary limit of three applications per year is provided for. This limit does not operate in the same way when applications are submitted through employers’ organisations or authorised professionals, provided that the conditions established by law are respected and that the number of applications is proportionate to the employer’s financial situation.

For certain applications, checks are also provided for concerning financial capacity and the actual need for personnel, as well as certification (asseverazione) by authorised professionals or organisations in the cases provided for by law.

These checks serve an important purpose: preventing the system from being used for applications that are not based on a genuine employment need.

Domestic assistance

Particular attention is given to the domestic assistance sector.

For 2027, 14,000 quotas are provided for within non-seasonal subordinate employment for domestic assistance, out of the overall 76,200 quotas for non-seasonal subordinate employment.

The procedure uses Form A-bis and the relevant click day is scheduled for 18 February 2027.

It is important to distinguish these quotas from the additional possibilities provided by the legislation for certain categories of domestic workers outside the ordinary quotas of the Decreto Flussi.

What happens after the application?

Submitting an application does not automatically mean that the worker may enter Italy.

The procedure provides for a series of checks by the competent authorities and, if the outcome is positive, the issuance of the work authorisation (nulla osta al lavoro).

The worker must subsequently follow the procedure for obtaining an entry visa at the competent Italian diplomatic mission in the country of residence.

Once the visa has been obtained and the worker has lawfully entered Italy, the further formalities required for establishing the employment relationship and for staying in Italy must be completed.

Specific deadlines also apply after entry. Among the changes highlighted by the most recent rules, the deadline for signing the residence contract (contratto di soggiorno) has been reduced to 15 days from the date of the worker’s entry into Italy.

Why is it important to start in good time?

The Decreto Flussi is often associated exclusively with the “click day”, but this represents only one part of the procedure.

The possibility of submitting an effective application depends first and foremost on correctly identifying the type of entry, the employment sector, the employer’s requirements, the worker’s position and the availability of the relevant quota.

For this reason, it is advisable to begin preparing well in advance of the scheduled submission date.

For 2027, in particular, the pre-completion phase will already begin on 23 October 2026.

Decreto Flussi 2027: what must someone do if they want to hire a foreign worker?

The first step is to verify that the employment relationship to be established actually falls within the categories and sectors covered by the Decree.

It is then necessary to verify the employer’s requirements, the required documentation and the worker’s position, correctly preparing the application through the ALI Services Portal.

It is equally important to verify any reserved quotas, the worker’s country of origin and the specific conditions applicable to the chosen type of entry.

Careful preparation makes it possible to reach the submission stage with an application that is already complete and consistent.

SmartLivingItaly: support for those who want to work and live in Italy

The Decreto Flussi is a complex procedure involving the employer, the foreign worker, Italian public authorities and, subsequently, the consular authorities.

SmartLivingItaly provides personalised support in understanding and managing the formalities required by those wishing to move to Italy for employment purposes, coordinating, where necessary, with the qualified professionals involved in the procedure.

Each situation must be assessed individually, because requirements, documentation and procedures may vary depending on the type of employment, the employer, the worker’s nationality and the availability of the relevant quota.

If you are considering hiring a foreign worker for 2027 or wish to determine whether a specific position may fall within the scope of the Decreto Flussi, it is advisable to begin the assessment before the pre-completion phase opens.