Work Visa for Foreign Workers: Italy's Decreto Flussi
Legal assistance for employers and foreign workers in the entry-for-work procedures provided for by the decreto flussi.
Service Description
The decreto flussi is the instrument by which the Italian Government sets how many nationals of non-EU countries may enter Italy for work. The quotas are divided by type (seasonal employment, non-seasonal employment and self-employment), by production sector and, in some cases, by country of origin. The decree for the 2026-2028 three-year period provides for more than 497,000 entries in total.
Entry takes place at the employer's request: the employer files the application for the nulla osta (entry clearance) through the Italian Ministry of the Interior's portal on the days ("click day") set by the decree, after a pre-filling phase. Once the nulla osta has been obtained, the worker applies for a visa at the Italian consulate, enters Italy, signs the residence contract (contratto di soggiorno) at the Immigration Desk (Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione) and applies to the Questura for a work residence permit.
Some entry channels outside the ordinary quotas are also provided for, for example for specific categories of domestic care and social-health care workers. The rules change frequently: every year, decrees and circulars may change sectors, quotas, dates and formalities.
Who Is This Service For?
This page is designed for:
employers (agricultural, tourism, industrial and service businesses, and families) who intend to hire workers residing in non-EU countries;
families looking for domestic assistants or care staff, for whom the decree provides specific channels;
foreign workers who have obtained a nulla osta or a work visa and need to complete the procedure in Italy;
workers and employers whose application has been rejected, revoked or has stalled at the Immigration Desk;
seasonal workers interested in assessing, where the law allows it, a residence permit for non-seasonal employment.
Requirements
To file an application under the decreto flussi, the following are generally required:
a quota must be available for the relevant sector and category, and the application must be filed on the scheduled day;
the employer must demonstrate financial capacity and the genuineness of the offer, with consistency between the job, the salary and the applicable collective agreement;
where required, the Employment Centre (Centro per l'Impiego) must have confirmed that no workers already present in Italy are available for that job;
suitable accommodation must be available for the worker;
the worker must have a valid passport, and their personal details must be identical in all documents;
there must be no grounds precluding entry or the granting of the nulla osta.
Documents
Documentation varies from case to case and may include:
the employer's identity documents and company registry extract or company details;
a proposed residence contract for employment;
certifications or sworn statements (asseverazioni) by qualified professionals, where required;
the employer's certified email address (PEC);
documentation on the suitability of the accommodation;
a copy of the worker's passport.
Our firm defines the exact list of documents after analyzing your specific situation.
Legal Procedure
The decreto flussi procedure follows closely spaced steps with tight deadlines. Our firm assists clients at each stage:
Step 1 – Preliminary review: checking the sector, the available quota, the employer's requirements and the worker's situation;
Step 2 – Pre-filling and submission of the nulla osta application through the Italian Ministry of the Interior's portal, on the days set by the decree;
Step 3 – Review by the Immigration Desk, with the involvement of the Questura, the Labour Inspectorate and the Employment Centre, and any requests for additional documents or notice of intended refusal;
Step 4 – Issuance of the nulla osta and application for the entry visa at the Italian consulate;
Step 5 – Arrival in Italy, signing of the residence contract at the Immigration Desk and notification of employment, within the time limits set by law;
Step 6 – Application to the Questura for a work residence permit.
Common Problems and Special Cases
Decreto flussi applications can face some recurring difficulties:
an application rejected or blocked because of missing attachments or attachments uploaded in the wrong field, personal details inconsistent with the passport, or a job description not aligned with the applicable contract;
a notice of intended refusal, to which comments and documents can be submitted within a very short deadline;
rejection or revocation of the nulla osta for formal reasons, such as a mismatch in certain details (for example, the accommodation address), even when the substantive requirement is met;
an employer considered unreliable because of previous incomplete procedures or unsigned residence contracts;
a worker who has entered Italy with the visa but has not been called by the Immigration Desk, or whose employer does not sign the residence contract, and who is therefore without a residence permit;
expiry of the nulla osta or the visa because the deadlines were not met;
an employment relationship that differs from the one stated in the application.
In these cases, our firm assesses the available alternatives and, where necessary, legal action before the competent authorities.
How Studio Legale Beggin Can Help
Studio Legale Beggin, based in Verona, assists employers and foreign workers in procedures under the decreto flussi. Our assistance includes:
a preliminary check of the sector, quotas, requirements and eligibility for the procedure;
preparation and review of the documents for the nulla osta application;
assistance in dealings with the Immigration Desk, the Questura and the consulate;
responses to requests for additional documents and to notices of intended refusal;
legal protection in case of rejection, revocation of the nulla osta or administrative inaction, including before the courts.
Consultations can take place at our office or online. Each case is assessed individually, and no outcome can be guaranteed in advance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the decreto flussi?
It is the measure by which the Italian Government sets the quotas for the entry into Italy of non-EU workers, by type of work and sector. The decree currently in force covers the 2026-2028 three-year period and also sets the dates on which applications can be submitted.
Who can apply for the nulla osta?
The application is filed by the employer, also through a delegated party, via the Italian Ministry of the Interior's portal. A worker residing abroad cannot apply for a nulla osta for employment on their own.
What is the click day and what happens after the application is submitted?
The click day is the day, which varies by category, on which employers can submit their pre-filled applications on the portal. After submission, the Immigration Desk reviews the application, with checks by the Questura, the Labour Inspectorate and the Employment Centre, and may request additional documents. Submitting the application does not guarantee that the nulla osta will be issued.
What happens after the nulla osta is issued?
The worker applies for the entry visa at the Italian consulate within the set deadline, enters Italy and goes to the Immigration Desk to sign the residence contract together with the employer. They then apply to the Questura for a work residence permit. The deadlines for each step are short and may change with the most recent rules, so they must be checked case by case.
What should I do if the application is rejected or the procedure stalls?
If you receive a notice of intended refusal, it is important to respond within the stated deadline, with comments and documents addressing each ground for refusal. If the application is rejected or the nulla osta is revoked, our firm assesses whether it is preferable to file a new application, where the conditions are met and quotas allow, or to challenge the decision before the administrative court. Inaction by the Immigration Desk, for example in calling the parties to sign the residence contract, can also be challenged using the instruments provided for by law.
Related Services
To explore related situations, our law firm also assists with:
Italian visas and residence permits;
conversion of an Italian residence permit;
Book a Consultation
To assess your situation with our firm, you can book an online consultation or an in-office consultation.
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