Labor shortage, Italy opens doors to foreign workers

2025-10-25 19:00:39Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Labor shortage, Italy opens doors to foreign workers
Labor shortage, Italy opens doors to foreign workers

Italy will offer work visas to half a million non-EU citizens to address labor shortages.

The government has approved almost 500,000 new work visas for non-EU citizens between 2026 and 2028 – starting with 164,850 permits in 2026.

The move comes as Italy faces ongoing labor shortages in key industries.

The decision is part of a broader plan to balance economic needs with tighter immigration controls, expanding legal work pathways while the country clamps down on irregular entry.

This marks the second major initiative of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

The Italian government has announced a limit of 497,550 foreign workers to be allowed in Italy for the period 2026-2028. The decree, dated 2 October 2025, was published in the Official Gazette on 15 October 2025.

Applications for the government-sponsored work visa opened on October 23, 2023, and will remain available until December 7, 2025.

Applicants must submit their forms through Italy's official online portal and finalize them on January 12, February 9, February 16, and February 18 of the following year.

As Italy faces ongoing labor shortages in key sectors such as agriculture, construction, and hospitality, this initiative opens up significant legal employment opportunities under a safer and more regulated framework.


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