Italy Announces 500,000 Work Visas for Non-European Countries from 2026 to 2028
In a major move to address labor shortages and support legal immigration, the Italian government has announced plans to issue 500,000 work visas to non-European nationals over three years from 2026 to 2028.
As per Reuters, the initiative forms part of Italy’s broader effort to ease workforce gaps by allowing more legal immigration.
Breakdown of the New Plan
An official statement from the Italian government revealed that:
- The plan includes granting 164,850 work permits in the year 2026.
- A total of 497,550 visas will be issued by the end of 2028
This initiative marks the second large-scale immigration plan introduced under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing administration. An earlier plan already aimed to issue over 450,000 work permits from 2023 to 2025.
Focus on Legal Migration, Crackdown on Illegal Entry
While expanding legal routes for foreign workers, the Italian government is also tightening its grip on illegal immigration. Measures include:
- Increased border control across the Mediterranean Sea
- Stricter regulations on NGO-led migrant rescue missions
- Faster deportation processes for undocumented migrants
Italy’s Labour Crisis and Population Decline
Italy is facing a serious labor shortage, particularly in sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, and other essential industries. Due to a difference of 281,000 between deaths and births in 2024, Italy experienced a population dip of 37,000, settling at roughly 58.93 million.
Experts from the Osservatorio Conti Pubblici research center suggest that Italy needs to attract at least 10 million migrants by 2050 to stabilize its population and workforce levels.
Support from the Agricultural Sector
The agricultural lobbying group Coldiretti welcomed the government’s plan, stating that increased access to legal foreign labor would help ensure consistent food production and the availability of farm workers.
Statement from the Interior Minister
Italy’s Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi emphasized the government’s commitment to regulated migration, saying, “We are determined to open legal channels for immigration that benefit key sectors of our economy.”
