Italy approves 500,000 blue-collar visas. Big push to hire Non-EU workers

• Italy to issue 497,550 work visas to non-EU nationals from 2026–2028 — its largest visa push ever.
• Aimed at tackling labour shortages in agriculture, caregiving, tourism, logistics, and construction.
• Not for white-collar roles — the focus is on blue-collar and seasonal workers.
• Don’t fall for influencer hype — this is not a “get a visa and work in Milan as a corporate analyst” situation.

Who is this for? Mostly blue-collar workers

Italy’s new quota under the “Decreto Flussi scheme” is heavily skewed toward seasonal and semi-skilled labour.

Roles expected to be in high demand include:

• Agricultural workers
• Hotel and restaurant staff
• Construction laborers
• Caregivers and domestic workers
• Truck drivers and warehouse assistants

In 2026 alone, 164,850 work visas will be granted.