Italy plans to issue nearly 500,000 new work visas to non-EU nationals between 2026 and 2028, aiming to address critical labor shortages across key sectors. According to a cabinet statement released Monday, the country will allow 164,850 new entries in 2026, targeting a cumulative total of 497,550 permits by 2028.
This marks the second large-scale immigration move under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government, which had previously authorized over 450,000 work permits between 2023 and 2025. While expanding legal migration pathways, Meloni’s administration continues to enforce strict measures against irregular migration, including accelerated repatriation procedures and restrictions on NGOs conducting migrant rescues in the Mediterranean.
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The government emphasized that the visa quotas were determined based on input from business associations and historical demand trends, aiming for a plan that balances economic needs with practical feasibility.
With a shrinking population and a significant demographic imbalance, Italy faces growing pressure to attract foreign workers. In 2024 alone, the country recorded 281,000 more deaths than births, while its overall population declined by 37,000 to 58.93 million — continuing a downward trajectory that has persisted for over a decade.
The agricultural sector welcomed the initiative. Lobby group Coldiretti described it as a vital move to ensure workforce availability and safeguard domestic food production.
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to legal migration channels, calling them essential for sustaining key industries.
According to the Osservatorio Conti Pubblici think tank, Italy would need to welcome at least 10 million immigrants by 2050 to offset depopulation and maintain its current population level.
