What changed with the 2026–2028 decree
Italy now sets its entry quotas for non-EU workers over a three-year cycle instead of one year at a time. The decree signed in October 2025 allows 497,550 entries across 2026–2028: 164,850 in 2026, 165,850 in 2027 and 166,850 in 2028. For 2026 the largest blocks were 88,000 seasonal places (agriculture and tourism) and 76,200 non-seasonal places for sectors such as construction, freight and passenger transport, hospitality, mechanics, food processing, shipbuilding, electricians and plumbers.
For an employer, the three-year horizon is good news: you can plan a hiring pipeline instead of gambling on a single annual decree.
How the click day system works
Quota places are allocated by submission order on fixed “click days” through the Ministry of the Interior’s ALI portal. In the 2026 round the dates were 12 January (seasonal agriculture), 9 February (seasonal tourism), 16 February (non-seasonal workers from countries with migration agreements) and 18 February (all other non-seasonal workers). Applications were pre-filled between late October and early December 2025, using SPID or CIE digital identity.
The employer’s steps, in order
- Check local availability. Before requesting a foreign worker, the employer confirms with the local Centro per l’Impiego that no suitable worker is available in Italy.
- Prepare the offer. Contract terms in line with the applicable national collective agreement (CCNL), and suitable accommodation details.
- Asseverazione. Many employers have their application certified by a labour consultant or employer association, which confirms the company’s capacity and the contract’s compliance and speeds up checks.
- Pre-fill and submit on click day. The nulla osta (work clearance) request goes to the Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione of the province.
- Visa and arrival. Once the nulla osta is issued, the worker applies for the work visa at the Italian Embassy in Islamabad. After arrival the worker signs the contratto di soggiorno and applies for the residence permit.
Where a Pakistan agency actually helps
The Italian side of the file is yours or your consultant’s. What decides whether the place is used is the worker side: a candidate who genuinely has the trade, documents that match the application, and a worker who shows up for the visa interview ready. Our part covers:
- Sourcing and trade-testing to your specification, with work videos for skilled trades such as welders, electricians, masons and drivers.
- Passport, education and experience documents checked against what you will declare in the nulla osta.
- Police certificate, medical and attestation where required, and embassy appointment preparation.
- Pre-departure orientation and travel, through our BEOE-licensed process in Pakistan.
Common reasons Pakistani files stall
Names spelled differently across passport and certificates; experience letters that do not match the job title in the application; candidates selected late, so documents are rushed after the nulla osta. Each of these is avoidable if the worker is chosen and verified before click day.
Next step
Tell us the roles, headcount, region and your target start date. We will shortlist trade-tested candidates and have their documents ready for the 2027 window. Your budget and terms stay with you; we work to your brief.
Related: Hiring Pakistani workers for Italy · How to choose a recruitment agency in Pakistan · All insights
Frequently asked questions
Can Italian employers hire Pakistani workers under the Decreto Flussi?
Yes. Pakistani workers can be hired through the non-seasonal and seasonal quotas, subject to the sector, the nationality reservations in force for that year, and a nulla osta issued by the Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione.
When is the next Decreto Flussi click day?
The 2026 click days were in January and February 2026. The next allocation falls in early 2027, with application pre-filling expected towards the end of 2026, so employers should select candidates now.
How long does it take to bring a Pakistani worker to Italy?
After click day, the nulla osta, visa at the Italian Embassy in Islamabad and travel typically take several months. Having the worker selected and documents verified before click day removes most of the delay on the worker side.
What does a Pakistan recruitment agency do in the Italian process?
It sources and trade-tests candidates, verifies documents against the application, handles police and medical certificates, prepares the worker for the embassy appointment, and manages departure from Pakistan.