Italy Work Visa 2027: Quotas, Click Days and Steps
Italy admits non-EU workers for employment through annual quotas, and the calendar for 2027 has just been set. On 1 October 2026 four Italian ministries published the joint circular with the numbers and the dates. The route is employer-led: an employer in Italy applies for a work authorisation, the nulla osta, on a fixed "click day", and only with that document can you ask a consulate for a work visa. This guide sets out the quotas, the dates and each step, from the Ministry of Labour and Italy's consulates, as read on 13 October 2026.
Quick answer
For 2027 Italy has authorised 76,200 entries for non-seasonal employment, 89,000 for seasonal work and 650 for self-employment. Employers can pre-fill applications from 23 October to 7 December 2026 and send them on the click days, the main one for non-seasonal work being 16 February 2027. With the nulla osta, which is valid 6 months, you apply for a national visa costing 116 euro. Within 8 working days of arriving you must report to the questura for a residence permit.
The 2027 quotas
| Type of entry | Authorised for 2027 |
|---|---|
| Non-seasonal employment | 76,200 |
| Seasonal employment | 89,000 |
| Self-employment | 650 |
The numbers come from the Prime Ministerial Decree of 2 October 2025, which programmes legal entry of foreign workers for the three years 2026 to 2028. The Ministry of the Interior describes that decree as providing 497,550 quotas over the three years.
The 2027 calendar
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| 23 October to 7 December 2026 | Employers pre-fill nulla osta applications on the Ministry of the Interior's ALI services portal |
| 12 January 2027 | Click day for seasonal work in agriculture |
| 9 February 2027 | Click day for seasonal work in tourism |
| 16 February 2027 | Click day for non-seasonal employment in the sectors listed in the decree |
| 18 February 2027 | Click day for non-seasonal work in family care |
| 31 December 2027 | Last date to submit applications, as long as quotas remain |
The same portal is used to send the applications from each click day. If you are reading this in the autumn of 2026, the practical message is that an employer who wants you for 2027 needs to pre-fill the application by 7 December.
How 2026 went
The 2026 round followed the same pattern. Click days fell on 12 January, 9 February, 16 February and 18 February 2026, and on 16 February the Ministry of Labour distributed 43,300 quotas for non-seasonal employment across the country. Quotas not assigned to a territory stay with the ministry, which reallocates them after fifty days according to the requests received by the immigration desks. The prefecture of Cuneo's summary gives the evaluation time before a nulla osta is sent as 20 days for seasonal work and 60 days for non-seasonal work.
The route, step by step
- An employer in Italy offers you a job and pre-fills the application, on form B2020 for non-seasonal employment.
- The employer submits it on the click day through the ALI portal.
- The immigration desk (Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione) issues the nulla osta, which is sent to the Italian diplomatic mission together with the contract of stay for work.
- You apply for the visa at the Italian consulate for the area where you live. The nulla osta is valid 6 months from the day it is issued.
- You enter Italy and report to the questura within 8 working days to apply for a residence permit, the permesso di soggiorno.
What the consulate asks for
| Document | Detail |
|---|---|
| Application form | The long-term (national visa) form, completed and signed |
| Passport | Valid at least 3 months, with at least two blank pages. It is kept during processing |
| Photo | Passport-style, white background, not older than 6 months |
| Nulla osta | Issued by the immigration desk in Italy, with the contract of stay |
| Travel | A one-way ticket reservation for a national visa |
| Proof of legal residence | In London, a valid UK residence permit |
Applicants appear in person. The Italian consulate in London is blunt about the limits of paperwork: submitting all the required documents does not guarantee that a visa will be issued, and the consulate can ask for more.
Fees and processing
- Visa fee: 116 euro for a national visa, for every applicant, adults and minors. It is paid in local currency at the quarterly consular exchange rate and is not refundable.
- Processing time: the Italian consulate in New York says it generally varies from 7 days to several weeks depending on the type of visa and the applicant's citizenship.
- No fast track: the consulate in Detroit states that rush procedures are not available.
Self-employment
Only 650 entries are authorised for self-employment in 2027. The London consulate's requirements show how demanding the route is: a nulla osta issued by the competent questura within the previous 90 days, suitable lodging, and income above the minimum level set by law for exemption from health contributions, which it gives as 8,500 euro.
Students who want to stay and work
A student already in Italy has a different path. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a study permit that is still valid can be converted into a work permit when you have a job offer, by signing a contract of stay with the employer at the immigration desk. While studying, the permit allows part-time work of up to 20 hours per week and no more than 1,040 hours a year.
After you arrive
An Italian national visa lets you enter Italy and, in the London consulate's words, move within other Schengen countries for up to 90 days within 6 months from the start of the visa's validity. It does not replace the residence permit. Failing to report to the questura within 8 working days might compromise your ability to reside legally in Italy.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get a work visa for Italy?
An employer in Italy must first obtain a nulla osta for you within the annual quotas. With it, you apply for a national visa at the Italian consulate where you live, then request a residence permit within 8 working days of arriving.
When is the Italy click day for 2027?
16 February 2027 for non-seasonal employment, 12 January for seasonal agricultural work, 9 February for seasonal tourism work and 18 February for family care. Pre-filling runs from 23 October to 7 December 2026.
How many work visas will Italy issue in 2027?
The joint circular of 1 October 2026 authorises 76,200 entries for non-seasonal employment, 89,000 for seasonal employment and 650 for self-employment.
Can I apply for an Italian work visa without an employer?
Not for subordinate employment: the nulla osta is requested by the employer. Self-employment has its own route, with 650 entries authorised for 2027.
How much does an Italian work visa cost?
116 euro for a national visa, paid in local currency. The fee is not refundable.
How long is the nulla osta valid?
6 months from the day it is issued, according to the Italian consulate in London, so the visa application should be timed accordingly.
What do I do after entering Italy on a work visa?
Report to the questura within 8 working days of entry to apply for the residence permit.
Official sources
- Ministry of Labour and Social Policies — Decreto Flussi 2027: joint circular with operating instructions, 1 October 2026
- Ministry of Labour and Social Policies — Flussi 2026: quotas for non-seasonal employment
- Ministry of the Interior, Prefecture of Cuneo — Decreto Flussi 2026
- Consulate General of Italy in London — Subordinate employment visa
- Consulate General of Italy in London — Self-employment visa
- Consulate General of Italy in New York — Visas: general information
- Consulate of Italy in Detroit — Visa fees 2026
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation — FAQ: Study in Italy (work and conversion)
All figures verified against the official pages above on 13 October 2026. The ministry notices are in Italian; the English wording here is our own. Quotas and dates are set by decree and circular, so confirm them before you rely on them. Information, not legal advice.