In implementation of the Decree of the President of the Council of Ministers of 2 October 2025, by joint circular message No. 7185 of 1 October 2026, the Ministry of the Interior clarifies on the entry quotas for foreign seasonal and non-seasonal workers for 2027.
The entry of foreign workers for non-seasonal employment purposes is permitted, in particular, in relation to the following economic sectors: agriculture, forestry and fishing; food, beverage and tobacco industries; textile, clothing and footwear industries; metallurgy and metal products industries; other manufacturing industries; construction; wholesale and retail trade; accommodation and food services; tourism services; transport, logistics and warehousing services; operational support services for businesses and individuals; healthcare, social care and private healthcare services; and other services.
For 2027, the overall entry quotas are set as follows:
– 76,200 entries for non-seasonal employment, of which 14,000 are reserved for employment in the domestic care sector;
– 89,000 entries for seasonal employment in the agricultural and tourism sectors;
– 650 entries for self-employed work. Of these, a quota of 500 is reserved for:
- entrepreneurs intending to implement an investment plan of interest to the Italian economy, involving the use of their own resources amounting to at least EUR 500,000 and the creation of at least three new jobs;
- self-employed professionals intending to practise regulated or supervised professions, or unregulated professions represented at national level by associations registered in lists maintained by public administrations and issuing certificates attesting to the quality of services and the professional qualifications of their members;
- holders of corporate management and supervisory positions expressly provided for under Interministerial Decree No. 850 of 11 May 2011 (including, by way of example, foreign nationals holding the position of chairperson, member of the board of directors, managing director or statutory auditor of a public limited company, private limited company or partnership limited by shares);
- internationally renowned artists or artists with high and recognised professional qualifications, engaged by public or private bodies;
- foreign nationals intending to establish ‘innovative start-up’ undertakings (Law No. 221/2012) and who have a self-employed work relationship with the undertaking concerned.
The procedure for the entry of foreign workers is structured as follows:
– each employer may submit up to three applications for work authorisation for 2027 by accessing the ALI Services Portal and registering as a ‘private user’. This limit does not apply where the application is submitted through an intermediary authorised to practise as a Labour Consultant (art. 1 of Law No. 12/1979) or through temporary employment agencies registered in the Register of Employment Agencies. Submission of the application for work authorisation is permitted provided that:
a) the applicant’s ATECO code falls within the economic sectors listed above;
b) the applicant has registered their certified email address (PEC) in the INI-PEC database (where registration with the Companies Register is mandatory) or in INAD;
c) the application is accompanied by i) a compliance certification (asseverazione) attesting that the contractual requirements laid down by the legislation in force have been met, and ii) documentation concerning the accommodation arrangements for the foreign worker, signed using a digital signature or another type of qualified electronic signature (art. 4 of Law No. 182/2025 and Ministry of the Interior, circular message No. 9859/2025);
d) the applicant has previously verified with the Employment Centre that no suitable worker already present in Italy is available. This verification is deemed to have been completed where no express response is received within eight days of the request;
– pre-completion of the application for work authorisation by accessing the ALI Services Portal from 9.00 am on 23 October 2026 until 8.00 pm on 7 December 2026, in preparation for the following ‘click days’:
a) 12 January 2027, for entries for seasonal employment in the agricultural sector (form C-stag agricolo);
b) 9 February 2027, for entries for seasonal employment in the tourism sector (form C-stag turistico);
c) 16 February 2027, for entries for non-seasonal employment (form B2020);
d) 18 February 2027, for entries for non-seasonal employment in the domestic care sector (form A-bis);
– assignment of an application activation code, provided that the checks carried out to verify the accuracy of the declarations have not identified any irregularities. The outcome of these checks is communicated to the Single Immigration Desk. Entering the above code will enable access to the electronic procedure for completing the application;
– within 15 days of receiving notification that the verification activities have been successfully completed, the employer is required to confirm the application for work authorisation electronically;
– within 15 days of entry into Italy, the parties must sign the residence contract (contratto di soggiorno) using a digital signature or another type of qualified electronic signature, without being required to attend the Single Immigration Desk in person. The worker may sign the contract by hand;
– within the same period of 15 days following the foreign worker’s entry into Italy, the residence contract must be submitted to the Single Immigration Desk.
This NOVA does not examine the provisions governing seasonal employment or the domestic care and social and healthcare sectors, for which the procedure provides for specific stages.
We remain available for any further clarification.