The Italian government has announced plans to issue approximately 500,000 work visas for non-EU citizens from 2026 to 2028 in phases. This initiative is part of a strategy to expand legal migration pathways in response to a labor shortage in the country.
In 2024, a total of 164,850 individuals will be granted entry, with the cumulative goal reaching 497,550 by 2028, according to a Reuters report from July 1.
This marks the second significant action taken by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni since she assumed leadership of the right-wing coalition nearly three years ago. Previously, her administration approved the issuance of over 450,000 permits for migrants between 2023 and 2025.
Alongside measures to facilitate the entry of new workers, Prime Minister Meloni has adopted a tough stance on illegal immigration, aiming to expedite deportations and curtail the activities of charitable organizations that rescue migrants in the Mediterranean.
The government’s statement highlighted that the quota was established based on the needs expressed by social partners. It also took into account actual work permit applications from previous years, ensuring that the objectives align with the realistic needs of businesses.
### Labor Shortage
Italy, home to the third-largest economy in the European Union, is experiencing an aging population and declining birth rates, underscoring the necessity of bringing in foreign workers. In 2024, there were approximately 281,000 more deaths than births, contributing to a population decline of 37,000 to 58.93 million, continuing a trend observed over the past decade.
The agricultural association Coldiretti welcomed the government’s plan, stating that it is a significant step towards ensuring a labor supply in fields and food production.
“The government remains determined to facilitate legal migration pathways that will benefit key sectors of our economy,” said Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi in an interview with La Stampa on Sunday.
To counter ongoing demographic challenges and maintain current population levels, Italy needs to accept at least 10 million migrants by 2050, as per a study by the Osservatorio Conti Pubblici think tank.
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