The three main routes
- Decreto Flussi: annual entry quotas for employment, seasonal work and self-employment.
- EU Blue Card (Carta Blu): for highly skilled professionals, outside the quotas.
- Special cases under art. 27: categories that also enter outside the quotas, such as executives, researchers and university professors.
If you already have Italian or other EU citizenship, none of this applies: you can work freely. See the path for descendants.
entries planned under the Decreto Flussi 2026–2028
spots per year for non-seasonal employment
reference minimum gross annual salary for the Blue Card [to confirm]
Blue Card and art. 27 cases
Decreto Flussi 2026–2028
The DPCM of October 2, 2025 set the plan for three years: 164,850 entries in 2026, 165,850 in 2027 and 166,850 in 2028. Each year, most of them go to seasonal work (agriculture and tourism) and non-seasonal employment. Self-employment gets only 650 spots per year.
The system works through a “click day”: the employer pre-fills the application on the Ministry of the Interior's portal and submits it on the set day. For the 2027 quotas, pre-filling runs from October 23 to December 7, 2026, and the click day for non-seasonal work is February 16, 2027.
EU Blue Card
The Blue Card was reformed by D.Lgs. 152/2023. It's for highly skilled work, with a contract or binding offer of at least six months. Main requirements:
- a higher education degree of at least three years, or comparable professional experience of at least five years (three years in the last seven, for IT managers and specialists);
- a salary equal to or higher than the sector's collective agreement and the ISTAT reference threshold, currently around €36,300 gross per year [confirm current amount];
- for regulated professions (medicine, engineering, law), prior recognition of your qualification.
The Blue Card makes it easier to bring your family and, after a period, to move to another EU country under simplified rules.
Special out-of-quota cases (art. 27)
Article 27 of the Testo Unico lists categories that can enter at any time of year. Among them:
- executives and highly specialized staff transferred within the same corporate group;
- university professors and researchers;
- translators and interpreters, professional nurses hired by healthcare facilities;
- artists, professional athletes and some entertainment workers.
Each category has its own rules. Our partner lawyer assesses whether your profile fits.
Step by step
Get your degree recognized
Request the statement of comparability from CIMEA or the declaration of value from the consulate. For regulated professions, recognition is handled by the relevant ministry (Health, Justice, among others).
Find an employer
No interested company, no process. Prepare a European-format résumé and a LinkedIn profile in English and Italian, and focus on sectors with labor shortages.
The employer requests the nulla osta
The request goes to the Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione in the province where you'll work, through the Ministry of the Interior's portal.
Apply for the visa at the consulate
Once the nulla osta is approved, you apply for the work visa at the consulate for your jurisdiction within the stated deadline.
Arrive and sign the contract
Within eight business days, go to the Sportello Unico to sign the residence and employment contract and apply for the permesso di soggiorno.
Set up your life
Residence at the comune, health system enrollment and codice fiscale. See the checklist.
| Route | Quotas? | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Decreto Flussi (non-seasonal) | Yes | Employment in general |
| Decreto Flussi (seasonal) | Yes | Agriculture and tourism, for up to 9 months |
| EU Blue Card | No | Highly skilled professionals |
| Art. 27 | No | Executives, researchers, nurses, artists and others |
Job search tips
- Italian matters a lot. Even at international companies, a B1–B2 level opens doors. Start with our Italian guide.
- Milan and Lombardy concentrate jobs in tech, finance, fashion and manufacturing. See Milan and Monza.
- Use LinkedIn, Indeed Italia, InfoJobs and staffing agencies (agenzie per il lavoro).
- Compare take-home pay with the cost of living using the tax calculator and the cost of living tool.
Frequently asked questions
Can I enter as a tourist and look for a job?
You can visit and do interviews, but you can't start working or convert tourist status into a work permesso in Italy. The visa is requested from your home country.
Who pays for the process?
The employer handles the nulla osta application and takes on obligations, such as ensuring suitable housing. Visa and personal document costs are usually covered by the worker.
Is my foreign degree (e.g. from Brazil) valid in Italy?
For most jobs, the CIMEA statement is enough. For regulated professions, you need formal recognition from the ministry, which can take months.
Is the Blue Card easier than the Decreto Flussi?
It doesn't depend on quotas or a click day, which helps. But it requires a higher salary and proven qualifications.
Can I bring my family?
Yes, through family reunification, as long as you show adequate income and housing. See the family path.
Sources: Informazione Fiscale, DPCM of 10/2/2025 (Oct 2025); QuiFinanza, Decreto Flussi 2027 (Oct 2026); Euroconference News (Oct 2025); Arletti Partners, Blue Card salary threshold (Jun 2026); The Local Italy (Feb 2026); Assolombarda, art. 27 cases (2025).