The steps of the case
- 1
Checking employer and worker
We check that the employer meets the requirements (including financial ones) and that the worker fits the right category and quota: seasonal, non-seasonal, family care.
- 2
Pre-filling on the ALI Portal
The application is prepared before the click day, in the pre-filling window opened by the Ministry. On the click day only applications that were already pre-filled can be sent.
- 3
Click day and sending
On the set day, from 9 a.m., applications are sent. The order of arrival and the quotas available are what count.
- 4
Clearance and visa
If the One-Stop Shop for Immigration (Sportello Unico) issues the clearance (nulla osta), the worker asks the Italian consulate in their country for a work visa.
- 5
Arrival and residence contract
After entering Italy, the worker signs the residence contract (contratto di soggiorno) at the One-Stop Shop and applies for the permit. We follow them until collection.
What the flows decree is
The flows decree (decreto flussi) sets how many foreign workers who live abroad can enter Italy to work. For the three years 2026-2028 the DPCM of 2 October 2025 applies, published in the Official Gazette on 15 October 2025.
The quotas are 497,550 over three years:
- 2026: 164,850
- 2027: 165,850
- 2028: 166,850
An important part is for seasonal work (agriculture and tourism), the rest for non-seasonal work, self-employment and family care.
Who submits the application
The application is submitted by the employer, not the worker. It can be a company or a family (for example for a carer or a cleaner). The worker must be abroad.
The employer must have adequate financial means and, for non-seasonal work, there are preliminary checks, for example with the Employment Centre (Centro per l’impiego). We check them with you before we start.
How it works: pre-filling and click day
The route has two moments:
- Pre-filling. The application is prepared on the ALI Services Portal of the Ministry of the Interior, with SPID or CIE (digital identity), in a window opened by the Ministry. For 2026 it ran from 9 a.m. on 23 October to 8 p.m. on 7 December 2025 (joint circular no. 8047 of 16 October 2025).
- Click day. On the set day, from 9 a.m., the pre-filled applications are sent. Applications are examined in order of arrival, until the quotas run out. Applications can be sent until 31 December of the year, if quotas remain.
The click days of 2026 were: 12 January (seasonal agricultural), 9 February (seasonal tourism), 16 February (non-seasonal and self-employed), 18 February (family care).
For 2027 the DPCM provides a similar scheme, but at the end of September 2026 the circular with the pre-filling dates does not appear to be published yet. We will tell you as soon as it comes out: preparing early makes a difference.
After the click day
If the application falls within the quotas and the checks go well, the One-Stop Shop for Immigration of the Prefecture (Prefettura) issues the clearance (nulla osta). With the clearance the worker asks the Italian consulate for a work visa.
After entering Italy, the worker goes to the One-Stop Shop to sign the residence contract and apply for the residence permit (permesso di soggiorno).
Common mistakes
- Not pre-filling in time: on the click day new applications cannot be created.
- Choosing the wrong category (seasonal, non-seasonal, family care).
- Employer requirements not checked, such as income or the company’s position.
- Trusting people who promise a guaranteed place: nobody can guarantee a quota.
How we help you
We check the requirements, prepare the application during the pre-filling phase and follow your case until the worker arrives and gets the residence permit. If the application is rejected, the office’s in-house lawyers assess an appeal.
- First consultation: 60 €, about 30 minutes, in the office or online on WhatsApp.
- Sofia, the office’s assistant, answers on WhatsApp in 8 languages and books your appointment: use the booking button on this page.
What to bring to the consultation
- Employer's identity document and tax code (codice fiscale)
- For companies: company registry extract (visura camerale) and tax and social security documents
- For families: the employer's tax return
- Worker's passport (copy)
- Contract offer with duties, hours and pay
- Information on the worker's housing in Italy
- The employer's SPID or CIE (digital identity) and a PEC address (certified email)
Frequently asked questions
How many quotas are there in the 2026-2028 flows decree?+
497,550 in total over the three years: 164,850 for 2026, 165,850 for 2027 and 166,850 for 2028 (DPCM of 2 October 2025).
Who submits the application: the worker or the employer?+
The employer. The worker must be abroad and will then ask for the visa with the clearance.
When are the click days?+
In 2026 they were: 12 January (seasonal agricultural), 9 February (seasonal tourism), 16 February (non-seasonal and self-employed), 18 February (family care). For 2027 the DPCM provides a similar scheme: we will confirm the dates as soon as the circular comes out.
I have a study or seasonal permit: do I have to go through the click day?+
Usually not: in these cases we talk about converting the permit, which in many cases is outside the quotas. See our page on conversion.
Can I use the flows decree if I am already in Italy without a permit?+
The flows decree is designed for workers who are abroad. If you are already in Italy without a permit, let us talk in a consultation to see whether there are other routes.