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How to apply for Italy’s work visa under Decreto Flussi 2025?

Since the Italian government announced the Decreto Flussi 2025 pre-filling and clickdays dates, it is also now important for those interested to know how to apply for Italy’s work visa under Decreto Flussi 2025.

Though the quota of Decreto Flussi 2025 is set at 181,450 (70,720 for non-seasonal work, 730 for self-employment, and 110,000 for seasonal work) by the “Italian Interior Ministry“ for seasonal and nonseasonal work visas, still the competition remains high just due to one factor and that is a qualified job offer from the Italian employer. This means applying for a work visa in Italy, one needs a job offer from Italy.

Steps to Apply for a Work Visa in Italy

If you’re planning to work in Italy under the Decreto Flussi, here’s a simple step-by-step guide:

1. Check Your Eligibility

  • Review the requirements for the specific work visa category.
  • Ensure you have all the necessary documents to qualify.
  • Make sure you are a citizen of the eligible countries which are as follows:
AlbaniaEgyptKyrgyzstan
AlgeriaPhilippinesMali
BangladeshRepublic of North MacedoniaMorocco
Bosnia and HerzegovinaSenegalMauritius
Korea (Rep. of Korea)SerbiaMoldova
Côte d’IvoireSri LankaMontenegroSudan
EgyptGhanaNigerTunisia
El SalvadorGuatemalaNigeriaUkraine
EthiopiaIndiaPakistan
GambiaJapanPeru
GeorgiaJordan

2- Determine your job category

You must determine your occupation category, your employer can also help you do so. This indeed depends upon your job relates to which category of the job sector such as seasonal or nonseasonal. These have been identified by the Italian government as follows:

Seasonal Occupations
(lavoro stagionale)
Nonseasonal Occupations
 (lavoro non stagionale)
Agronomist,
Agrotechnician,
Laboratory analyst of the agri-food industry,
Poultry farmer,
Agri-food technician,
Cellarman,
Direct farmer,
Farm operator (professional agricultural entrepreneur),
The driver of food processing plants,
The driver of agricultural machinery,
Environmental Consultant,
Oenologist,
Fruit grower – Frantoiano,
Specialized agricultural worker (farm worker),
Horticulturist,
Pruner.
freight transport for third parties,
construction sector,
tourist-hotel,
mechanical sector,      
telecommunications,
feed,
shipbuilding sector,
passenger transport by bus,
fishing,
hairdressers,
electricians,
plumbers.

3. Find a Job in Italy

4. Your employer Requests a Work Permit

  • Your employer must apply for a work permit from the relevant Italian authorities.
  • This step is essential for your visa application to proceed.

5. Get Health Insurance

  • Purchase health insurance to cover your initial stay in Italy.
  • It must be valid for the entire duration of your visa.

6. Prepare the Required Documents

You’ll need the following to apply for the work visa either through a seasonal or nonseasonal stream:

  • A valid passport;
  • Passport-sized photos;
  • A copy of your job contract;
  • Proof of health insurance;
  • A criminal record certificate;
  • Any additional documents requested by the consulate;
  • The confirmation of the work visa approval from Italy (sent to you by the employer).

7. Submit Your Visa Application

  • File your application with the Italian embassy or consulate in your home country.
  • Processing may take several weeks or even months, so apply early.
  • Once the work visa is approved, you inform the employer and travel to Italy.

Key points of applying for Italy’s work visa

  • First, you’ll need a valid employment contract from an Italian company. This is a crucial starting point for your visa application.
  • Check if your job falls under the in-quota system or the extra-quota system:
    • In-Quota System: Requires your employer to secure a work permit (known as a Nulla Osta).
    • Extra-Quota System: This may allow direct visa application based on your profession or category.
  • For in-quota jobs, your employer must apply for a Nulla Osta (work permit authorization) through Italian immigration authorities.
  • After the Nulla Osta is approved (or if your job doesn’t require it), you can apply for your work visa at the Italian embassy or consulate in your home country.
  • In some cases, you might be asked to attend an interview as part of the visa process. Be prepared with all necessary documents.
  • Visa processing times vary depending on the embassy’s workload and your personal circumstances. Make sure to apply well in advance to avoid delays.
  • Once approved, you can pick up your visa from the embassy or consulate.
  • Within eight days of arriving in Italy, visit your local post office to apply for a Permesso di Soggiorno (residence permit). This step is mandatory to legally stay and work in Italy.

    How to Convert a Work Permit into a Residence Permit?

    To convert a residence permit into a work permit, candidates must follow these steps in Italy:

    • Obtain a Job Offer: Your employer must provide a signed job contract proposal, which shows their intent to hire you.
    • Attend the Appointment: Bring the signed proposal to your appointment at the Sportello Unico (Unified Immigration Desk).
    • Employer’s Commitment: The proposal confirms your employer’s commitment to hiring you as a non-EU foreign worker.
    • Hiring Communication: Once the process is approved, the system will automatically generate the Mandatory Hiring Communication and send it electronically to the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies.