Islamabad, July 1, 2025: Italy work visa for non-EU nationals is set to rise significantly as the Italian government announces a bold new plan to address labor shortages. From 2026 to 2028, nearly 500,000 work visas will be issued to non-EU migrants, according to an official cabinet statement released Monday.
The plan will begin with 164,850 new work permits in 2026 and gradually reach a total of 497,550 by the end of 2028. This move is part of Italy’s long-term strategy to attract foreign labor while maintaining strict control over illegal immigration.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, leading a right-wing coalition, has already taken similar steps in recent years. Between 2023 and 2025, the Italian government had committed to issuing over 450,000 legal permits. This expansion marks the second major immigration reform under her administration.
While cracking down on unauthorized entries and curbing NGO-led sea rescue operations, Meloni’s government emphasizes the importance of legal migration routes. Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi reaffirmed the commitment, saying the move will support key sectors like agriculture, construction, and caregiving.
The government stated the visa quotas were based on previous applications and real-time labor market demands. The plan has been welcomed by Italy’s agricultural sector. Coldiretti, the main farming lobby, said the new rules are vital to securing seasonal workers and ensuring food production stability.
Italy’s demographic crisis underscores the urgency of this move. In 2024 alone, the country saw 281,000 more deaths than births, shrinking its population by 37,000 to 58.93 million. If the trend continues, experts warn that Italy must welcome at least 10 million immigrants by 2050 to avoid economic stagnation and social imbalance.
This carefully structured visa initiative reflects a dual approach: boosting the economy with legal foreign workers while strengthening national control over irregular migration.
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Italy work visa for non-EU nationals is now a focal point of Italy’s economic survival plan, balancing demographic needs with controlled immigration policies.
