Italy has announced that it will issue nearly 500,000 work visas to non-European countries between 2026 and 2028. This decision is part of a broader strategy to address the country’s growing labor shortage and promote legal immigration. The plan was officially revealed in a government statement released on July 1, 2025.
According to Reuters, the Italian government will allow 164,850 new workers in 2026 alone. By the end of 2028, the total number of new work permits issued will reach 497,550. This is the second major immigration plan under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government, following an earlier decision to issue over 450,000 visas from 2023 to 2025.
While opening doors to legal immigrants, Italy is also strengthening its crackdown on illegal immigration. The government is implementing stricter border controls, limiting the operations of rescue charities in the Mediterranean, and accelerating the deportation process for undocumented migrants.
Italy faces a severe shortage of workers, especially in sectors like agriculture, industry, and services. In 2024 alone, the country recorded 281,000 more deaths than births, causing the total population to drop by 37,000 to 58.93 million. Experts warn that this population decline threatens long-term economic stability.
To reverse this trend, research institute Osservatorio Conti Pubblici has suggested that Italy needs to welcome at least 10 million migrants by 2050. The Coldiretti agricultural lobby praised the government’s move, saying it would ensure labor availability for farms and help maintain food production.
Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi stressed that Italy is fully committed to legal immigration pathways. He added that these policies are designed to support the country’s essential sectors while maintaining control over illegal migration.