The Decreto Flussi in plain terms
The Decreto Flussi (formally: DPCM — Decreto del Presidente del Consiglio dei Ministri) is the measure by which the Italian Government sets each year the maximum number of non-EU workers permitted to enter Italy for work purposes. For the 2026–2028 period, the DPCM of 2 October 2025 established a stable multi-year framework.
The applicant is not the worker, but the Italian employer. The employer files the application for a Nulla Osta al Lavoro on behalf of the foreign worker they intend to hire. At that point the worker is still abroad and only receives the visa after the Nulla Osta is issued.
Applications are processed in chronological order of submission. In previous years quotas were exhausted in under 10 minutes from the portal opening. Those who are not ready at exactly 9:00 on the set day cannot file — they must wait until the following year.
2026 Quotas: the breakdown
The DPCM provides three main channels with distinct quotas. The framework is multi-year: 164,850 in 2026, 165,850 in 2027, 166,850 in 2028.
| Channel | 2026 Quotas | Main sectors |
|---|---|---|
| Non-seasonal subordinate work | 76,200 | Construction, logistics, road haulage, tourism, private healthcare, engineering, commerce |
| Seasonal work | 88,000 | Agriculture (seasonal), tourism/hospitality (seasonal) |
| Self-employment | 650 | Entrepreneurs, freelancers, artists, company directors |
| Domestic/care work (colf/badanti) | 13,600 | Included in non-seasonal. High-demand category every year |
A portion of quotas is reserved for nationals of priority countries identified by the MAECI (migration cooperation agreements), workers already trained abroad, and specific categories such as refugees and stateless persons. For some nationalities (Bangladesh, Pakistan, Morocco, Sri Lanka) an additional review circuit applies that excludes the tacit approval mechanism.
The 2026 click-days
The 2026 calendar provides four separate dates by category. The pre-filing window ran from October to December 2025 — for future click-days (2027, 2028) the pre-filing window opens in autumn of the preceding year.
| Date | Time | Category | Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 January 2026 | 9:00 am | Seasonal work — agricultural sector | C-Stag agricolo |
| 9 February 2026 | 9:00 am | Seasonal work — tourism/hospitality sector | C-Stag turistico |
| 16 February 2026 | 9:00 am | Non-seasonal subordinate work | B2020 |
| 18 February 2026 | 9:00 am | Domestic/care work (colf/badanti) | A-bis |
The system allows further applications from the day after the click-day until 31 December 2026, within the remaining available quotas. However, it is during the initial click-day phase that the highest volume of applications is submitted and quotas are exhausted quickly. Those who can must be ready at 9:00 am.
Procedure step by step
The Decreto Flussi involves three main stages, primarily the employer's responsibility in Stage 1 and the worker's in subsequent stages.
Application pre-filing — ALI Portal (autumn 2025 for 2026)
The employer completes the Nulla Osta application on the ALI Services Portal of the Ministry of the Interior, using SPID or CIE. The application must be saved in the "to send" state before the click-day. For the 2027–2028 flows, the pre-filing window opens each autumn.
Submission on click-day — ALI Portal
At 9:00 am on the set day, the employer accesses the portal and submits applications already pre-filed in the "to send" state. The chronological order of submission determines quota allocation. A stable internet connection and SPID access ready in advance are essential.
Review and Nulla Osta release — SUI / Questura
After submission, responsibility passes to the Sportello Unico Immigrazione. For seasonal work the release deadline is 20 days; for non-seasonal 60 days. During verification, employer declaration asseveration may be required (mandatory from December 2025).
Entry visa — Italian consulate
With the Nulla Osta, the worker abroad applies for a work visa at the Italian consulate in their country. The visa is issued within 30 days of the request.
Stay contract and permit — SUI / Questura
Within 8 days of entering Italy, the worker signs the stay contract at the SUI and files the residence permit application via the postal kit.
Required documents
For the employer (ALI Portal pre-filing)
Employer’s SPID or CIE
Active and functioning digital identity, verified before the click-day. The portal can be slow — test access in advance.
EmployerForeign worker’s personal data
Full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number. The worker must be precisely identifiable in the application.
EmployerEmployment contract offer
The type of contract (seasonal subordinate, non-seasonal, etc.) must match the click-day category. The salary must comply with the applicable CCNL collective agreement.
EmployerEmployer declaration asseveration (from December 2025)
From D.L. 146/2025 (conv. L. 179/2025), all employer declarations are subject to mandatory SUI verification before processing. Accurate and complete documentation is now more critical than ever.
Mandatory from Dec. 2025Employer’s income documentation
Demonstrating financial capacity to sustain the employment relationship. In some sectors, proof of worker accommodation availability is also required for seasonal workers.
EmployerApplications are rejected if the company’s ATECO code does not correspond to the sector stated in the application. Formal verification of the match between the declared activity and the ATECO code registered at the Chamber of Commerce must be done before pre-filing, not on click-day.
Don’t risk losing the opportunity
ImmiLex manages the pre-filing, verifies all data before the click-day and assists during the click-day itself. Every mistake may mean waiting another year.
FAQ
The Italian employer — not the worker. The employer files the Nulla Osta application on the ALI Portal on behalf of the foreign worker who is abroad and whom they intend to hire. The worker only enters the picture after the Nulla Osta is issued, to apply for the visa at the consulate.
164,850 total quotas for 2026, per the DPCM of 2 October 2025. Of these: 76,200 for non-seasonal subordinate work (including 13,600 for domestic/care work), 88,000 for seasonal work, and 650 for self-employment.
12 January (seasonal agricultural), 9 February (seasonal tourism), 16 February (non-seasonal), 18 February (domestic/care work), all at 9:00 am. Applications can continue to be submitted until 31 December 2026 within remaining available quotas.
Applications submitted after quota exhaustion are placed on a waiting list or rejected. If the case shows "quota exhausted" you must wait for the following year’s click-day, or consider out-of-quota channels (EU Blue Card, ICT, Art. 27 for specific categories).
Yes, for some categories. The EU Blue Card (for qualified professionals with a min. salary of €35,500/year) is outside quotas and does not require a click-day. Art. 27 TUI permits (ICT, university professors, lecturers, researchers, etc.) are also quota-free. Book a consultation to identify which pathway applies to your case.
Log in to the ALI Portal with SPID or CIE at 9:00 am. Go to "Compile Applications Decreto Flussi 2026 / Click-day 2026". In the Application Summary section, verify that applications are in the "TO SEND" state and submit. Make sure you have a stable connection — the portal may slow down under heavy traffic.