On June 30, 2025, the Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, announced a significant new immigration policy aimed at increasing legal migration to address labor shortages.

The initiative plans to issue nearly 500,000 new work visas for non-EU nationals from 2026 to 2028, aligning immigration levels with the needs of the Italian labor market.

The visa quota is structured to allow 164,850 migrants in 2026, followed by 165,850 in 2027, and 166,850 in 2028, with specific allocations for seasonal workers, non-seasonal workers, and domestic helpers.

Agriculture is set to benefit significantly, with 88,000-90,000 seasonal permits each year to support labor-intensive activities such as vineyard and olive grove harvests.

Healthcare will also receive attention, with 13,600-14,200 permits for domestic helpers and additional socio-healthcare visas to meet the needs of Italy's aging population.

The construction sector will gain 76,850 non-seasonal permits annually to help fill a 20-25% labor gap and support major infrastructure projects.

Support for the government's plan has been voiced by agricultural lobby Coldiretti, which emphasizes the importance of ensuring a workforce for agriculture and food production.

The decision to establish these quotas was based on the needs expressed by businesses and historical work permit applications, ensuring alignment with actual labor demands.

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi highlighted the government's commitment to developing legal migration channels to support vital economic sectors.

This immigration package aims to counter demographic challenges, including an aging population and declining birthrate, which necessitate the attraction of foreign workers.

Research indicates that to maintain current population levels, Italy will need to welcome at least 10 million immigrants by 2050 to counter ongoing depopulation trends.

In conjunction with increasing legal work permits, Meloni's government is enforcing stricter measures against illegal immigration, including expedited repatriations and limitations on charity operations assisting migrants.