Italy Decreto Flussi 2026: How Africans Can Apply for Work Visas — Free Accommodation, Meals & Visa Included

Italy is calling. Right now, the Italian government has opened one of the largest legal work visa programs in European history. The Decreto Flussi 2026 authorises 497,550 work visas for non-EU workers between 2026 and 2028. Furthermore, 164,850 of those visas are available in 2026 alone. Workers from Africa, Asia, and other regions are actively being recruited to fill critical labour gaps across multiple sectors.

This is not a speculative opportunity. It is a government-backed program published in Italy’s Official Gazette on 15 October 2025. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has praised it as “a development win and a lifesaving measure.” Moreover, many of these jobs — particularly in agriculture and tourism — come with free accommodation, meals, and employer-funded visa support. You do not need an agent, a connection, or thousands of dollars to access this program.

African workers from Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Egypt, Tunisia, Ethiopia, and dozens of other nations are eligible to benefit from this program. Furthermore, Italy’s shrinking workforce means demand for foreign workers is genuine and urgent. The opportunity is real. This guide explains exactly what the Decreto Flussi 2026 covers, who qualifies, and how to apply step by step.

What Is the Decreto Flussi?

The Italy work visa quota program — called the Decreto Flussi — is an official Italian government decree. It sets how many non-EU nationals can legally enter Italy for work each year. Furthermore, it specifies the exact sectors, categories, and nationalities eligible for each quota.

The 2026–2028 decree was approved by the Italian Council of Ministers on 2 October 2025. It represents Italy’s most ambitious legal migration expansion in modern history. The IOM called it “bold, forward-looking policymaking” that protects workers from exploitation and irregular routes.

Official decree information is published here: www.interno.gov.it/it/notizie/aperta-la-precompilazione-delle-domande-decreto-flussi-2026-2028

The 2026 Visa Numbers — Accurate Breakdown

Many online sources confuse the three-year total with the 2026 annual figure. Here is the accurate breakdown:

How the 164,850 visas for 2026 are divided:

1. Seasonal work (agriculture + tourism) — 88,000 visas
   • Agricultural sector: 47,000 (reserved through employers’ associations)
   • Tourism and hospitality: 13,000
   • Countries with migration cooperation agreements: 12,600 additional slots
   • Multi-year returning workers: 5,000
2. Non-seasonal employed work — 76,200 visas
   • General non-seasonal workers: varies by sector
   • Priority for countries with cooperation agreements: 25,000 reserved slots
   • Family care workers (caregivers/housekeepers): 13,600 dedicated slots
3. Self-employment — 650 visas

Which Sectors Are Covered?

The Decreto Flussi 2026 covers an impressively wide range of industries. This is the broadest sectoral coverage in the program’s history. Furthermore, the expansion beyond seasonal work means workers with diverse skills are now eligible.

Sectors included for non-seasonal employment in 2026:

• Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
• Food, beverage, and tobacco manufacturing
• Textile, clothing, and footwear industries
• Metallurgical and metal products manufacturing
• Construction
• Wholesale and retail trade
• Accommodation and catering services
• Tourism and travel services
• Transport, logistics, and warehousing
• Healthcare, social assistance, and private health services
• Business and personal support services
• Education and other professional services

Additionally, seasonal work is concentrated primarily in agriculture (harvests, vineyard work, farm labour) and tourism (hotels, restaurants, catering, resort staff).

Free Accommodation and Meals: What Employers Provide

One of the most attractive features of seasonal work under the Italy seasonal work visa is what employers are legally required to provide. The 2026 decree strengthened employer obligations significantly.

What agricultural and tourism employers must provide:

1. Proof of adequate accommodation — Employers must document housing arrangements before their application is approved. Without accommodation proof, the application is rejected.
2. Return travel contribution — Employers are obligated to cover return travel costs if a contract ends early.
3. Health insurance — Workers are covered under Italy’s national health system (SSN) once legally employed.
4. Legal minimum wage — Equal to Italian workers. The national minimum wage in Italy is enforced strictly.
5. Meals or meal vouchers — Common in agricultural and hospitality contexts. Many farm employers provide meals as part of the work contract.

Salary expectations for 2026:

• Agricultural workers: €1,200 – €1,600 per month (accommodation often included)
• Tourism and hospitality: €1,200 – €2,000 per month
• Domestic and care work: €800 – €1,400 per month
• Skilled manufacturing: €1,500 – €2,500 per month

Furthermore, all workers under the Decreto Flussi enjoy the same employment rights as Italian workers — including overtime pay, sick leave, rest periods, and workplace safety protections.

African Countries Eligible for the Decreto Flussi 2026

Eligibility depends on two categories. First, there are countries with existing bilateral migration cooperation agreements with Italy. Second, there are countries eligible for general quota slots.

African countries with priority cooperation agreements (higher quota access):

• Côte d’Ivoire — Priority country with dedicated slots
• Niger — Priority country with dedicated slots
• Morocco — Long-standing migration cooperation partner
• Tunisia — Active cooperation agreement with Italy
• Egypt — Recognised partner country
• Senegal — Cooperation framework in place
• Ethiopia — Eligible under general quota provisions

Countries eligible under the general seasonal and non-seasonal quota:

Most African nations — including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Cameroon, and others — are eligible under general quota provisions. Furthermore, Italy is actively signing new cooperation agreements under the 2026–2028 framework. New agreements add 18,000 additional dedicated slots in 2026 alone.

Confirm your country’s current eligibility through the Italian Embassy in your country or at: www.esteri.it/en/diplomazia-economica-italiana/cooperazione-economica-bilaterale

The Click-Day System: How Applications Actually Work

The Decreto Flussi click day system is the most important logistical element to understand. Applications are processed in strict chronological order on specific opening dates. The portal opens at exactly 9:00 AM Italian time. Consequently, being prepared before the click day determines whether you secure a slot.

2026 Click Days (applications submitted by employers):

These dates have already passed for the 2026 first round. However, unused regional quotas are re-pooled after 50 days. Furthermore, the 2027 click days will follow the same annual schedule — meaning preparation for 2027 begins now.

How the Application Process Works — Step by Step

The Decreto Flussi application process is employer-driven. This means an Italian employer must submit the initial application — not the worker directly. Understanding this structure is critical.

Step 1 — Find an Italian Employer

This is the foundational step. You cannot submit a Decreto Flussi visa application without an Italian employer sponsoring you. Here is how to find legitimate employers:

• Italian Ministry of Labour Job Portal: www.lavoro.gov.it
• ANPAL (National Agency for Active Labour Policies): www.anpal.gov.it
• Infojobs Italia: www.infojobs.it
• Indeed Italia: www.indeed.it (search your profession + “decreto flussi”)
• Agri-recruitment platforms for farm work: www.coldiretti.it (Italy’s largest farmers’ association)
• IOM’s official job matching programs: www.iom.int/labor-migration

Additionally, Italy’s Embassy or Consulate in your country sometimes maintains information about registered Italian recruitment channels. Always verify employers are registered Italian businesses before engaging.

Step 2 — Employer Pre-fills and Submits Application

Your Italian employer submits the nulla osta (work authorisation) application through the official ALI Portal: www.portaleimmigrazione.it

The employer must document:

• The specific job role and contract details
• Proof of adequate accommodation for you in Italy
• Evidence of compliance with social security obligations
• Confirmation of wage at or above the legal minimum

Step 3 — Nulla Osta Approval

The application is reviewed by the Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione (Single Immigration Desk). If approved, a nulla osta is issued. This document is then transmitted electronically to the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your country.

Step 4 — Apply for Your Work Visa at the Italian Embassy

Once the nulla osta is confirmed, you apply for an Italy work visa (national visa, Type D) at the Italian Embassy or Consulate in your home country. Documents typically required include:

1. Valid passport (minimum 3 months beyond your intended stay)
2. Nulla osta document (transmitted from the Sportello Unico)
3. Employment contract
4. Proof of accommodation in Italy
5. Completed visa application form
6. Biometric data capture appointment at the consulate
7. Recent passport-sized photographs
8. Medical insurance (often covered by employer)

Find the Italian Embassy in your country: www.esteri.it/en/rappresentanze

Step 5 — Arrive in Italy and Register

Within 8 days of arriving in Italy, you must report to your local Questura (police headquarters) to register your stay. Your employer will typically assist with this. Furthermore, you must apply for your Permesso di Soggiorno (residence permit for work) at the post office using the Kit Permesso di Soggiorno.

Register your permit here: www.poliziadistato.it/articolo/10926

Avoiding Decreto Flussi Scams — What Africans Must Know

The Decreto Flussi program has unfortunately attracted significant fraud. A 2024 anti-trafficking report described a sharp rise in deception connected to this program. Consequently, every African applicant must know the red flags.

Signs of a fraudulent Decreto Flussi offer:

1. Any person asking for upfront payment for a visa or nulla osta — The official process has no application fee for workers. Employers pay the administrative costs.
2. “Guaranteed visa” offers from private agents — No private individual can guarantee a Decreto Flussi slot. Quotas are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
3. Employers who cannot provide a registered Italian business number — Every legitimate Italian employer has a Partita IVA (VAT number). Ask for it and verify it.
4. Offers that do not mention accommodation proof — Legitimate employers must document accommodation before their nulla osta is approved. If an employer cannot show this, something is wrong.
5. Non-official portal instructions — The only legitimate application portal is: www.portaleimmigrazione.it. Any other portal is fraudulent.

Report suspicious offers to the Italian authorities or IOM: www.iom.int/contact

Pathway to Long-Term Residence in Italy

The Italy work permit to residency pathway is one of the most appealing long-term benefits of the Decreto Flussi. Seasonal workers who return to Italy consistently under the same program build a legal track record. Furthermore, non-seasonal workers can transition to longer-term permits after demonstrating continued legal employment.

Key residency milestones:

• After 1 year: Non-seasonal workers may renew their Permesso di Soggiorno
• After 5 years of legal continuous residence: Apply for the EU Long-Term Resident Permit (Permesso di Soggiorno CE)
• After 10 years: Eligible to apply for Italian citizenship

Additionally, the 2026 decree includes out-of-quota provisions for undocumented workers already in Italy in domestic care or social health roles. These individuals can regularise their status when their employer applies under the Decreto Flussi. Consequently, this represents a genuine legal pathway for vulnerable workers already in the country.

Official Resources for Your Application

Save these links and use them throughout your application process:

• Official Italian immigration portal (ALI Portal): www.portaleimmigrazione.it
• Ministry of Interior immigration information: www.interno.gov.it/it/temi/immigrazione-e-asilo
• Italian Embassies worldwide: www.esteri.it/en/rappresentanze
• Ministry of Labour job portal: www.lavoro.gov.it
• ANPAL active labour policies: www.anpal.gov.it
• IOM labour migration programs: www.iom.int/labor-migration
• Coldiretti (agricultural employers association): www.coldiretti.it
• Italian police residence permit registration: www.poliziadistato.it/articolo/10926
• Italian Embassy Abidjan — Decreto Flussi info (Côte d’Ivoire): www.ambabidjan.esteri.it/en

Final Thoughts

The Decreto Flussi 2026 is Italy’s clearest signal yet that legal migration is welcome, structured, and expanding. With 164,850 visas available in 2026 and nearly 500,000 over three years, this is genuinely one of the largest legal migration programs in Europe today. Furthermore, sectors like agriculture, tourism, healthcare, and construction are actively seeking workers from Africa and beyond.

The key to success is finding a legitimate registered Italian employer who will submit your nulla osta before the relevant Decreto Flussi click day. Avoid all agents demanding upfront fees. Use only official portals. Begin your employer search today — the 2027 click day cycle will open again in early 2027. Prepare now and secure your legal pathway to Italy.