Italy to Issue Nearly 500,000 Work Visas to Non-EU Citizens by 2028

Italy has announced plans to issue approximately 500,000 work visas for non-European Union citizens between 2026 and 2028. This strategic move aims to address the country’s growing labor shortage and facilitate legal immigration, according to Reuters.

پاکستانیوں کی موجیں۔

اٹلی نے 2026 اور 2028 کے درمیان غیر یورپی یونین کے شہریوں کے لیے تقریباً 500,000 ورک ویزا جاری کرنے کے منصوبے کا اعلان کیا ہے۔ رائٹرز کے مطابق، اس اسٹریٹجک اقدام کا مقصد ملک میں مزدوروں کی بڑھتی ہوئی کمی کو دور کرنا اور قانونی امیگریشن کو آسان بنانا ہے۔

Addressing Labor Shortages and Promoting Legal Immigration

The Italian government’s decree outlines a phased approach:

2026: 164,850 new work permits will be granted.
2028: A total of 497,550 new work visas will be issued.

This marks the second significant immigration initiative under Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government. Previously, a plan was approved to issue over 450,000 visas between 2023 and 2025.

Dual Approach: Legal Pathways & Combating Irregular Migration

While actively promoting legal pathways for foreign workers, Italy is also implementing stringent policies against irregular immigration. These measures include:

Actions to deter migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea.
Restrictions on the activities of charitable organizations involved in migrant assistance.
Expedited repatriation processes for undocumented migrants.

Economic Impact and Demographic Challenges

Italy faces a severe shortage of workers across crucial sectors like agriculture, industry, and services. This is exacerbated by a declining birth rate and an aging population. In 2024, Italy recorded 281,000 more deaths than births, leading to a population decrease of 37,000, bringing the total to 58.93 million.

To counter this demographic trend, the research institute Osservatorio Conti Pubblici suggests Italy will need at least 10 million immigrants by 2055 to maintain its population and workforce.

The agricultural lobby, Coldiretti, has welcomed the government’s decision, emphasizing its importance in ensuring labor availability for farms and securing food production. Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi stated in an interview, “We are committed to opening legal immigration channels so that key sectors of our economy can benefit.