The Court of Auditors has registered the Decree of the President of the Council of Ministers of 23 December 2021, relating to the planning of the entry of non-EU workers into Italy.
By virtue of this Decree, the quotas for non-EU workers have doubled, increasing from 30,850 to 69,700 persons. Several countries can benefit from this increase, including Sudan.
On the other hand, the categories provided for, including those for non-seasonal employment, are not changed. The allocation is as follows:
a) 42,000 seasonal employees (in the agricultural and tourism-hotel sectors), of which 1,000 permits reserved for non-EU workers who have entered Italy to perform seasonal employment at least once in the previous five years and for which the employer submits a request for multi-year authorization. The quota of 14,000 permits for the agricultural sector alone for requests for seasonal work, even multi-year, presented by the professional organizations of employers listed in the application circular is confirmed and increased;
b) 20,000 non-seasonal employees (of which 3,000 reserved for nationals of countries with which cooperation agreements on migration have been signed in 2022). For the latter there is a separate procedure, which applies from the 15th day from the publication of any Agreement in the Official Journal);
c) 500 self-employed workers (investors, freelancers, holders of corporate offices, renowned artists and creators of “innovative start-ups” pursuant to Law no. 221 of 17 December 2012);
d) 100 non-EU workers residing abroad, who have completed training and education programs in their countries of origin pursuant to art. 23 of Legislative Decree no. 286/1998 (Consolidated Law on Immigration/TUI);
(e) 100 workers of Italian origin residing in Venezuela;
f) 6,600 conversions into residence permits for employment (of which 4,400 from permits for seasonal work, 2,000 from permits for study, traineeship and training and 200 from long-term residence permits issued to third-country nationals from other EU Member States);
(g) 400 conversions into residence permits for self-employment (of which 370 from study, traineeship and training permits and 30 from long-term residence permits issued to third-country nationals from other EU Member States).
The increase in the quotas of workers allowed to enter into Italy falls within the growing commitment of the Italian government to ensuring regular and safe channels of migration for non-EU citizens. As a further example of this commitment, the triannual plan 2020-2022 provides for 15.000 visas in favor of those interested in attending professional training courses in Italy.
Visa applications can be received no later than March 17, 2022, with the exception of those for self-employment / start-up, which can be acquired within 3 months from the date of receipt via PEC of the Nulla Osta of the Italia Start-up Visa Technical Committee.
