Italy has approved a massive migration plan allowing 500,000 documented immigrants to enter over three years, raising concerns about how this will impact the nation’s economy, culture, and security.
At a Glance
- Italy’s government has approved a plan to issue nearly 500,000 new work visas for non-EU nationals from 2026 to 2028.
- The policy is a pragmatic response to the country’s severe demographic crisis, which includes a rapidly aging population and one of Europe’s lowest birthrates.
- The move is designed to address critical labor shortages in sectors like agriculture, construction, and tourism.
- The expansion of legal migration comes from the right-wing government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, which simultaneously maintains a hardline stance against illegal immigration.
A Pragmatic Plan to Address Labor Shortages
The Italian government has approved a new decree that will allow nearly half a million non-EU nationals to enter the country on work visas over the next three years. The plan, which will run from 2026 to 2028, is a direct response to Italy’s pressing labor shortages and a demographic crisis that threatens the nation’s long-term economic stability.
Italy’s cabinet approved a decree that lets almost 500,000 documented immigrants enter the country in the next three years https://t.co/sUIGSOncUa
— Bloomberg (@business) June 30, 2025
This is the second such initiative from the right-wing government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. A previous decree is already set to bring in over 450,000 workers between 2023 and 2025, bringing the total number of new work permits authorized under her government to nearly one million.
A Demographic Necessity
Italy’s embrace of foreign labor is driven by stark demographic realities. The country has one of the world’s oldest populations and one of its lowest birthrates. As reported by Bloomberg, Italy saw 281,000 more deaths than births in 2024 alone. This shrinking populace has created a critical lack of workers in key economic sectors.
Organizations like Coldiretti, Italy’s main agricultural lobby, have praised the move as essential for ensuring there are enough workers to harvest crops and maintain the country’s food production. The government has stated that the quotas were determined by carefully analyzing the needs of the labor market and the number of past work permit applications.
A Dual Approach to Immigration
The new policy highlights the pragmatic, two-pronged immigration strategy of the Meloni government. While dramatically expanding legal migration channels to support the economy, the government has simultaneously maintained its hardline stance against illegal immigration, moving to curb the activities of migrant rescue charities in the Mediterranean and speed up repatriations.
“The government will continue with determination to allow legal migration channels, benefiting important sectors of our economy,” Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi said in a statement reported by Reuters. The approach is designed to control who enters the country, prioritizing those who can fill specific economic needs while cracking down on unauthorized arrivals.
