Big news from Italy. Starting in 2026, the country will issue nearly 500,000 work visas for migrants from non-European countries to tackle its labor shortage. The plan, running through 2028, follows a previous visa push under PM Giorgia Meloni’s government.
With industries such as agriculture and construction crying out for workers, legal migration is being welcomed as a means to boost the economy. But Italy’s also tightening up on illegal immigration with tougher deportations and stricter sea patrols.
As Italy’s population continues to shrink, with more deaths than births, the new visa plan is seen as a lifeline. Experts say Italy needs 10 million migrants by 2050 to avoid economic decline.
