Working in Italy
For Pakistan passport holders · Checked 2026-08-15
Italy admits Pakistani workers almost only through an annual quota system ('decreto flussi') that your employer must win on a first-come 'click day' — and since 2024 every Pakistani application additionally needs police and labour-inspectorate clearance before the permit is issued.
What the employer must have
- Files the pre-application from 23 October 2025 on the ALI portal, then submits at 9:00 on the click day (16 Feb 2026 for non-seasonal work; 18 Feb 2026 for domestic/care work; 12 Jan and 9 Feb 2026 for seasonal) and must win a slot inside the quota.
- Obtain the nulla osta (work authorization) from the one-stop immigration desk; for Pakistani citizens it is issued only with the favourable opinion of the competent Questura (police HQ) plus prior verification by the National Labour Inspectorate — approval-by-silence does not apply.
- Private employers may file at most 3 applications per year (2026-2028); contract certification (asseverazione) and suitable housing are also required.
What you must do before you leave
- You cannot apply on your own: an Italian employer must name you in a quota application, and only after the nulla osta is issued do you apply for the work visa at the Italian embassy in Islamabad.
- Before departure, register with BEOE's Protector of Emigrants (e-Protector online or in person) and obtain the Overseas Employment Certificate (OEC) — mandatory under the Emigration Ordinance 1979 and checked by FIA at the airport.
- If an agent recruits you, verify it holds a BEOE Overseas Employment Promoter licence before signing anything.
Things to watch
- 2026 numbers: 164,850 total entries, of which 76,200 non-seasonal; a 25,000 share is reserved for citizens of 38 listed countries including Pakistan — demand far exceeds these quotas, so winning a click-day slot is not guaranteed.
- The extra Questura + Labour Inspectorate vetting (decree-law 145/2024) applies specifically to Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Morocco and can slow down or stop individual approvals even after a quota slot is won.
- Applications remain possible until 31 Dec 2026 only if quota slots are still available after the click days.
- beoe.gov.pk blocked automated checks this session (HTTP 403); BEOE requirements were verified via the government-linked Migrant Resource Centre Pakistan and MOFA pages instead.
What you may lawfully be charged
THE MOST A LICENSED AGENT MAY LAWFULLY CHARGE YOU as a service charge is PKR 15,000 (PKR 6,000 if you found the job yourself and only need the paperwork done). You do not hand it over — you deposit it in a bank and the agent is paid only after the Protector of Emigrants confirms you reached the job. Anything he spends on your ticket, medical or visa must come with a signed, stamped receipt.
Rule 15 and 15A, Emigration Rules 1979 (SRO 1058(I)/2023). Charging more is punishable by up to 14 years — Section 22(a), Emigration Ordinance 1979.
⚠️ Never pay anyone for a job offer or a visa on this route. Legitimate employers and licensed agents do not charge workers for jobs.
Official sources
This describes the immigration system, not your personal case, and not this specific vacancy.