Agricultural employers’ association Confagricoltura Bari-BAT released an operational circular on 27 June 2026 that consolidates all instructions for using the ‘Decreto Flussi 2026-2028’ quota allocations. The guidance packages the inter-ministerial circular 8047/2025 and subsequent clarifications into a one-stop manual for companies recruiting non-EU nationals. Key dates are now fixed. Pre-compilation of applications on the ALI portal runs from 23 October to 7 December 2025, and the famed ‘click-day’—when submissions open on a first-come, first-served basis—will happen at 09:00 on 12 January 2026. A total of 164,850 work permits are available for 2026, including 89,050 seasonal slots largely aimed at tourism and agrifood. Sectors such as construction and logistics receive expanded quotas in response to labour shortages. The circular spells out documentary requirements (employer tax compliance, housing suitability, and a newly added occupational-health plan) and introduces a traffic-light dashboard that warns users when real-time demand approaches the sectoral ceiling. Confagricoltura says the tool should reduce speculative filings and lower the 27 % rejection rate recorded last year. For HR and mobility managers the message is clear: start gathering documents now, schedule medical checks early and rehearse the ALI portal workflow to avoid missing the few-minute window on click-day. Companies with multi-site operations may file through a single digital identity, but internal authorisations must be uploaded before 15 December. Legal advisers caution that the new anti-caporalato clauses make directors personally liable for labour-broker abuses. Observers welcome the publication because it gives unprecedented lead-time for planning 2026 peak-season staffing and reduces uncertainty for foreign talent considering Italian assignments. Further FAQs will follow after a webinar hosted by the Interior Ministry on 18 July.
Source: Confagricoltura Bari-BAT
