Last reviewed: 19 September 2026. Reviewed by the GulfJobsVisas editorial team. We list jobs; we are not a recruiter, and we never charge job seekers.
How does Italy hire overseas workers?
Italy is not a Gulf country and does not use the kafala system. It uses a national quota called the Decreto Flussi a set number of work permits the Italian government announces each year for non-EU workers. When the quota opens, employers in Italy apply first. Workers apply for a visa only after their employer has received permission from the Italian authorities.
This page covers what is publicly known about Italy's permit system. It does not quote salaries as fact because pay depends on the sector, the region and the collective agreement. Use the salary calculator as a rough guide and compare it with the written offer.
Italy at a glance
| Point | What is known |
|---|---|
| Permit system | Decreto Flussi annual quota set by government decree |
| Two main permit types | Seasonal (up to 9 months, agriculture and tourism) and non-seasonal (multi-year, all other sectors) |
| Who applies first | The employer in Italy, not the worker |
| First document issued | Nulla Osta (work authorisation) from the Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione (SUI) |
| Worker's visa | Applied for at the Italian embassy or consulate in the worker's country after Nulla Osta is issued |
| On arrival | Worker must register for a permesso di soggiorno (residence permit) within 8 working days |
| Currency | EUR (Euro) |
| Income tax | Italy levies income tax (IRPEF). Workers pay tax; it is not tax-free like Gulf countries. |
| Minimum wage | No single statutory minimum wage. Pay is set by sector-level collective agreements (CCNL). |
Sources: Italian Ministry of Interior (Decreto Flussi official process), Italian Embassy guidance.
Which sectors hire overseas workers in Italy?
The Decreto Flussi divides permits into seasonal and non-seasonal categories. Seasonal work is the main entry point for most first-time overseas workers going to Italy.
Seasonal work (up to 9 months)
- Agriculture fruit and vegetable harvests, mainly in Sicily, Puglia, Emilia-Romagna and Campania. The harvest periods drive demand: soft fruit (April-July), tomatoes (July-September), grapes (August-October), olives (October-December).
- Tourism and hospitality hotels, restaurants and resorts, mainly in coastal areas and northern lakes. Season runs roughly April to October.
Non-seasonal work (multi-year permit)
- Domestic care (badante/colf) live-in or live-out carers for elderly people. Italy has an ageing population and chronic shortage in this sector. Demand is year-round and not quota-dependent in the same way.
- Construction Italy runs large infrastructure and building programmes. Skilled trades (bricklayers, plasterers, tile layers, plumbers) are in demand.
- Logistics and transport warehouse workers, forklift operators and truck drivers.
- Manufacturing food processing, metalwork, packaging in the industrial north (Lombardy, Veneto, Emilia-Romagna).
The quota split between countries changes each year. Italy has a bilateral seasonal-worker agreement with several countries. Pakistan is included in the Decreto Flussi country list. Check the current year's decree for the exact quota allocated to Pakistani nationals, as the number changes.
How does the Decreto Flussi process work, step by step?
The process runs in two stages: the employer acts first in Italy, then the worker acts from Pakistan.
Stage 1 Employer side (Italy)
- The Italian government publishes the annual Decreto Flussi decree, usually between January and March, stating how many permits are available by sector and nationality.
- The employer submits an application to the Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione (SUI) through the Ministry of Interior's online portal on the opening date commonly called the "click day" because demand often fills the quota within hours.
- If approved, the SUI issues a Nulla Osta (work authorisation). The employer sends this to the worker.
Stage 2 Worker side (Pakistan)
- The worker takes the Nulla Osta to the Italian embassy or consulate in Pakistan (Islamabad or Karachi) and applies for a work visa.
- The Italian embassy reviews the application and, if approved, stamps the worker's passport.
- The worker travels to Italy.
- Within 8 working days of arrival, the worker must go to the Sportello Unico and sign the "contratto di soggiorno" (stay contract). A permesso di soggiorno (residence permit) is then issued.
Do not travel before your visa is in your passport. Do not pay anyone to "guarantee" a Nulla Osta the quota is competitive and no agent can guarantee a government allocation.
How long does it take?
The full process from click day to visa stamp typically takes 3 to 6 months when everything goes smoothly. Delays at the SUI or at the embassy can extend this. Plan accordingly and do not resign your current job until your visa is in hand.
What do workers earn in Italy?
Italy has no single statutory minimum wage. Pay is set by CCNL (contratti collettivi nazionali di lavoro national collective bargaining agreements) for each sector. The figures below are general ranges based on publicly reported CCNL rates; your actual pay depends on the agreement your employer uses.
| Sector | Typical range (EUR/month, gross) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Seasonal agriculture | EUR 750-1,100 | Often includes accommodation and meals. Based on provincial agricultural CCNL rates. |
| Domestic care (live-in) | EUR 800-1,300 | Room and board usually provided. CCNL Domestici governs this sector. |
| Domestic care (live-out) | EUR 900-1,400 | No accommodation provided, so effective pay is lower after rent. |
| Construction | EUR 1,200-1,900 | Varies by trade and region. Northern Italy pays more. |
| Manufacturing / logistics | EUR 1,100-1,600 | Often includes shift allowances for night or weekend work. |
| Hospitality (seasonal) | EUR 1,000-1,400 | Often includes meals; accommodation varies by employer. |
All figures gross (before tax and social contributions). Italy's IRPEF income tax rate starts at 23% for annual income up to EUR 28,000. Social contributions reduce take-home further. Ask for the net amount in writing before you accept.
Important: Italy is not tax-free. A worker earning EUR 1,200 gross per month will take home roughly EUR 900-1,000 net after tax and social contributions, depending on deductions. This is different from Gulf countries. Factor this into your comparison before deciding.
Are benefits included?
Seasonal agricultural and hospitality contracts frequently include accommodation on-site and one or two meals per day. This lowers living costs significantly. Confirm what is included in writing if the employer says housing is included, get the address and the cost (many charge a small weekly amount that is deducted from pay).
Gratuity (TFR)
Italian law requires employers to set aside a leaving bonus called TFR (Trattamento di Fine Rapporto) roughly one month's gross salary per year worked. You receive it when you leave or are dismissed. Ask your employer about TFR in writing and confirm when it is paid.
What are your rights as an overseas worker in Italy?
Italy is an EU country. Its labour law applies to all workers regardless of nationality.
| Right | What the law says |
|---|---|
| Working hours | Maximum 40 hours per week (standard); 48 hours including overtime, averaged over a reference period. |
| Rest period | At least 11 consecutive hours between shifts; one 24-hour rest per week. |
| Overtime | Must be paid at a higher rate, typically 15-50% more depending on the CCNL. |
| Sick leave | You must notify your employer and are entitled to sick pay under the CCNL, often supplemented by INPS (national social security). |
| Dismissal | Italy has procedural protections against unfair dismissal. You are entitled to notice pay. |
| Passport | Your employer cannot hold your passport. It is your document. |
| Pay slip | You are entitled to a pay slip (busta paga) each month showing gross pay, deductions and net pay. Keep them all. |
Italian labour law (Codice del Lavoro) and relevant CCNL are the governing documents. If your employer violates these, the ITL (Ispettorato Territoriale del Lavoro local labour inspectorate) handles complaints.
Domestic workers (CCNL Domestici) have a specific collective agreement that sets minimum pay, rest days, notice periods and TFR rules. Domestic workers are covered but under different terms than standard employment. Ask for a copy of the CCNL Domestici before you sign.
What to do if something goes wrong
- You are not paid.
- File a complaint with the ITL (Ispettorato Territoriale del Lavoro) in the province where you work. Bring your pay slips and contract.
- Your employer holds your passport.
- This is illegal. Ask for it in writing and, if refused, contact the Questura (police) or the ITL.
- The job is different from what was described.
- Keep your original offer and contract. Contact the ITL and, from Pakistan, the Italian embassy. Do not sign a revised contract you do not agree with.
- You want to change employer.
- A seasonal permit is tied to the employer who got the Nulla Osta. Changing employer during the seasonal contract requires approval. Ask the SUI before you move.
How do you verify an Italy job offer before you accept it?
Italy job scams targeting Pakistani workers are well documented. The Decreto Flussi click-day system creates pressure workers fear missing the quota and scammers exploit that fear.
Red flags for Italy job offers
- Agent asks for payment upfront to "reserve a spot" in the quota, to "process" your file or for a "guaranteed Nulla Osta". No agent can guarantee a government quota allocation. The click day fills in minutes across all applicants; no individual can hold a place for you.
- Offered a job before the Decreto Flussi is even published you cannot be matched to a quota that has not yet been announced.
- Employer is not registered in Italy ask for the employer's codice fiscale (Italian tax number) and Partita IVA (VAT number) and verify them on the Italian Revenue Agency (Agenzia delle Entrate) website.
- Asked to send original documents never send your original passport to anyone other than the Italian embassy directly.
- Unrealistic pay if the offer promises EUR 2,500-3,000 per month for unskilled seasonal work, it is not credible.
- Pressure to decide immediately a real employer can wait while you verify their registration.
The only bodies that can issue a Nulla Osta are the Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione offices of the Italian Ministry of Interior. A private recruiter cannot issue one. An agent who shows you a document and calls it a Nulla Osta but asks for payment is running a fraud.
How to verify an employer
- Ask the employer for their company name, address and Partita IVA.
- Search the Partita IVA on the Agenzia delle Entrate website (agenziaentrate.gov.it) to confirm the company exists.
- Search the company name on the Italian Chamber of Commerce register (impresa.italia.it) to see if it is active.
- Ask the employer to confirm the Nulla Osta number once it is issued; you can ask the Italian embassy to verify it when you apply for your visa.
- Do not pay anything until your visa is stamped in your passport.
What is the cost of living in Italy for overseas workers?
Cost of living in Italy varies sharply by region. Northern Italian cities (Milan, Turin, Bologna) are expensive. Rome is expensive. Small towns in the South (Calabria, Sicily, Basilicata) and rural areas where most seasonal agricultural work happens are significantly cheaper.
| Expense | North Italy | South Italy / Rural |
|---|---|---|
| Shared room rent | EUR 450-750/month | EUR 200-400/month |
| Meals (self-cooked) | EUR 200-300/month | EUR 150-250/month |
| Local transport | EUR 35-90/month (city pass) | Often on-site or low cost |
| Phone SIM (basic plan) | EUR 7-15/month | EUR 7-15/month |
| Sending money home | Varies; compare services for Pakistan corridor |
Seasonal agricultural workers often receive accommodation on-site included in the contract, which removes the rent cost. Confirm in writing what is included.
Italy has a higher cost of living than Gulf countries and lower net pay (because of income tax). For many workers the practical take-home after tax, rent and living costs is comparable to Gulf net pay, but the calculation depends heavily on whether accommodation is included. Do not accept a job without working out the net monthly amount left after all costs.
Related guides
These guides cover topics that apply to Italy as well as Gulf destinations.
- How to check a job offer: the general scam checklist.
- Pakistan emigration process: BEOE registration and documents.
Questions workers ask about Italy
This page is information, not legal advice. GulfJobsVisas is not a government body and not a recruiter.