Italy Work Visa for Pakistanis: 10,500 Slots Announced

Italy has confirmed it will issue 10,500 work visas to skilled Pakistani workers, Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi announced today, during a high-level meeting with Pakistan's Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Rome.

The announcement reaffirms an agreement originally reached in December 2025, when the two countries formally allocated a dedicated labour quota for Pakistan. According to Dawn, Italy is the first European country to formally open its labour market to Pakistan through a quota-based mechanism. The February 25 meeting confirmed the commitment and reviewed progress on implementation.

The total quota of 10,500 visas will be spread across three years, with 3,500 Pakistani workers traveling to Italy annually. Of the annual quota, 1,500 slots are for seasonal workers and 2,000 are for non-seasonal positions, according to the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development.

Sectors covered under the quota include ship breaking, hospitality, healthcare, and agriculture. Available roles span a wide range, including welders, technicians, chefs, waiters, housekeeping staff, nurses, medical technicians, farm workers, and agricultural labourers, according to Dawn and Arab News. The scheme targets both skilled and semi-skilled workers, aligning Pakistan's labour supply with Italy's documented workforce shortages.

In addition to the work visa announcement, Piantedosi confirmed that Pakistani diplomatic passport holders will be granted visa-free entry to Italy, a measure requested by Naqvi during earlier meetings. The Italian minister noted that this matter had been raised in a previous discussion and confirmed it was now being finalized.

The meeting in Rome was attended by Pakistan's Ambassador to Italy Ali Javed, FIA Director General Dr. Usman Anwar, Punjab Safe City Authority Managing Director Ahsan Younas, and senior police officers Abid Khan and Sohail Chaudhry, according to Business Recorder.

Both sides also discussed cooperation against drug trafficking, human smuggling, and terrorism. Piantedosi praised Pakistan's policies to address illegal immigration and commended Pakistan's institutional achievements in tackling human smuggling and narcotics trafficking. Naqvi briefed his Italian counterpart on stricter monitoring at airports and maritime borders, which he said had produced a significant reduction in unlawful departures.

Separately, Naqvi also met with Greek Interior Minister Dimitris Keridis in Rome, where both sides agreed to finalize a bilateral migration cooperation agreement that has been pending for two years, according to Aaj TV. A joint working group between Pakistan and Greece will be formed to operationalize future cooperation.

Why the Italy Work Visa Deal Matters for Pakistani Workers

Pakistan is one of the world's largest exporters of labour, with overseas employment and remittances forming a critical pillar of the national economy. According to the Economic Survey 2024-25, more than one million Pakistanis went abroad for work in a single fiscal year, according to Pakistan Today. Nearly 2.9 million Pakistanis have emigrated over the past three years, driven by low wages, high inflation, unemployment, and rising living costs.

The overwhelming majority of Pakistani workers have historically traveled to Gulf countries, particularly Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait. Europe has remained largely out of reach through legal channels, partly due to the absence of formal bilateral labour agreements. Italy's quota changes that for the first time at a European level.

Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain described the Italy agreement as a "major milestone" when it was first announced in December 2025, calling it a breakthrough for Pakistani labour entering the European job market and expressing hope that other European countries would follow Italy's lead.

Punjab is expected to benefit most from the initiative, as it is Pakistan's largest source of overseas labour. Official records show the province has sent more than 7.2 million emigrants abroad since 1981, followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, according to Express Tribune.

The deal is also seen as a direct response to the sharp rise in illegal migration from Pakistan to Europe. Irregular migration from Pakistan to Europe rose by 280 percent in 2022, with thousands attempting dangerous journeys through Libya, Egypt, and other transit routes, according to Pakistan Today. The Italy quota is designed to offer a legal, state-backed alternative to those high-risk routes.

Italy Work Visa for Pakistanis: Who Can Apply and How

The Italy work visa is a long-stay Type D national visa that allows non-EU citizens to enter Italy for employment. After arrival, workers must apply for a residence permit within eight days, which legally authorizes them to live and work in Italy.

The visa is job-offer based. Applicants cannot apply without a confirmed job offer from an Italian employer. The employer must first obtain a Nulla Osta, a work authorization approval, before the visa application can proceed. Italy issues work visas under a quota system and applications outside the approved quota are not accepted.

Eligible applicants must be Pakistani nationals, hold a valid job offer from an Italian employer in one of the covered sectors, and meet health and legal requirements. A basic understanding of Italian is not mandatory but can improve selection chances, particularly in hospitality and healthcare roles.

Pakistani applicants can submit their applications at Italy visa application centres. Those in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and northern areas can apply at centres in Islamabad, Lahore, Faisalabad, and Multan. Applicants from Sindh and Balochistan should apply at centres in Karachi and Quetta, according to the Italy Application Centre. The service fee for a work visa application is 11,180 PKR. Processing time under Italian law is 30 days.

Applicants are strongly advised to apply through official government channels only and to avoid agents or unofficial platforms. Under this quota arrangement, the Italian employer is responsible for sponsoring the worker, meaning no upfront agent payment is required or legitimate.

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