The Scramble for Staff: 15,075 Quotas Assigned
Following the high stakes click-day on February 9, the Italian Ministry of Labour has officially released the regional distribution of 15,075 seasonal work permit quotas for the tourism and hospitality sector.
These quotas, part of the Decreto Flussi 2026, were claimed within minutes by employers racing to staff up for the Easter peak and the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
The Winner Regions: Where the Jobs Are
The Ministry’s allocation reflects a heavy focus on Italy’s tourism powerhouses. Three regions alone secured nearly half of the total slots.
| Region | Quota Slots | Primary Driver |
|---|---|---|
| Veneto | 3,100 | Venice art-city tourism & Adriatic resorts |
| Trentino-Alto Adige | 2,450 | Olympic-prep & alpine hospitality |
| Tuscany | 1,980 | Cultural tourism and wine regions |
Pro Tip: If your region ran out of slots, keep an eye on the National Reserve. Any quotas left unused after 50 days will be redistributed nationally in early April 2026.
The Digital Wall: 18% Fewer Errors
For the first time, Italy’s click-day required more than just a fast internet connection. New rules forced employers to include digitally signed job offers, proof of accommodation and sector level minimum wages.
While these were hurdles, they worked. Consultants report a 18% drop in incomplete filings. The Interior Ministry also confirmed that their SPID secured portal held up perfectly under heavy traffic, thanks to cloud capacity upgrades following the January agricultural overload.
URGENT: Global Visa Shutdown Starts Tomorrow
Securing a quota is only half the battle. Starting tomorrow, February 12, until February 18, 2026, Italy’s VIS-IT system will go offline worldwide.
- What this means: No visa processing, no biometric captures and no passport issuances for 7 days.
- Why? A massive cloud upgrade to align Italy’s systems with the new EU Entry/Exit System (EES).
- The Advice: If you won a slot today, expect a slight delay in getting your worker’s visa stamped until the system reopens on the 19th.
Don’t Miss the Next Click Days
The tourism window is closed, but two massive quota releases are still on the calendar:
- February 16, 2026 (09:00 CET): Non-seasonal employees (Construction, Manufacturing, Logistics).
- February 18, 2026 (09:00 CET): Domestic Caregivers (Nurses and elderly care).
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