SH Immigration Specialists helps companies hire or transfer non-EU staff to Italy: EU Blue Card, intra-company transfers (ICT), managers and specialists, workers trained abroad, postings and the Decreto Flussi. We handle everything from choosing the right procedure to the worker’s residence permit.
In short. To hire foreign workers in Italy from outside the EU, a company has two options: within the quotas of the Decreto Flussi (Italy’s annual work-entry quota decree, with click days once a year) or outside the quotas, at any time of the year. The out-of-quota routes most used by companies are the EU Blue Card for highly qualified profiles (art. 27-quater of the Consolidated Immigration Act, TUI), the intra-company transfer (ICT) for managers, specialists and trainees of a group (art. 27-quinquies), the special cases of art. 27 (for example managers and highly specialised staff or workers posted under a service contract) and workers trained abroad (art. 23). For the EU Blue Card, the immigration office (Sportello Unico) issues the work clearance (nulla osta) within 30 days of the application.
Page updated in October 2026 on the basis of the current text of Legislative Decree 286/1998 (Testo Unico Immigrazione) and ministerial instructions.
Hire foreign workers in Italy: which procedure does your company need?
The right procedure depends on the worker’s profile, the relationship with the company (direct hire, transfer from a group company, posting) and the timing. This table sums up the main routes.
| Procedure | For whom | Quotas | Key points |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU Blue Card art. 27-quater TUI | Highly qualified workers | Outside quotas, all year | Contract or binding job offer of at least 6 months; pay not below the collective agreement and the ISTAT average gross annual salary; nulla osta within 30 days |
| Intra-company transfer (ICT) art. 27-quinquies | Managers, specialists and trainees of a group based outside the EU | Outside quotas | At least 3 months’ employment in the group before the transfer; maximum 3 years (1 year for trainees); decision within 45 days |
| Managers and highly specialised staff art. 27, letter a (Form D) | Staff of companies with a seat or branch in Italy, or of foreign companies, with at least 6 months in the sector | Outside quotas | Maximum 5 years; simplified procedure for companies that have signed a protocol with the Ministry of the Interior |
| Employees of foreign subsidiaries art. 27, letter i-bis | Employees, for at least 12 months in the last 48, of foreign companies in which an Italian company holds an interest | Outside quotas | Interest shown in the consolidated financial statements; notification instead of a nulla osta for companies with a protocol |
| Posting for a service contract art. 27, letter i (Form M) | Workers of a foreign company sent to carry out a contract for works or services in Italy | Outside quotas | Service contract, prior notice to the trade unions and proof of employment with the foreign employer |
| Workers trained abroad art. 23 | Workers who completed a training programme approved by the Ministry of Labour | Outside quotas | Named application with the LFE form once the training programme is approved |
| Decreto Flussi | Seasonal and non-seasonal employment, including unskilled roles | Within quotas | Pre-filling on the Portale ALI and click days; for 2027, pre-filling runs from 23 October to 7 December 2026 |
EU Blue Card: hiring a highly qualified worker
The EU Blue Card is the permit for highly qualified non-EU workers. Since the reform introduced by Legislative Decree 152/2023 the requirements are easier to meet, and the application can be filed at any time of the year, with no quotas.
Worker requirements
- a higher-education degree of at least three years (or a level 6 qualification);
- or a higher professional qualification with at least 5 years of comparable experience;
- for ICT managers and specialists: at least 3 years of relevant experience in the last 7 years.
Job offer requirements
- contract or binding offer of at least 6 months;
- pay at least equal to the collective agreement and not below the ISTAT average gross annual salary;
- suitable accommodation and a proposed residence contract.
Timing and duration
- nulla osta within 30 days of the application to the Sportello Unico;
- companies with a protocol only need to send a notification;
- 2-year permit with a permanent contract, otherwise the contract term plus 3 months.
More details on our page about the EU Blue Card in Italy.
Intra-company transfers (ICT): bringing group staff to Italy
The ICT permit is for international groups that want to transfer an employee working at a non-EU branch to an Italian company of the group. The transfer must last more than three months.
- Who: managers, specialists with knowledge essential to the Italian entity, and trainees with a university degree.
- Requirement: at least 3 uninterrupted months of employment in the group immediately before the transfer.
- Maximum duration: 3 years for managers and specialists, 1 year for trainees.
- Procedure: the Italian company files a named application with the Sportello Unico; the decision comes within 45 days; the nulla osta is valid for up to 6 months.
- Family: family reunification is possible regardless of the permit’s duration, and the family members’ application can be filed together with the worker’s.
- EU mobility: the worker can also work in group entities in other EU countries, with short-term mobility of up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Read more in our guide to intra-corporate transfers (ICT), the Mod. ICT step by step and ICT mobility between EU countries.
Special cases under art. 27: managers, postings, service contracts and dedicated forms
Article 27 of the Consolidated Immigration Act provides out-of-quota entries for specific situations. Each case has its own application form on the Ministry of the Interior portal, and it is easy to pick the wrong one. That is why we always start by analysing the relationship between the worker and the company.
EU Blue Card
Highly qualified workers hired by the Italian company.
Managers and highly specialised staff
Art. 27, letter a: staff of companies with a seat or branch in Italy or of foreign companies, with at least 6 months in the sector. Read the guide
Employees of foreign subsidiaries
Art. 27, letter i-bis: employees, for at least 12 months in the last 48, of foreign companies in which an Italian company holds an interest. Read the guide
Posting for a service contract
Art. 27, letter i: workers sent by a foreign employer to carry out a service contract in Italy. Read the guide
Companies with a protocol
Companies that have signed a protocol with the Ministry of the Interior send a notification instead of requesting a nulla osta (art. 27, letters a and i-bis, and ICT transfers).
Form codes are those used in the operating instructions of the Sportelli Unici per l’Immigrazione. The old Form L (art. 27, letter g) can no longer be used: letter g was repealed by Legislative Decree 253/2016. Full comparison in our guide to posting non-EU workers to Italy.
How we work with companies
- Case analysis: worker profile, qualifications, relationship with the company or group, required timing.
- Choice of procedure: we tell you the most suitable route (Blue Card, ICT, art. 27, art. 23 or Decreto Flussi) and what is really needed.
- Documents: we prepare a tailored list and check degrees, translations, legalisations, the contract and accommodation.
- Application: we fill in and file the application with the Sportello Unico and follow up with the Prefecture, the Labour Inspectorate and the Questura.
- Visa and entry: we assist the worker with the visa at the consulate and with signing the residence contract on arrival.
- Residence permit and family: postal kit, Questura appointment, family reunification and renewals.
What we handle for companies
Entry from abroad
- EU Blue Card
- Intra-company transfers (ICT)
- Managers and specialised staff (art. 27)
- Postings and service contracts
- Workers trained abroad (art. 23)
- Decreto Flussi 2027
Staff already in Italy
- Permit check before hiring
- Converting a study permit to work
- Renewal of the employment permit
- Change of employer
After hiring
- Family reunification for employees
- Tax code, residence registration and health card
- Assistance in English, Italian, Arabic, Urdu and Hindi
- Meetings at our offices or online across Italy
For legal matters such as appeals against a refused nulla osta, SH Immigration Specialists works with qualified lawyers. The Decreto Flussi certification (asseverazione) is signed by qualified professionals: read the guide to the asseverazione.
Frequently asked questions from companies
Can a company hire a non-EU worker outside the Decreto Flussi?
Yes. The EU Blue Card, intra-company transfers, the special cases of art. 27 and workers trained abroad (art. 23) are out-of-quota procedures: the application can be filed at any time of the year, without waiting for the click day.
How long does the EU Blue Card nulla osta take?
The Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione must issue the nulla osta or notify a refusal within 30 days of the application. The worker then applies for the visa at the Italian consulate and, once in Italy, signs the residence contract and applies for the permit.
What salary is required for the EU Blue Card in Italy?
Annual pay must comply with the collective agreement and must not be lower than the average gross annual salary recorded by ISTAT. The contract or binding offer must last at least 6 months.
What is the difference between an intra-company transfer and a posting?
With an intra-company transfer (ICT), an employee of a non-EU group entity is transferred to an Italian company of the group for more than three months, as a manager, specialist or trainee. Art. 27 covers other cases, such as managers and highly specialised staff (letter a, Form D), workers sent to carry out a service contract (letter i, Form M) and employees of foreign companies in which an Italian company holds an interest (letter i-bis), with different requirements and forms.
Can the worker bring their family to Italy?
Yes. For EU Blue Card and ICT permit holders, family reunification follows facilitated rules; for the ICT permit, the family members’ application can be filed together with the worker’s.
Do you assist companies throughout Italy?
Yes. We have offices in Bologna, Milan, Rome, Turin, Genoa, Brescia, Florence and Venice-Mestre, and we work online with companies across Italy and with international groups.
Official sources
- Art. 27-quater Legislative Decree 286/1998, EU Blue Card – Normattiva
- Art. 27-quinquies Legislative Decree 286/1998, intra-company transfers – Normattiva
- Art. 27 Legislative Decree 286/1998, entry for work in special cases – Normattiva
- Art. 23 Legislative Decree 286/1998, workers trained abroad – Normattiva
- New EU Blue Card, joint circular no. 2829 of 28 March 2024 – Ministry of Labour
- Vademecum on work entry in special cases (art. 27) – Prefecture
Sources consulted on 17 October 2026. Procedures may change: we always check the latest instructions of the competent Sportello Unico. The outcome depends on the competent authorities. This content provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.
Useful guides for employers
- EU Blue Card in Italy: requirements and procedure
- Intra-corporate transfer (ICT) to Italy: requirements and permit
- ICT work permit application: the Mod. ICT step by step
- Posting non-EU workers to Italy: Model D, Model M and ICT
- Model D: posting managers and specialists to Italy
- Model M: posting workers under a service contract
- ICT mobility to Italy and the mobile ICT permit
- Hiring foreign workers trained abroad (art. 23)
- Decreto Flussi 2027: pre-filling dates and click days
- Decreto Flussi asseverazione: who signs it
- Converting a study permit to a work permit
- Residence permit for employment in Italy
- Family reunification for your employees
- Notice of refusal under Article 10-bis: how to reply
Content prepared by the SH Immigration Specialists team and checked against official sources on 17 October 2026.
Need to hire or transfer non-EU staff to Italy?
Tell us the worker’s profile and your timing: we will tell you which procedure to use, which documents you need and how long it takes.