In short. Hiring foreign workers trained abroad in Italy is one of the main alternatives to the Decreto Flussi (Italy’s annual work-entry quota decree) for companies that need qualified staff. Under Article 23 of the Consolidated Immigration Act, the employer can obtain a nulla osta (work/entry clearance) outside the annual quotas for workers who have completed a vocational and civic-language training programme approved by the Ministry of Labour. The application is made with the LFE form, and the worker then applies for a visa and a residence permit.
Thanks to the procedure provided for by Article 23 of the Testo Unico Immigrazione (Consolidated Immigration Act), a nulla osta can be obtained for foreign workers outside the annual quotas set by the Government, provided they have completed a vocational and civic-language training programme approved by the Ministero del Lavoro e delle Politiche Sociali (Ministry of Labour and Social Policies).
In this guide we explain, step by step, how the procedure works and what information and documents you need to submit an LFE application (Lavoratori stranieri Formati all’Estero, foreign workers trained abroad).
Which rules govern hiring foreign workers trained abroad in Italy?
The procedure is governed by Article 23 of Legislative Decree 286/1998, the TUI (Testo Unico Immigrazione), which allows foreign workers who have taken part in specific vocational and civic-language training programmes organised in their country of origin, and approved in advance by the Ministry of Labour, to enter Italy.
The applicable legislation is as follows:
- Article 23 of Legislative Decree 286/1998 (Testo Unico Immigrazione);
- Decree-Law no. 20/2023 (the so-called Decreto Cutro);
- Decree-Law no. 145/2024;
- Law no. 187/2024;
- Ministry of Labour – Training abroad.
Entry takes place outside the quotas (fuori quota) and is therefore not subject to the numerical limits set each year by the Decreto Flussi.
How is the training programme approved?
Before any worker can be hired, a vocational and civic-language training programme must be approved.
The programme may be submitted by:
- training bodies;
- employment agencies;
- third-sector (non-profit) organisations;
- employers’ organisations;
- other authorised entities;
- partnerships between several entities.
In practice, at least one entity accredited in Italy for vocational training or employment services needs to be involved, as this can strengthen the project and make approval easier.
The application is submitted through the Piattaforma Ingressi Formati all’Estero (PIF, the platform for entries of workers trained abroad), available on the Servizi Lavoro portal. An inter-ministerial Commission assesses the project and, within about 30 days, decides whether to approve it or request additional information.
Once the training project has been approved, the training abroad can begin.
What happens when the training abroad is completed?
At the end of the training programme, the organising body certifies attendance of the course, the professional skills acquired, completion of the civic-language training and achievement of the language level set by the project.
Foreign workers who successfully complete the programme are included in the lists sent via the PIF platform and can then be named in nulla osta applications.
How is the LFE application for workers trained abroad submitted?
Once the training is complete, the employer can apply for the nulla osta for employment using the LFE form available on the portal of the Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione (Immigration Desk).
The application is made for a named worker and must identify the worker who completed the approved training programme. When filling it in, you will need to enter a range of information about both the employer and the worker.
What information do you need to fill in the LFE application?
Employer details
Before you start filling in the application, it is advisable to have to hand:
- an up-to-date Visura Camerale (Chamber of Commerce company extract);
- INPS (national social security institute) registration number;
- company contact details;
- number of employees;
- the company’s financial data;
- social security and tax information;
- details of the operating site where the worker will be employed, i.e. operating site, ATECO code (business activity code), full address and telephone number of the workplace.
For employment agencies, the details of their registration in the national online register of employment agencies (Albo informatico nazionale delle Agenzie per il Lavoro) must also be provided.
Worker details
For each worker you will need:
- a copy of a valid passport in PDF format;
- Italian codice fiscale (tax code), if already assigned (see our guide to the Italian tax code for foreigners);
- country and city of residence;
- telephone number;
- email address.
Employment relationship details
One of the most important aspects of the application is stating correctly the contractual terms offered to the worker.
In particular, you will need to state:
- the CCNL (national collective labour agreement) applied;
- job role;
- the CP 2011 occupation code;
- grade/level;
- type of contract;
- duration of the employment;
- number of working months;
- number of working days;
- weekly working hours;
- monthly working hours;
- planned pay.
Accommodation
As with other entry procedures for employment, you must show that accommodation is available for the worker.
The following are generally required:
- identification details of the property, i.e. address and land registry data;
- application for, or certificate of, idoneità alloggiativa (housing suitability);
- a rental contract or other document proving that the accommodation is available;
- cessione di fabbricato (notification of property occupancy to the police) or an undertaking to submit it later (see our guide to the declaration of hospitality and cessione di fabbricato).
Which documents must be attached to the application?
The main documents required include:
- identity document of the employer or legal representative;
- up-to-date Visura Camerale;
- digitally signed self-declaration of the company’s social security and tax position;
- proposed contratto di soggiorno (residence contract for employment);
- the worker’s passport;
- certificate of attendance issued by the training body;
- certificate of completion of the vocational and civic-language training programme approved by the Ministry of Labour;
- certificate of the professional skills acquired;
- certification or statement of the language level achieved;
- documents on housing suitability;
- cessione di fabbricato or an undertaking to submit it;
- asseverazione (certification by a qualified professional of the employer’s capacity) issued by an authorised professional;
- a 16-euro marca da bollo (revenue stamp).
The asseverazione serves to verify the employer’s financial capacity and the adequacy of the contractual terms offered to the worker, and can be issued by the professionals and bodies authorised under current legislation.
What is the deadline for the visa application?
Once the nulla osta has been obtained, the worker must apply for a visa at the competent Italian diplomatic or consular mission.
Under the original rules of Article 23 of the Testo Unico Immigrazione, the worker had to apply for the visa within 6 months of completing the training programme.
Thanks to the Decree-Law of 11 October 2024, the deadline has now been extended to 12 months from the end of the course, giving workers, companies and training bodies more time to complete the necessary procedures and organise entry into Italy. The measure currently applies on an experimental basis until 31 December 2027.
The nulla osta and the documents relating to the job offer must be attached to the visa application.
Why can the nulla osta for workers trained abroad be refused?
The main reasons that can lead to a preavviso di rigetto (notice of intended refusal) or a subsequent refusal are generally:
- missing or incomplete mandatory documents;
- requirements not met by the employer;
- inconsistencies between the employment contract, the CCNL and the proposed grade;
- insufficient or inadequate financial capacity of the company;
- problems with the availability or suitability of the accommodation;
- irregularities or issues in the worker’s position;
- failure to meet the requirements for the training programme (in LFE cases);
- negative findings during the assessment by the competent bodies.
The employer generally has 10 days to submit observations or additional documents (see our guide to the notice of refusal under Article 10-bis). If nothing is provided that resolves the issues, the Sportello Unico refuses the nulla osta.
How do workers trained abroad obtain a residence permit in Italy?
Obtaining the visa and entering Italy do not complete the procedure.
Once in Italy, the worker must apply, within 8 days of entry, for a permesso di soggiorno (residence permit) for employment. The application is made using the kit postale (postal application kit) available at authorised post offices, attaching the required documents and paying the fees set by law. More details are in our guide to the residence permit for employment.
After submitting the application, the worker will receive a receipt proving that their stay is lawful while waiting for the permit to be issued. They will then be called in by the competent Questura (police immigration office) for identification, fingerprinting and a check of the documents.
Once the checks are complete, the Questura issues the residence permit for employment.
It is important to keep all documents relating to the hiring, the employment relationship and the accommodation, as they may be requested while the application is being processed.
The procedure for hiring workers trained abroad is an important opportunity for companies that want to hire foreign staff outside the Decreto Flussi quotas. However, preparing the documents correctly and filling in the LFE application require particular care. Errors in checking the employer’s requirements or in preparing the mandatory attachments can lead to requests for additional documents and delays in processing the nulla osta application.
Frequently asked questions
Do workers trained abroad count towards the Decreto Flussi quotas?
No. Under Article 23 of the Consolidated Immigration Act, entry takes place outside the quotas and is not subject to the numerical limits set each year by the Decreto Flussi. The worker must, however, have completed a vocational and civic-language training programme approved in advance by the Ministry of Labour.
Who can submit a training programme for approval?
Training bodies, employment agencies, third-sector organisations, employers’ organisations, other authorised entities or partnerships between them. In practice, at least one entity accredited in Italy for vocational training or employment services should be involved. The project is submitted on the PIF platform and assessed by an inter-ministerial Commission within about 30 days.
What is the LFE application?
It is the form the employer uses on the Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione portal to request the nulla osta for a named worker who has completed the approved training. It requires employer, worker, contract and accommodation details, with attachments such as the Visura Camerale, training certificates, the asseverazione and a 16-euro marca da bollo.
How long does the worker have to apply for the visa?
The original rule was 6 months from the end of the training programme. The Decree-Law of 11 October 2024 extended it to 12 months from the end of the course, on an experimental basis until 31 December 2027. The nulla osta and job offer documents must be attached to the visa application.
What must the worker do after arriving in Italy?
Within 8 days of entry the worker must apply for a residence permit for employment using the postal application kit. The receipt proves lawful stay while waiting. The Questura then calls the worker for identification and fingerprinting and, after the checks, issues the residence permit for employment.
Official sources
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Consolidated Immigration Act (Normattiva, Italian)
- Decree-Law 20/2023 (Normattiva, Italian)
- Decree-Law 145/2024, Official Gazette (Italian)
- Law 187/2024, Official Gazette (Italian)
- Ministry of Labour – Training abroad (Italian)
- Servizi Lavoro portal, Ministry of Labour
Sources were consulted on 15 October 2026. Procedures, forms and deadlines can change: always check the latest instructions of the Ministry of Labour and the competent Sportello Unico per l’Immigrazione.
How can SH Immigration Specialists help?
SH Immigration Specialists assists companies at every administrative stage of hiring workers trained abroad: from the preliminary analysis of the training project to checking the employer’s requirements, preparing the LFE application and its attachments, replying to requests for additional documents, and supporting the worker’s visa and residence permit applications. For legal matters such as appeals and legal advice, SH Immigration Specialists works with qualified lawyers. The outcome depends on the competent authorities. For an assessment, contact us.
This content provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.
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