How to Get an Italy Work Visa from Pakistan: Quota, Nulla Osta and Fee
An Italy work visa from Pakistan starts with an employer's nulla osta in the Decreto Flussi quota. Click days, documents, the Rs 37,690 fee and where to apply.
You cannot apply for an Italy work visa on your own from Pakistan. An employer in Italy must first get a work permit for you, called a nulla osta, inside the yearly Decreto Flussi quota. Only then do you book a visa appointment. The visa fee is €116, collected as Rs 37,690 since 1 July 2026.
That order is the heart of the Italy work visa. Anyone who offers you the visa first and the job later is selling something the Italian system does not have. Pakistan does get a reserved share of the quota, so the route is real. It just starts in Italy.
We read the Italian government's quota decree for 2026 to 2028 in Italy's Official Gazette, the joint notices of Italy's Interior and Labour ministries, and the Embassy of Italy in Islamabad's work visa checklist and fee table on 27 September 2026. We also read the visa notices of the Consulate General of Italy in Karachi.
Pakistan is on the Decreto Flussi quota list for 2026 to 2028
Italy's quota decree, dated 2 October 2025 and published on 15 October 2025, admits 497,550 non-EU workers over three years. Pakistan is one of 38 countries named for a reserved share of 25,000 non-seasonal work places each year, alongside India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
"Decreto Flussi" simply means Italy's decree on entry flows. It sets how many foreign workers may come each year, and in which sectors.
| Quota under the 2026 to 2028 decree | 2026 | 2027 | 2028 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All work entries | 164,850 | 165,850 | 166,850 |
| Non-seasonal employed work | 76,200 | 76,200 | 76,200 |
| Reserved for listed countries, including Pakistan | 25,000 | 25,000 | 25,000 |
| Seasonal work, farming and tourism | 88,000 | 89,000 | 90,000 |
| Home care workers | 13,600 | 14,000 | 14,200 |
Non-seasonal sectors include farming, food, textiles, construction, hotels and restaurants, logistics, and health and social care. The seasonal quota covers the same country list, so Pakistanis can be hired for farm and tourism seasons too. Be realistic, though: 25,000 places are shared by 38 countries, and Pakistan has no fixed share of its own.
The employer applies for the nulla osta on click day
The nulla osta is Italy's work authorisation. Your employer requests it online from the Sportello Unico per l'Immigrazione, the immigration desk at the local prefecture. Requests are sent on fixed "click days", and places go in order of arrival until the quota runs out.
The decree fixes the same click days for 2026, 2027 and 2028. Each opens at 9:00 Italian time.
| Type of job | Click day each year |
|---|---|
| Seasonal farm work | 12 January |
| Seasonal tourism work | 9 February |
| Non-seasonal work, listed countries including Pakistan | 16 February |
| Home care work | 18 February |
Before click day comes a pre-filling stage. For 2026 it ran from 23 October to 7 December 2025 on the Interior Ministry's ALI portal, using an Italian digital identity (SPID or CIE). That is the employer's login, not yours. A new circular sets the 2027 dates.
- The employer in Italy offers you a job and checks with the local job centre.
- The employer pre-fills the request on the ALI portal in the window the ministries announce.
- On click day, the employer sends the request for your nulla osta.
- The immigration desk issues the nulla osta and the employer sends it to you.
- You book a national visa (type D) appointment in Pakistan and apply.
A nulla osta does not last for ever. The decree says one not followed by a visa within six months of 31 December of its year lapses and is filed away. So once it arrives, apply quickly.
Where to apply for the Italy work visa in Pakistan
Italy collects visa applications in Pakistan through an outside company, BLS-Intiana. Where you apply depends on where you live. Sindh and Balochistan fall under the Consulate General in Karachi. The rest of Pakistan falls under the Embassy in Islamabad.
- Embassy of Italy, Islamabad: centres in Islamabad and Lahore. The Multan and Faisalabad centres closed for good on 6 September 2026, the Embassy said in a notice. Passports from those two centres are now handled in Lahore. Bookings are at intianaitalyvisa.com.
- Consulate General of Italy, Karachi: for residents of Sindh and Balochistan only. Applications go through the Intiana centre, formerly BLS, in Karachi or Quetta. The Consulate's notice gives theitalyvisa.com for bookings.
Book the right visa type. The Karachi Consulate warns that a wrong booking is not accepted and the fee is not refunded. A "slots are not available" message is not an error either. That day's slots are simply gone.
Documents and fee for the Italy subordinate work visa
The Embassy's checklist for the national visa (type D) for subordinate work lists 12 items. The two that prove the job are the nulla osta and the employment contract, both issued by the immigration desk in Italy. Pakistani documents need an apostille.
- Visa application form.
- One recent passport photo meeting ICAO rules.
- Proof of residence in the consular area: a residence certificate and a copy of your CNIC.
- Passport, original and one copy, valid at least three months beyond the visa you want.
- Flight reservation showing your name, departure city and arrival city.
- The nulla osta for subordinate work.
- The employment contract issued by the immigration desk.
- A copy of the employer's ID or passport.
- For a company employer, its Chamber of Commerce registration extract.
- For a private employer, their latest income statement or tax return, and a family status certificate.
- A police clearance certificate from the Pakistani authorities, apostilled.
- Travel medical insurance, if the contract does not cover it and you transit the Schengen area.
Three rules sit on top of the list. Documents must be in English or come with a certified Italian translation. Pakistani papers are valid for six months from issue. And the apostille is the stamp from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so plan for apostille attestation in Pakistan before your appointment. Your police character certificate needs it too.
These amounts come from the Embassy's fee table valid from 1 July 2026, at Rs 324.89 to the euro. The table changes every quarter, so the rupee figures may move on 1 October.
| Italian visa | Fee in euro | Collected in Pakistan |
|---|---|---|
| National visa for long stays (type D), including work | €116 | Rs 37,690 |
| National visa for study | €50 | Rs 16,250 |
| Schengen short-stay visa, adult | €90 | Rs 29,240 |
| Schengen visa, child aged 6 to 12 | €45 | Rs 14,620 |
The visa centre adds its own service charge. We did not find it on the Embassy's pages, so check the amount on the booking site before you pay.
Agents selling an Italy work visa are not part of the process
The Consulate General in Karachi says it has no agreements with consultants or travel agencies and accepts no interference from them. Each applicant must book their own appointment. It also says it may take legal action against anyone advertising such services.
Put that notice, dated 25 June 2026, next to how the quota works and the red flags are easy to spot:
- A "visa" offered before any employer in Italy has asked for your nulla osta.
- A fee to "secure a quota place". The places are claimed by employers on click day, in order.
- A promise to jump the appointment queue. The Consulate says it does not handle appointments at all.
- An offer for a "work visa" on a tourist or Schengen booking. The visa must match its purpose.
If someone in Pakistan is recruiting you for Italy, check the overseas employment promoter's licence first. Before you fly on a work visa, you will also deal with the Protector of Emigrants. Those Pakistani checks sit alongside Italy's rules, not in place of them.
What happens after you land in Italy
Italy's foreign ministry says you must apply for a residence permit within eight days of entering. Missing that deadline without a genuine reason can lead to an expulsion order. Carry your nulla osta and contract when you fly, because border police can ask to see that the visa conditions are still met.
Common questions
Can a Pakistani apply for an Italy work visa without a job offer?
No. The visa needs a nulla osta that your employer in Italy obtains first. Without it, the Embassy checklist cannot be completed.
Is Pakistan included in the Decreto Flussi 2026 to 2028?
Yes. Article 6 of the decree names Pakistan among 38 countries sharing 25,000 reserved non-seasonal places each year from 2026 to 2028.
What is the Italy work visa fee in Pakistan?
€116 for a national type D visa, collected as Rs 37,690 from 1 July 2026. The visa centre's service charge is extra.
When is the next click day for Italy?
The decree fixes the same dates each year. In 2027, non-seasonal work for listed countries opens on 16 February at 9:00 Italian time. Seasonal farm work opens on 12 January.
Do Pakistani documents need an apostille for an Italy work visa?
Yes. The Embassy says documents issued by Pakistani authorities must bear an apostille. They are valid for six months from the date of issue.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 27 September 2026. Quotas, the country list naming Pakistan, click days and the six-month lapse rule are read in the decree of 2 October 2025, Gazzetta Ufficiale no. 240 of 15 October 2025, articles 5 to 9. The 2026 pre-filling window is from Italy's Interior Ministry notice of 20 October 2025. The checklist, fee table, centre closures and booking sites are from the Embassy of Italy in Islamabad and the Consulate General in Karachi's notices of 25 June and 3 August 2026. We did not book an appointment, and the centre's service charge was not on the official pages.
About the author
Author
Fajr Riaz is a well-talented author at Pakera.pk with expertise in creative content creation/writing and storytelling. Fajr's strength lies in creating engaging articles, detailed guides, and straight narratives that connect with readers and give meaningful insights. With her accurate attention to detail and passion for writing, Fajr has established herself as a pivotal pillar at Pakera and is invaluable.
