Italy to issue 10,000 additional migrant work visas for caregivers
In response to a growing need for caregivers, Italy's government has announced plans to issue an additional 10,000 migrant work visas in 2025. These visas are specifically intended for individuals who provide care for the elderly and disabled. This decision comes as Italy grapples with an aging population and declining birth rate, leading to a significant shortage of caregivers.
New visas part of larger immigration strategy
The additional 10,000 visas are an "experimental" increase to the existing quota of 452,000 work visas set for the 2023-2025 period. This represents a significant rise of nearly 150% from the previous three years. The move is part of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's broader immigration strategy, which aims to balance controlling illegal arrivals with expanding legal immigration channels due to labor shortages.
New decree targets sea rescue NGOs
The government's new decree also includes stricter regulations for sea rescue non-governmental organizations (NGOs). These rules require aircraft used by charities to spot distressed migrant boats to immediately report their movements or face penalties. This mirrors existing regulations for NGO boats, which can be fined and grounded at port if their rescue operations are deemed uncoordinated with the coast guard.
Stricter anti-fraud measures introduced in migrant visa system
The new decree also introduces stricter anti-fraud safeguards in the migrant visa system. This move comes after PM Meloni claimed that crime groups, including the mafia, had infiltrated and fraudulently exploited this system. The government has announced that it will implement tougher checks in 2025 for applications from countries deemed to be at higher risk of fraud, specifically Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
