Starting on January 11, 2025, employers in Italy seeking to hire EU Blue Card or quota-subject work permit applicants will face an additional procedural step after the work permit has been approved. This measure is aimed at streamlining the work permit process and ensuring employer commitment to foreign workers.
What is Changing?
Once the work permit has been approved, the Visa Information System that receives the worker's visa application will send a notification to the Immigration Office before continuing with the process. The Immigration Office will then request the employer to confirm their interest in hiring the foreign worker via certified email within seven calendar days.
Failure to confirm within this timeframe will lead to the rejection of the authorization request, and the work permit will be revoked.
Why the New Step?
This new requirement is being introduced to add digitalization features to the work permit process and to prevent situations where work permits are filed but employers no longer intend to hire the worker. The Italian government hopes this will lead to more efficient processing of work permits by ensuring that only committed employers proceed with foreign hires.
Potential Impact on Employers and Applicants
The additional step is not expected to increase the overall processing time for work permits, provided that the employer completes the confirmation in a timely manner. However, any delay in confirming the employment could lead to the revocation of the work permit, requiring the employer to restart the application process.
Future Outlook
While this new step currently applies to EU Blue Card and quota-subject work permit applicants, it is likely that this confirmation process may be extended to other types of work permits in the future. Employers should stay informed about further developments to ensure compliance with upcoming requirements.
Pros and Cons Summary
Pros:
What is Changing?
Once the work permit has been approved, the Visa Information System that receives the worker's visa application will send a notification to the Immigration Office before continuing with the process. The Immigration Office will then request the employer to confirm their interest in hiring the foreign worker via certified email within seven calendar days.
Failure to confirm within this timeframe will lead to the rejection of the authorization request, and the work permit will be revoked.
Why the New Step?
This new requirement is being introduced to add digitalization features to the work permit process and to prevent situations where work permits are filed but employers no longer intend to hire the worker. The Italian government hopes this will lead to more efficient processing of work permits by ensuring that only committed employers proceed with foreign hires.
Potential Impact on Employers and Applicants
The additional step is not expected to increase the overall processing time for work permits, provided that the employer completes the confirmation in a timely manner. However, any delay in confirming the employment could lead to the revocation of the work permit, requiring the employer to restart the application process.
Future Outlook
While this new step currently applies to EU Blue Card and quota-subject work permit applicants, it is likely that this confirmation process may be extended to other types of work permits in the future. Employers should stay informed about further developments to ensure compliance with upcoming requirements.
Pros and Cons Summary
Pros:
- Enhances digitalization in the work permit process.
- Reduces instances where employers abandon the work permit process after approval.
- Ensures that only committed employers proceed, saving time and resources for authorities.
- Adds a mandatory step that employers must complete within a strict seven-day window.
- Failure to meet the deadline results in revocation of the work permit, potentially leading to delays.