Italy Pledges to Accelerate Processing of Work Visa Applications for Bangladeshis
Key Points
1. The Italian ambassador confirmed efforts to expedite the processing of work visa applications from Bangladeshi nationals.
2. He acknowledged a backlog of applications, causing delays in the process.
3. In 2024, Italy plans to issue 151,000 work visas to address labor shortages.
If you're a Bangladeshi national awaiting a work visa for Italy, your application could soon be processed. Italian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Antonio Alessandro, announced that his government is taking steps to address the application backlog, many of which have been pending for months.
To accelerate this process, the ambassador mentioned that reinforcements from Rome have been arranged to support the effort.
Ambassador's Caution on New Measures
During a meeting with Bangladesh’s newly appointed secretary, Jashim Uddin, Ambassador Alessandro highlighted the introduction of stricter measures to prevent the misuse of work visas.
While Italy is increasing the number of visas in 2025, the government is also implementing tougher regulations to curb irregular migration.
The ambassador expressed his eagerness to collaborate with Secretary Uddin to strengthen bilateral relations and promote legal migration for those seeking employment in Italy.
Previously, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni voiced concerns about the quota system, which allows foreigners to work in the country.
She also disclosed that criminal networks are selling work visas to foreigners for up to €15,000, leading to the misuse of the system. This issue is particularly common among Bangladeshi nationals.
Italy Expands Click Days to Address Labor Shortages
In response to workforce shortages across several sectors, the Italian government has increased the number of "click days" for foreigners applying under the employment scheme.
In addition to adding more application days, the government plans to streamline the process by designating specific days for workers in particular industries to apply. This aims to alleviate the current backlog of applications.
“We need to move beyond the click day. We need an annual flow system, not tied to quotas and strict deadlines, but based on the actual needs of the country," said Maria Grazia Gabrielli, Cgil Secretary.
In 2023, 136,000 foreign workers were granted visas to Italy, with 151,000 issued in 2024. The number will rise to 165,000 in 2025, including 93,550 visas for seasonal workers.