What is a amnesty?
One amnesty (or extraordinary regularization) is an exceptional legislative provision with which the Italian State allows foreign citizens already present in the territory without a regular residence permit to emerge from irregular status and obtain a residence permit.
Unlike the Decreto Flussi — which is a tool annual and scheduled — the amnesty is an intervention extraordinary and non-periodic, which is approved by Parliament only in special circumstances. In Italy, there have been several amnesties: 1986, 1990, 1995, 1998, 2002, 2009, 2012, and 2020.
Current Status: February 2026
As of February 2026, no amnesty for immigrants in Italy is in effect.
The last extraordinary regularization dates back to 2020, introduced by Article 103 of the Relaunch Decree (Legislative Decree 34/2020), converted into Law 77/2020. Since then, no new disclosure or regularization measures have been approved.
Despite requests from unions, associations, and some political parties, the government currently has no plans for a new amnesty. Public debate continues, but no concrete legislative proposals are currently at an advanced stage of approval.
How the 2020 Amnesty Worked
The 2020 amnesty was the last extraordinary regularization in Italy and can serve as a reference for understanding how a possible future amnesty would work:
- Eligible sectors: domestic work and personal care (housekeepers, carers, babysitters), agriculture, livestock farming and fishing, related activities
- Two channels: regularization of undeclared employment (employer's request) or issuing of a temporary permit for those whose permit expired after 31 October 2019
- Cost€500 for each worker (paid by the employer) + €130 flat rate for the contribution to the National Health Service
- Results: about 207,000 questions submitted, of which over 176,000 for domestic work
- Critical issues: very long processing times (many cases still pending after more than 5 years), requirement of demonstrable presence in the territory
Worth noting is the Constitutional Court ruling no. 6/2026 which declared the provision unconstitutional in that it excluded workers registered in the Schengen Information System (SIS), effectively broadening the group of beneficiaries still awaiting resolution of the case.
Difference between Sanatoria and Decreto Flussi
It is important not to confuse the two tools:
In short: the Decreto Flussi It is used by those who wish to legally enter Italy from abroad for work; amnesty It is useful for those who are already in Italy but do not have a regular permit.
Alternatives Available in 2026
In the absence of an amnesty, the options for regularizing one's position in Italy are:
- Decreto Flussi 2026: with 164,850 shares for subordinate, seasonal, and self-employed work. Requires an employer to submit the application and regular entry from abroad (learn more here)
- International protection: for those at risk of persecution or inhuman treatment in their country of origin (refugee status, subsidiary protection, special protection)
- Humanitarian permits: for medical care, natural disasters, domestic violence, severe labor exploitation
- Family reunification: if you have a family member regularly residing in Italy
How a Future Amnesty Would Work
Based on previous regularizations, any new regularization would likely require:
- Documentable presence on Italian territory (through fingerprints, health data, reports, certificates)
- A willing employer to declare the employment relationship irregular and to sign the contract
- Absence of serious criminal record (convictions for criminal offenses)
- Payment of a lump sum contribution by the employer
- Documentation: passport or equivalent document, tax code (if already issued), proof of presence in Italy
Problems of Past amnesties
Previous experiences have highlighted recurring critical issues:
- Huge delays in processingThe 2020 amnesty still has thousands of pending applications after more than five years. Some prefectures have waiting times of three to four years.
- Difficulty in proving presence: many illegal immigrants do not have documents proving their stay in Italy
- Uncooperative employers: the procedure requires the active collaboration of the employer, who is often unwilling to declare an undeclared employment relationship
- Limited sectors: amnesties have often been limited to certain sectors (domestic, agriculture), excluding construction, catering and other sectors with a high presence of irregular work
- “Attraction” effect: the perceived risk of encouraging new irregular arrivals is one of the main arguments against amnesties
Warning: Do not trust unauthorized intermediaries
Advertisements for alleged "imminent amnesties" or services promising immediate regularization are circulating online. They are scamsNo intermediary can guarantee a nonexistent amnesty. Contact only registered professionals (lawyers) or authorized entities.
With ImmigraFacile you are sure of serious legal support:
Frequently Asked Questions
No, no new regularization for immigrants in Italy was approved in February 2026. The last extraordinary regularization dates back to 2020 (Article 103 of the Relaunch Decree). Currently, the alternatives for regularization are Decreto Flussi 2026, international protection, and specific humanitarian permits.
The amnesty (or regularization) allows foreigners already present in Italy without documents to be regularized. The Decreto Flussi, on the other hand, is an annual mechanism that regulates entry from abroad for work purposes, with pre-established quotas by sector and nationality. They are two completely different tools.
Emergence from irregular work is an extraordinary procedure activated only by specific legislative measures (as in 2020). The employer submits an application declaring the employment relationship irregular and committing to regularizing it. There is currently no active emergence procedure.