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Rome, Italy – In a landmark announcement, Italy will issue 10,500 work visas for Pakistan’s skilled labor force, opening new opportunities for legal employment and professional mobility. The decision, aimed at promoting regulated migration, was confirmed by Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi during a high-level meeting with his Pakistani counterpart, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, in Rome.
This development reflects Italy’s commitment to expanding legal migration pathways while collaborating closely with Pakistan to combat illegal immigration.
Legal Work Opportunities for Pakistani Professionals
The new work visa program targets skilled professionals from Pakistan, offering a structured route to employment in Italy. These visas cover sectors in demand such as healthcare, construction, information technology, and hospitality. Pakistani workers can now access legally recognized employment, providing stability, social benefits, and international work experience.
Minister Piantedosi highlighted that the program is part of broader efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation on migration, ensuring that mobility occurs through safe and regulated channels.
Visa-Free Entry for Pakistani Diplomats
Alongside work visas, Italy will extend visa-free entry to Pakistani diplomatic passport holders, following requests from Minister Naqvi. This move is expected to simplify diplomatic travel and strengthen bilateral ties between Italy and Pakistan.
Naqvi emphasized that such agreements encourage trust, collaboration, and mutual support in tackling cross-border challenges like human smuggling and irregular migration.
Pakistan’s Role in Combating Illegal Migration
During the Rome meeting, Minister Naqvi briefed his Italian counterpart on Pakistan’s intensified anti-smuggling operations. Enhanced surveillance at airports, seaports, and border areas has significantly reduced illegal departures.
Italy lauded Pakistan’s efforts, particularly its success in curbing human trafficking, drug smuggling, and irregular migration networks. Both countries committed to deepening cooperation in law enforcement, security, and counter-narcotics operations, ensuring that migration occurs safely and legally.
Regional Cooperation: Pakistan and Greece
Italy’s announcement comes alongside a bilateral agreement between Pakistan and Greece to combat illegal immigration. During talks with Greek Minister for Migration and Asylum, Athanasios Plevris, both nations agreed to finalize a migration cooperation agreement pending for two years.
The agreement will include a Joint Working Group to operationalize frameworks for combating human smuggling and strengthening institutional coordination. Minister Naqvi welcomed Greece’s support in enhancing police and paramilitary capacities, particularly in technology-driven operations, emphasizing the need for legal migration alternatives.
Benefits for Pakistani Skilled Workers
- Legal employment in Italy across multiple sectors.
- Visa-free travel for diplomats, improving international collaboration.
- Enhanced professional and economic opportunities for Pakistani citizens.
- Support for family relocation and long-term residency under regulated schemes.
This milestone represents a significant step for Pakistan-Italy relations, promoting regulated migration, protecting workers’ rights, and fostering cooperation to combat unlawful migration. Pakistani professionals looking to work abroad now have a transparent, secure pathway to Italy’s labor market in 2026.