EU Blue Card | Joint Circular from the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies and the Ministry of the Interior issued on 28 March 2024

Summary:

The Italian Legislative Decree No. 152 of October 18, 2023, receives the EU Directive 2021/1883 on the conditions of entry and stay of foreign citizens who intend to perform highly qualified work in a Member State (so-called EU Blue Card). The Decree modifies Article 27-quater of the Immigration Unification Act (D.lgs. n. 286/98). The Circular of March 28, 2024, jointly issued by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies and the Ministry of the Interior, provides operational instructions to local offices involved in managing the entries of extra-UE citizens in Italy for highly qualified work and indicates the procedure to follow for presenting applications to the Single Immigration Offices by the employer.

Main novelties include the expansion of the scope of workers who can enter Italy through this channel, including seasonal workers and beneficiaries of international protection, and less stringent requirements for the requested titles (not only a higher education title, but also a professional qualification relevant to the specified profession). Additionally, the decree modifies the procedure for issuing the nulla osta, provides simplifications for family reunification and work mobility for holders of EU Blue Cards granted by other EU States, and reinforces job retention and reemployment measures for EU Blue Card holders, who can engage in autonomous work alongside qualified subordinated work and seek new employment in case of unemployment.

Please let me know if you would like me to expand on this summary or provide further information!