The Italian government has published new rules governing how foreign nationals can obtain an EU Blue Card as of Nov. 17.

‌Key Points:

• The European Union issued a directive in 2021 that updated the existing EU Blue Card process, and Italy’s new rules are intended to comply with that directive.
• The new rules update key provisions, including:
  
  • Education required for unregulated professions (must meet one of these conditions):
    
    • Three-year university-level degree.
    • Post-secondary professional qualification of at least three years.
    • Five years of professional experience in the sector relevant to the job offer.
    • Three years of professional experience (acquired in the previous seven years) for managers and specialists working in the field of information and communication technologies.
  • Necessary job-offer duration and salary requirements:
    
    • Job offers must be for a minimum of six months.
    • Employers cannot offer an annual salary that is less than national collective agreements.
  • Other key updates include providing alternative skill pathways, expanding protections for seasonal workers, providing greater long-term mobility options and improving short-term mobility options.

BAL Analysis: It is expected that other EU member states will also formalize the upgraded EU Blue Card rules. The 2021 EU directive gave EU member states until Nov. 18, 2023, to implement the upgrades for those countries that opted in.