The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given ex post facto approval to the Ministry of External Affairs’ proposal to sign and ratify the Migration and Mobility Agreement between India and Italy.
The agreement will strengthen people-to-people contacts, facilitate the mobility of students, skilled workers, businessmen and young professionals, and strengthen cooperation on issues related to irregular migration between the two countries.
The agreement will lock in Italy’s current visa regime, including post-study opportunities, internships and professional training mechanisms, and will ensure India’s advantage under existing labor migration channels under the Flow Decree.
Indian students who wish to gain initial work experience after completing their academic/vocational training in Italy may be granted temporary residence in Italy for up to 12 months.
The Italian side has detailed provisions related to professional training, extracurricular internships, and curricular internships that allow Indian students/trainees to gain experience in Italian skills/training standards.
Regarding workers, the Italian side has reserved quotas for 5,000, 6,000 and 7,000 non-seasonal Indian workers in 2023, 2024 and 2025 under the current Mobility Decree ( The total quota for non-seasonal workers is 12,000). Furthermore, based on the current flow order, Italy has secured employment quotas for 3,000, 4,000, and 5,000 Indian seasonal workers for 2023, 2024, and 2025. The total number of reservations is 8,000 people).
Under the Flow Decree, the Italian side offers incremental reservation slots for both seasonal and non-seasonal workers from 2023 to 2025. Additionally, the agreement formalizes joint efforts to facilitate migration routes between India and Italy through the Agreement on Youth Mobility and Facilitation of Recruitment of Indian Qualified Professionals in the Healthcare and Medical Services Sector; This will be discussed under the Joint Working Group (JWG).
Cooperation between the parties in the fight against irregular migration was also formally established through this agreement.
This Agreement will enter into force on the first day of the second month following the date on which the parties receive the last of the two notices mutually informing each other of the completion of the internal procedures necessary for its entry into force. Valid for 5 years. The Agreement will automatically renew for a similar duration unless terminated by the Participant.
The agreement provides a formal mechanism for oversight through a JWG that meets regularly in virtual or physical modes as convenient and oversees its implementation. The JWG will share relevant information, assess the implementation of the Agreement, and discuss any appropriate proposals to support implementation where appropriate.