Decree Law 113/2018 (the “Decreto Salvini”) , entered into force on 5 October 2018, introducing sweeping changes to asylum, immigration and citizenship.

The residence permit for humanitarian reasons has been abolished and replaced by a limited number of residence permits for “special cases”. Further, the public system called “Sprar” for receiving immigrants has been abolished in favour of the Extraordinary Reception (CAS), which tends to offer lower standards.

The reform is already creating concern within the Immigration Association: it argues that a tightening of the regulations on residence could increase those staying in Italy illegally, jeopardising social cohesion and making it more difficult for companies to find workers with a valid right to remain.