International protection rules change under Italy’s Decree-Law No. 168 of 29 September 2026, in force from 30 September. In particular, Article 4 addresses documents for asylum applicants and the deadline for the transitional period. This guide explains the extension to 30 April 2027, one-year validity, renewal and the conditions for working.
International protection: key changes at a glance
- Transitional deadline: extended from 31 October 2026 to 30 April 2027.
- Document validity: one year from registration of the application.
- Renewal: remains available under Article 29(9) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1348.
- Legal status of the document: equivalent to the document referred to in Article 4(4) of Legislative Decree 142/2015.
- Work: permitted subject to the conditions in Article 22(1) of Legislative Decree 142/2015.
1. International protection: the legal framework
Italy’s Official Gazette No. 226 of 29 September 2026 published the measure. Article 4 amends Article 17 of Decree-Law No. 100 of 12 June 2026, converted into law without amendments by Law No. 145 of 7 August 2026. Practitioners must therefore read the new provisions alongside the text they amend.
For international protection, the wider context is Italy’s implementation of the European Union Pact on Migration and Asylum. To understand the procedure, it is necessary to distinguish between expressing an intention to seek asylum, registering the application and subsequently lodging it formally. The registration date is also specifically relevant when calculating the document’s one-year validity.
2. International protection: extension to 30 April 2027
The first change concerns the deadline in Article 17(1) of Decree-Law 100/2026. The decree replaces the previous deadline of 31 October 2026 with 30 April 2027. It therefore extends the transitional period by six months.
For international protection, this extension concerns the statutory deadline specified in paragraph 1. However, applicants must not confuse it with an automatic extension of every individual document. To establish when their own document expires, applicants must check the registration date, the validity stated on the document and any renewal decisions.
Practitioners should therefore keep two separate timelines: the transitional period and the individual document’s validity. This ensures that the new general deadline does not replace an assessment of the applicant’s personal circumstances.
3. International protection documents: validity and renewal
The second amendment adds to Article 17(3) of Decree-Law 100/2026. In particular, a document issued under that paragraph is valid for one year from registration of the international protection application. The provision also clarifies that it is equivalent to the document referred to in Article 4(4) of Legislative Decree 142/2015.
How to calculate the document’s expiry date
For international protection, validity starts from registration. Applicants should therefore keep evidence of registration and check that the details on their document are consistent. For example, for an application registered on 30 September 2026, applicants calculate the one-year period from that date. They must nevertheless check the actual expiry date on the document from the competent office.
Renewal under the European regulation
For international protection documents, the new wording preserves the renewal provided for in Article 29(9) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1348. One-year validity does not, by itself, exhaust the rules governing residence during the procedure. Before expiry, applicants should check with the competent office which arrangements apply to their case.
4. International protection and the right to work
An international protection document allows its holder to work under Article 22(1) of Legislative Decree 142/2015. However, this reference does not authorise work immediately after the competent office issues the document. The rule requires 60 days to have elapsed since the applicant submitted the application, provided that the examination is still pending and the delay is not attributable to the applicant.
Employers must therefore verify both the document and the relevant timing and procedural conditions. Employers must also check the date for calculating the document’s one-year validity and the date relevant to access to work against the application records.
Guidance for employers and practitioners
For an orderly assessment of international protection, it is useful to collect a copy of the document, evidence of submission and registration, and any renewals. In particular, a twelve-month validity period alone does not establish that the applicant already meets all the conditions for working.
Similarly, obtaining a tax identification number, accessing healthcare and registering with employment services require checks under their respective rules. Practitioners should therefore avoid presenting them as automatic effects of Article 4 of the new decree.
5. International protection: comparison table
The table separates the changes affecting the document from the conditions that continue to apply by reference. In particular, the transitional deadline and the individual expiry date serve different purposes.
| Subject | Previous rules | Changes under Decree-Law 168/2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Transitional deadline | 31 October 2026 | 30 April 2027 |
| Document validity | Wording of paragraph 3 before the addition | One year from registration of the application |
| Document equivalence | Previous provisions of paragraph 3 | Equivalent to the document in Article 4(4) of Legislative Decree 142/2015 |
| Renewal | Legal framework applicable to the procedure | Express reference to Article 29(9) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 |
| Access to work | Conditions in Article 22(1) of Legislative Decree 142/2015 | Express reference to the same conditions: no immediate, unconditional authorisation |
6. Frequently asked questions about international protection
When does one-year validity begin?
Validity begins when the competent office registers the application. Applicants must therefore check this date when calculating the document’s one-year period.
Can an asylum applicant work immediately?
Not automatically. Applicants must comply with Article 22(1): 60 days must have elapsed since submission of the application, the examination must still be pending and the delay must not be attributable to the applicant.
How is the document renewed?
The decree preserves the renewal provided for in Regulation (EU) 2024/1348. Before expiry, applicants should therefore check the instructions of the office responsible for their case.
Do all documents expire on 30 April 2027?
No. This is the new deadline for the transitional period under paragraph 1. Applicants instead calculate the validity of an individual document from registration of the application.
7. International protection checks for practitioners
When assisting an international protection applicant, practitioners should check deadlines, renewals and work conditions separately. It is also advisable to retain records of the different stages of the procedure.
- Check the registration date and the one-year validity stated on the document.
- Verify equivalence to the document referred to in Article 4(4) of Legislative Decree 142/2015.
- Confirm the Article 22 conditions before employment begins.
- Check renewal requirements in good time and retain receipts and communications from the competent office.
International protection sources and further reading
For the text of the measure, see Decree-Law 168/2026 in the Italian Official Gazette. Also available are Legislative Decree 142/2015 on Normattiva and Regulation (EU) 2024/1348 on EUR-Lex.
For more information, explore LexFocus’s practical legal guides and Focus analysis. This article is updated as of 30 September 2026; developments during the decree’s conversion into law will require further review.