Italy is famous for its vineyards, olive groves, orchards, vegetable farms, and beautiful countryside, but agriculture is also an important source of employment. Every year, Italian farms need thousands of workers for harvesting, planting, greenhouse operations, livestock care, packing, vineyard maintenance, and other agricultural activities.
For international job seekers, particularly those looking for practical work without requiring an advanced university degree, farm work opportunities in Italy can be worth exploring. Seasonal agriculture is also one of the sectors covered by Italy’s legal immigration system for non-EU workers.
The Italian government has established significant legal-entry quotas under the Decreto Flussi 2026–2028. For 2026, Italy allocated 164,850 total entries for non-EU workers, including 88,000 places for seasonal employment, mainly connected with agriculture and tourism.
This guide explains available farm jobs in Italy, expected salaries, eligibility requirements, required documents, the seasonal work visa process, and how to search and apply safely.
Why Consider Farm Work in Italy?
Agricultural work can be attractive for people looking for seasonal employment, practical experience, or an opportunity to work legally in Europe.
One important reason is the continuing demand for seasonal workers. According to EURES labour-market information, Italy has reported shortages in agriculture and agribusiness, including demand for seasonal fruit and vegetable pickers, particularly for grape and olive harvesting, as well as specialized agricultural workers.
There are several advantages to considering this sector:
- Many entry-level agricultural jobs do not require a university degree.
- Seasonal opportunities are available during different harvesting periods.
- Workers can gain European agricultural experience.
- Some jobs provide overtime opportunities during busy harvest periods.
- Employers may recruit workers for fruit, vegetable, olive and grape harvesting.
- Skilled workers can find positions involving machinery, vineyards, livestock or greenhouse operations.
- Non-EU nationals may qualify through Italy’s official seasonal-worker immigration route when the employer obtains the required authorization.
Agricultural jobs are physically demanding, however. Workers may spend several hours outdoors, work early in the morning and perform repetitive activities such as picking, sorting, lifting and packing.
Applicants should therefore consider both the opportunities and the working conditions before accepting a contract.
Types of Farm Jobs Available in Italy
Italy’s agricultural industry includes vineyards, fruit orchards, olive farms, vegetable farms, nurseries, dairy farms, livestock operations and agricultural cooperatives.
The following are some common positions.
| Job Position | Typical Duties | Approximate Monthly Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Fruit Picker / Harvester | Picking apples, grapes, peaches, oranges and other crops | €1,100–€1,600 |
| General Farm Worker | Planting, harvesting, cleaning and farm maintenance | €1,100–€1,500 |
| Vineyard Worker | Grape harvesting, pruning and vineyard maintenance | €1,300–€1,700 |
| Olive Harvest Worker | Picking and collecting olives during harvest season | €1,200–€1,500 |
| Greenhouse Worker | Planting, watering, sorting and maintaining crops | €1,100–€1,500 |
| Farm Machinery Operator | Operating tractors and agricultural machinery | €1,400–€2,000+ |
| Livestock / Dairy Worker | Feeding animals, cleaning facilities and assisting with dairy operations | €1,200–€1,700 |
| Packing & Sorting Worker | Sorting, grading, packing and preparing produce | €1,100–€1,500 |
| Floriculture / Nursery Worker | Growing, handling and maintaining plants and flowers | Around €7.85–€9.13+ per hour depending on classification |
Important: These figures are estimates rather than guaranteed salaries. Actual pay depends on the province, collective agreement, professional level, working hours, experience, overtime and employer.
Recent salary data from Indeed Italy showed an average of approximately €1,310 per month for agricultural workers, while agricultural labourers averaged around €1,186 per month. A recent seasonal fruit-harvesting vacancy in Bolzano advertised approximately €1,500–€1,800 per month.
Italy’s agricultural collective-agreement system can also determine minimum contractual rates. Under the 2026 renewal covering agricultural and floriculture workers, national agricultural minimums vary by occupational category, while floriculture hourly minimums start at roughly €7.86 and rise above €9 depending on classification. Provincial agreements can affect the final rate.
Where Are Farm Jobs Common in Italy?
Agriculture takes place throughout the country, although the type of work varies by region.
Northern Italy offers opportunities in vineyards, apple orchards, dairy production and agricultural processing. Regions such as Trentino-Alto Adige, Veneto, Piedmont, Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna have significant agricultural activity.
Central Italy, including Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio, is known for vineyards, olives, vegetables and other crops.
Southern Italy, including Sicily, Campania, Calabria, Puglia and Basilicata, has considerable demand connected with citrus fruits, olives, tomatoes, grapes, vegetables and greenhouse production.
Harvest periods vary depending on crop and location, so applicants should search throughout the year rather than waiting for one particular month.
Eligibility Criteria for Farm Jobs in Italy
Individual employers determine their own recruitment requirements, but applicants commonly need to meet several basic conditions.
Age
Applicants normally need to be at least 18 years old for full-time employment and immigration sponsorship.
Physical Fitness
Farm work can involve:
- Standing for long periods
- Working outdoors
- Bending and carrying boxes
- Walking across fields
- Working in hot, cold or rainy weather
- Performing repetitive manual tasks
Good physical fitness is therefore valuable.
Education
Many general farm-worker and fruit-picking positions do not require higher education.
Specialized positions involving agricultural machinery, irrigation systems, farm management or technical production may require qualifications or previous experience.
Experience
Entry-level positions may accept applicants without extensive professional experience. Previous farming, harvesting, packing, gardening or machinery experience can improve an applicant’s chances.
Language
Basic Italian can be extremely useful. Some employers may specifically require Italian, particularly where workers need to understand safety instructions or communicate with supervisors.
One recent Italian vineyard-worker advertisement, for example, specifically required Italian and previous vineyard experience.
Documents You May Need
Prepare your documents before applying because employers recruiting international workers may request them quickly.
Common documents include:
- Valid passport
- Updated CV or résumé
- Passport-size photographs where requested
- Educational certificates, if relevant
- Work-experience certificates
- Driving licence for machinery or driving positions
- Signed employment offer or contract
- Employer’s work authorization or nulla osta
- Visa application documents
- Proof of accommodation where required
- Travel and other documentation requested by the Italian diplomatic mission
Never provide original documents or make substantial payments to an unknown recruiter without verifying the employer or agency first.
Italy Seasonal Farm Work Visa Requirements
The process is especially important for applicants who are citizens of countries outside the European Union.
Non-EU workers cannot normally travel to Italy as tourists and simply begin working legally on a farm.
For seasonal employment, the worker needs authorization to work and a seasonal employment visa before entering Italy. Italy operates a quota-based system for such workers.
The process usually begins with the employer in Italy, not the foreign worker.
The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms that an Italian employer, or a foreign employer legally resident in Italy, must first request a nulla osta al lavoro, or work authorization, from the relevant immigration office.
Under Italy’s 2026 immigration programme, the agricultural seasonal-work click day was 12 January 2026. The government allocated 88,000 seasonal-worker entries across eligible seasonal sectors for 2026.
Since quotas and procedures are time-sensitive, applicants should always verify the latest rules before planning travel.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Apply for Farm Jobs in Italy
Step 1: Prepare a Professional CV
Create a simple CV containing:
- Full name
- Contact information
- Nationality
- Work experience
- Agricultural experience
- Education
- Language ability
- Driving licence
- Machinery experience
- Availability
A one- or two-page CV is usually sufficient for general agricultural positions.
Step 2: Search for Genuine Vacancies
Useful places to begin include:
EURES — European Employment Services
EURES provides job-search resources and information about employment and living conditions throughout Europe.
Cliclavoro
Cliclavoro is the Italian Ministry of Labour’s employment portal. EURES specifically identifies it as one of the resources publishing
