Converting a Seasonal Permit_ What Are the Legal Requirements_

Converting a Seasonal Permit: What Are the Legal Requirements? Welcome to a new episode of the podcast Immigration Law.I am Attorney Fabio Loscerbo, and today we are discussing a very practical issue: the legal requirements for converting a seasonal residence permit into a standard work permit in Italy. We take inspiration from a recent judgment delivered by the Regional Administrative Court of Tuscany, Second Section, decision no. 329 of 2026, published on 11 February 2026, issued in proceedings registered under general register number 1670 of 2025. The case concerned an agricultural worker whose application to convert his seasonal permit into a subordinate work permit had been rejected because he had not reached the minimum number of working days required by administrative practice. The legal basis is Article 24, paragraph 10, of Legislative Decree no. 286 of 1998. The rule provides that a seasonal worker who has carried out regular work activity in Italy for at least three months, and who has received an offer of subordinate employment—either fixed-term or open-ended—may apply for the conversion of the permit. So the requirements are clear.First, a genuine job offer for subordinate employment.Second, proof of regular work activity for at least three months. However, in the agricultural sector, the concept of “three months” is translated into actual working days. Because agricultural work is often discontinuous and heavily dependent on weather conditions, administrative circulars have established a benchmark: an average of at least thirteen working days per month, for a total of thirty-nine days over the three-month period. The Regional Administrative Court considered this criterion lawful. It held that converting months into working days does not contradict the statute. On the contrary, it reflects the purpose of the law, which is to ensure that the worker has performed real and effective employment before obtaining a more stable residence status. The applicant argued that he failed to reach the required thirty-nine days due to adverse weather conditions. But the Court made an important clarification: such circumstances must be proven rigorously. Generic statements are not enough. Concrete and documented evidence is required. The message is straightforward. The conversion of a seasonal permit is not automatic. It requires real employment, properly documented and consistent with the administrative criteria. And above all, the administrative procedure must be carefully prepared before any litigation begins. In immigration law, substance matters. But evidence matters just as much. Thank you for listening, and I look forward to speaking with you in the next episode of Immigration Law.Questo episodio include contenuti generati dall’IA.