NASpI for cross-border workers: requirements and calculation

Context

TL;DR

• NASpI supports Italian cross-border workers in Switzerland who lose their job involuntarily.
• Requires 13 weeks of contributions in 4 years; the 30-workday rule no longer applies since 2022.
• NASpI amount is calculated based on average salary, with a maximum of €1,584.70 monthly in 2026.

Key facts

• Beneficio: NASpI (Nuova Assicurazione Sociale per l'Impiego)
• Gestito da: INPS (Istituto Nazionale della Previdenza Sociale)
• Contributi minimi: 13 settimane di contributi negli ultimi 4 anni
• Giorni di lavoro: Requisito delle 30 giornate abolito per le cessazioni dal 1° gennaio 2022 (legge 234/2021)
• Massimale mensile: €1,584.70 nel 2026
• Durata massima: 24 mesi, pari alla metà delle settimane lavorate negli ultimi 4 anni
• Scadenza domanda: 68 giorni dalla cessazione del rapporto di lavoro
• Riduzione: 3% al mese a partire dal sesto mese (dall'ottavo con 55 anni compiuti alla domanda)

For cross-border workers who are employed in Switzerland but reside in Italy, it is crucial to understand the rules of NASpI, the New Social Insurance for Employment, an unemployment benefit managed by INPS. This financial measure serves as essential support for those who lose their job, but it comes with specific requirements and calculation methods that must be understood.

What are the requirements for NASpI?

To qualify for NASpI, Italian cross-border workers must meet the following criteria:

• Have lost their job in Switzerland involuntarily (dismissal).
• Have accumulated at least 13 weeks of contributions in the 4 years preceding the start of unemployment, Swiss periods included.

Since 1 January 2022 the requirement of 30 actual workdays in the previous 12 months no longer applies.

It is important to note that contributions paid in Switzerland are considered for the calculation of NASpI, thanks to bilateral agreements between Italy and Switzerland. Dismissal for just cause does not exclude NASpI, because it is still an involuntary job loss (INPS circular no. 142/2015); voluntary resignation does, unless you resign for just cause.

📊 Practical example 2026: A cross-border worker who has worked for 18 months at a company in Lugano and lost their job on February 1, 2026, meets the contribution requirements to apply for NASpI if they have accumulated at least 13 weeks of contributions in Switzerland in the last 4 years.

Operational details

Calculation of NASpI amount and duration

The amount of NASpI is based on the average salary of the last 4 years of work, including contributions paid in Switzerland. In 2026, the maximum monthly cap is set at €1,584.70. Generally, the benefit corresponds to:

• 75% of the average monthly salary earned up to €1,456.72;
• Beyond this threshold, an additional 25% of the difference between the salary and €1,456.72 is added.

The duration of the benefit is equal to half the weeks worked in the previous 4 years, up to a maximum of 24 months. For example, a cross-border worker who has worked continuously for 18 months will be eligible to receive NASpI for 9 months.

For cross-border workers, applying Article 7 of Law 83/2023 and any coordination with the Swiss benefit require official verification of the implementing circular. As of September 2026, this page does not assign a special amount for the first three months; for an individual case, check the applicable amount with INPS or a patronage office.

For an individual case, verify the requirements and amount with INPS or a patronage office.

⚠️ Attention: The NASpI amount is subject to a progressive reduction of 3% per month starting from the first day of the sixth month of payment (the eighth month for those aged 55 or over when applying).

Key points

How to apply and useful tips for cross-border workers

To apply for NASpI, you need to submit an online application on the INPS portal, using SPID, CIE, or CNS. Alternatively, you can contact a patronage office or call the INPS contact center. The application must be submitted within 68 days from the termination of the employment relationship. Once approved, the benefit is paid monthly into a bank account.

💡 Practical tips for cross-border workers:

• Keep all relevant documentation (contracts, payslips, dismissal letter).
• Verify the correct transmission of work contributions from Switzerland to Italy.
• Use our net salary calculator to estimate your average income and check the NASpI amount.

In the economic context of Canton Ticino and border regions, being informed about your rights is essential to face potential periods of unemployment. For more details on application procedures, consult our complete unemployment guide.

Source: editorial analysis by Frontaliere Ticino, INPS data updated to 2026.

Sources: Legislative Decree no. 22 of 4 March 2015, Arts. 3-6 (https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:2015-03-04;22); Italian Ministry of Labour, NASpI page (https://www.lavoro.gov.it/temi-e-priorita/ammortizzatori-sociali/focus-on/indennita-disoccupazione/naspi/pagine/naspi); INPS circular no. 2 of 4 January 2022 (https://www.inps.it/it/it/inps-comunica/atti/circolari-messaggi-e-normativa/dettaglio.circolari-e-messaggi.2022.01.circolare-numero-2-del-04-01-2022_13665.html); INPS circular no. 4 of 28 January 2026, 2026 amounts (https://www.inps.it/it/it/inps-comunica/atti/circolari-messaggi-e-normativa/dettaglio.circolari-e-messaggi.2026.01.circolare-numero-4-del-28-01-2026_15147.html); INPS circular no. 142 of 29 July 2015 (https://servizi2.inps.it/servizi/Bussola/VisualizzaDoc.aspx?sVirtualURL=%2FCircolari%2FCircolare+numero+142+del+29-07-2015.htm); Regulation (EC) No 883/2004, Arts. 61, 62 and 65 (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:02004R0883-20190731); Law no. 83 of 13 June 2023, Art. 7 (https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:legge:2023-06-13;83~art7).