Italy

Italy Investor Visa Overview 

The Italy Investor Visa is open to non-EU nationals who make a qualifying investment of at least €250,000 in the Italian economy. Eligible investments include innovative startups, established Italian companies, government bonds, and philanthropic initiatives.

The initial residence permit is valid for 2 years and renewable in 3-year periods, with no minimum physical presence requirement. 

The investment does not need to be committed before the visa is issued; applicants have up to three months after entry to deploy the capital.

The main applicant can include a spouse, dependent children, and dependent parents in the same application.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicants must commit to one investment category exclusively; combinations across categories are not permitted. The investment must be maintained for the full validity of the visa and any renewals. 

4 routes are available:

Innovative Italian Startup

• Minimum investment of €250,000 (approx. US$292,500) in an Italian company officially registered as an innovative startup on the national startup register

Established Italian Company

• Minimum investment of €500,000 (approx. US$585,000) in shares or corporate bonds of an existing Italian limited company not listed on a regulated market

Italian Government Bonds

• Minimum investment of €2,000,000 (approx. US$2,340,000) in Italian government securities, held for at least two years

Projects of Public Interest

• Minimum philanthropic contribution of €1,000,000 (approx. US$1,170,000) to projects benefiting Italy in culture, education, immigration management, scientific research and development, arts, or environmental protection

General Eligibility Conditions

• Valid passport and detailed professional CV
• Bank documentation confirming the required investment amount is held in the applicant’s name and was lawfully acquired
• Anti-money-laundering declaration confirming the legal origin of funds
• Clean criminal record
• Proof of accommodation in Italy upon entry
• Non-EU nationals holding dual nationality where one is Russian or Belarusian are currently suspended from the program 

Route to Citizenship

Holders who relocate to Italy and establish actual residence may apply for permanent residency after five continuous years of legal residence. 

After ten years of continuous legal residence, holders may apply for Italian citizenship by naturalization, which requires demonstrating integration into Italian society and adequate knowledge of the Italian language.

Naturalization is administered by the Ministry of the Interior and assessed individually. Italy permits dual nationality and does not require applicants to renounce their prior citizenship upon naturalization. 

Mobility and Taxation

Mobility

As a Schengen Area member, Italy’s residence permit enables visa-free travel across all 29 Schengen countries. 

Holders who later obtain Italian citizenship through naturalization gain access to approximately 191 destinations without a prior visa, as well as full free movement and settlement rights across all EU and EEA member states. 

Taxation

Italy operates a worldwide income tax system for tax residents spending more than 183 days per year in the country. 

Italy also has a flat-tax regime that allows qualifying individuals to pay a fixed annual substitute tax of €300,000 (approx. US$351,000) on all foreign-sourced income, replacing standard progressive rates. 

To qualify, applicants must not have been Italian tax residents for at least 9 of the 10 years prior to the transfer. The regime is valid for up to 15 years and includes exemptions from tax monitoring obligations and wealth taxes on foreign assets. 

Family members can be added for an additional €50,000 (approx. US$58,500) per person.

Italy also offers a 7% flat tax on all foreign-sourced income for retirees who move to qualifying municipalities with fewer than 20,000 inhabitants in specific southern regions. Applicants must hold a foreign pension and not have been Italian tax residents for at least five years prior. This regime lasts up to 10 years.

How to Apply

The program is administered by the Investor Visa for Italy Committee, under the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy. 

The process typically runs as follows:

• Step 1: The applicant submits their documentation through the official online portal at investorvisa.mise.gov.it. 
• Step 2: The Investor Visa for Italy Committee reviews the application and issues the Nulla Osta authorization, typically within 30 to 90 days of a complete submission.
• Step 3: Once the Nulla Osta is issued, the applicant has six months to apply for the Investor Visa at the Italian consulate in their country of residence.
• Step 4: Following entry into Italy, the applicant must apply for a permesso di soggiorno at the local Questura within eight days of arrival. Proof of accommodation in Italy is required at this stage.
• Step 5: The qualifying investment must be deployed within three months of entry into Italy.