Strategically located in the heart of Europe, Italy offers seamless access to the Schengen Area and a stable, advanced economy, with strong infrastructure, healthcare and education. The Investor Visa for Italy grants residence to investors and their families from EUR 250,000, with government approval within 30 days, no minimum stay requirement and a pathway to long-term residence after five years.
Italy is the ideal gateway to Europe, combining economic strength, global mobility and quality of life with a renowned culture, cuisine and lifestyle that make it one of the most attractive destinations for international investors.
Italy sits in southern Europe, made up of the boot-shaped Italian peninsula and islands including Sicily and Sardinia. It covers more than 300,000 square kilometres, from the Alps in the north to the Mediterranean coastline in the south.
The capital is Rome, known as the Eternal City for its almost three thousand years of history, from the Colosseum and the Roman Forum to its Renaissance art and architecture.
Italian is the official language. Italy is a unitary parliamentary republic, and there is no language requirement to obtain residency through the investor programme.
Italy is one of the largest economies in Europe, with a well-established business environment and full access to the European Union single market. The currency is the Euro (EUR).
Italy is a founding member of the European Union and NATO, and a member of the United Nations, the G7 and the Schengen Area.
Investing in a second residency can offer various benefits, including better global mobility, access to education and healthcare, retirement planning, a pathway to citizenship and a Plan B for the family.
Travel visa-free across the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Access to high-quality healthcare and internationally recognised education for you and your family.
You only make the investment after the government has approved your application and you have arrived in Italy.
Investor permit holders are exempt from the usual rules on continuous presence in Italy, so there is no minimum stay requirement.
Keep your investment for five years and you can apply for a long-term residence permit. Citizenship can be applied for after ten years of legal residence.
The Investor Visa for Italy is offered under Article 26-bis of Legislative Decree 286/1998. Every main applicant must meet the conditions below.
Shares in an Italian innovative startup listed on the official register of innovative startups.
Shares in a limited company incorporated and operating in Italy, listed or unlisted, that has filed at least one balance sheet.
A donation supporting a project of public interest in culture, education, immigration management, scientific research, or the preservation of cultural and natural heritage.
Italian government bonds with at least two years left to maturity, deposited with a financial institution in Italy.
Government fees apply for each applicant, as well as investment-related fees and legal and processing fees. Your advisor will give you the full cost for your family during your consultation.
The application process is straightforward, and the government's Investor Visa Committee decides on each application within 30 days. The process can be divided into the following stages.
The Investor Visa for Italy was introduced by the 2017 Budget Law and is managed by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy through the inter-ministerial Investor Visa for Italy Committee.
There are four options: EUR 250,000 in an Italian innovative startup, EUR 500,000 in an Italian limited company, a EUR 1,000,000 philanthropic donation to a project of public interest, or EUR 2,000,000 in Italian government bonds.
Once your application is complete, the government's Investor Visa for Italy Committee decides within 30 days. After approval, you have six months to apply for the investor visa at the Italian embassy or consulate.
Only after approval. You make the investment within three months of arriving in Italy on your investor visa, and then submit proof of it to the Committee.
No. Investor permit holders are exempt from the usual rules on continuous presence in Italy, so there is no minimum stay requirement. You do need to travel to Italy to apply for your residence permit in person.
Your spouse, including a civil union partner, your minor children, and financially dependent parents over 65 can qualify as dependants of the main applicant.
The investor residence permit is valid for two years and can be renewed for further three-year periods, as long as you keep the investment. If you keep your original investment for five years, you can apply for a long-term residence permit.
No. There is no language requirement to obtain residency through the programme.
Citizenship by residence can be applied for after ten years of legal residence in Italy, subject to the other requirements of Italian citizenship law, including knowledge of Italian at B1 level.
A thirty-minute consultation with our advisory team will tell you whether Italy is the right programme for you, and if it is not, which of our other programmes is.