Investor Visa for Italy

Italy's Investor Visa (Visto per Investitori), commonly known as the Italy Golden Visa, is a residence-by-investment programme that allows non-EU citizens to reside in Italy by making a qualifying financial investment in the Italian economy. Established in 2017, the programme falls outside Italy's annual immigration quota system, meaning applications are not subject to numerical caps. The visa enables holders to work, establish businesses, or engage in any lawful economic activity in Italy without restrictions.

• Government securities: €2,000,000 in Italian government bonds (BTP, CCT, CTZ, or similar) with a residual maturity of at least 2 years
• Corporate equity: €500,000 in an Italian joint-stock company (S.p.A. or S.r.l.)
• Innovative startup: €250,000 in a startup registered under the official innovative startup register maintained by the Italian Chambers of Commerce
• Philanthropic donation: €1,000,000 to projects in culture, education, immigration management, scientific research, environmental protection, or heritage conservation

Real estate purchases do not qualify as an eligible investment.

• Non-EU citizen of any nationality (applications currently suspended for Russian and Belarusian citizens and dual nationals holding Russian or Belarusian passports)
• Commitment to make a qualifying investment in one of the four categories
• Proof of lawful origin of investment funds
• No specific educational or professional qualifications required
• Health insurance covering emergency care and hospitalisation valid for the Schengen area
• Criminal record certificate

For the Nulla Osta application (uploaded to online portal):

• Valid passport (minimum 2 years validity, at least 2 blank pages)
• Curriculum vitae
• Proof of financial resources demonstrating capacity to make the investment
• Criminal record certificate
• Documentation supporting the chosen investment category
• Electronically signed declaration

For the visa application at the consulate:

• Nulla Osta (downloaded from portal)
• Valid passport
• Recent passport-size photograph
• Travel reservation
• Health insurance documentation

The initial investor visa and residence permit are valid for 2 years. The qualifying investment must be completed within 3 months of entry into Italy. Renewal applications are submitted through the Investor Visa portal at least 60 days before the current permit expires. Applicants must demonstrate the original investment has been maintained for the entire permit period. Renewed permits are valid for 3 years.

After 5 years of continuous legal residence, investors may apply for an EU Long-Term Residence Permit. After 10 years, investors may apply for Italian citizenship by naturalisation, subject to integration requirements and Italian language proficiency at minimum B1 level.

Spouses, minor children, and dependent family members may accompany the investor. They receive residence permits valid for the same duration as the main applicant's permit. There is no additional investment requirement for dependants. Each family member may independently opt into the flat-tax regime at an additional cost.

Investors who transfer their tax residence to Italy may opt for a substitute tax regime for new residents, which replaces standard taxation on all foreign-sourced income with an annual lump-sum payment. The rate is €200,000 per year for those who transferred residence between August 2024 and December 2025, and €300,000 per year for new elections from January 2026. Family members joining the scheme pay an additional €25,000 per year (increasing to €50,000 from 2026). The regime lasts up to 15 years and is optional.

Investors not opting for the flat-tax regime are subject to standard progressive IRPEF rates (23% to 43% plus surcharges) on worldwide income if tax-resident in Italy.

The application proceeds in three phases:

Phase 1 - Nulla Osta: The applicant creates an account on the Investor Visa for Italy portal, completes the online forms, uploads required documents, and submits an electronically signed declaration. The inter-ministerial Investor Visa Committee evaluates the application within 30 days. If approved, a Nulla Osta becomes available for download.

Phase 2 - Visa: The applicant has 6 months to present the Nulla Osta at the competent Italian consulate and request the investor visa. In-person biometric enrolment (fingerprinting and digital photograph) is mandatory. Upon receiving the visa, the applicant has 2 years to enter Italy.

Phase 3 - Residence Permit: Within 8 days of arrival in Italy, the applicant applies for the investor residence permit at the local Questura. The qualifying investment must be completed within 3 months of entry; proof of completion must be uploaded to the portal.

The Nulla Osta application is free of charge. The Type D national visa fee is approximately €116. The overall process from initial application to receiving the residence permit typically takes 3 to 8 months.

The investor residence permit does not impose a strict minimum stay requirement in Italy during its validity period. However, absence from Italy for more than 6 consecutive months may affect eligibility for permit renewal. For citizenship purposes, extended absences may interrupt the continuity of legal residence required for the 10-year naturalisation period. The residence permit allows visa-free travel throughout the Schengen Area for up to 90 days in any 180-day period.