Italy Golden Visa, also known as the Investor Visa for Italy, is a residency-by-investment program that allows foreign investors and their families to obtain residency in Italy by making a significant investment in the Italian economy. The visa has helped attract foreign capital to the country and comes with several benefits for investors. After five years of holding a temporary residence permit, the Italian Golden Visa provides a route to permanent residence in Italy.
Along with residency, the Golden Visa in Italy offers numerous benefits, such as the right to live, work, and study in Italy, the ability to travel freely across the Schengen Area, and access to healthcare and education.
In this article, we will explore the key features of the Italian Golden Visa, including the application process, investment options, eligibility criteria, and the benefits of holding this visa for individuals and their families.
Italy Golden Visa: Key Takeaways
The Italy Golden Visa, also known as the Investor Visa for Italy, is a residency by investment program that allows non-EU citizens to obtain legal residence in Italy by making a significant financial investment in the country.
The visa application process is quick and grants a two-year residence permit, which can be renewed for three more years. To qualify for the Investor Visa, applicants can choose to invest in innovative startups, a company based and operating in Italy, government bonds, or make a philanthropic donation.
The Italy Golden Visa gives investors and their families the chance to live in Italy, a country known for its rich culture, great food, and beautiful places like Lake Como, Tuscany, and the Dolomites. It also offers good healthcare, strong education, and a stable economy.
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An Italian investor visa can only be issued for one type of investment, and you cannot combine different investments. You must maintain the investment for at least five years to keep your residence permit.
When applying for the Italy Investor Visa, you’ll need to prepare different sets of documents: the general documents needed for the Nulla Osta, the Italy Golden visa application process, and the different documents needed for each investment option chosen.
The Nulla Osta is a certificate issued by the Investor Visa for Italy Committee. It confirms that the choice of the investment meets the requirements of the visa. This certificate is required before you can apply for the Investor Visa itself.
| Investment type for Italy Golden Visa | Documents | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Investment in Government Bonds | – Bank proof showing you bought the bonds (copy of purchase record) – Certificate confirming the bonds are stored in a bank in Italy | For Government bonds, it is mandatory to deposit them in a financial institution domiciled in Italy |
| Investment in a limited company in Italy, and startups | – Bank statement from the last 3 months (or longer if needed) showing the money was invested in the company – Signed letter from the bank or fund confirming the investment was made – If you bought company shares: certificate showing the shares are held in an Italian bank or financial institution – For unlisted companies: Letter from the company confirming they received the money and a Copy of the atto di cessione (official transfer document) filed in Italy – For listed companies: Copy of your securities record (securities dossier) | |
| Donation | – Copy of the official donation document (public deed of donation) – Bank statement from the last 3 months (or longer if needed) showing the donation was made – Signed letter from the bank or fund confirming the transaction Letter from the recipient confirming they received the donation | Transferring the funds to an Italian bank is not required before applying, but doing so can make the process easier. |
After arriving in Italy, you will have eight days to apply for a residence permit. The investment for the option chosen must also be made within three months of being in Italy. These are the steps to follow for the Italy Golden Visa process, and having anItaly Golden Visa lawyer by your side will make the process easier.
You must have an Italian bank account as part of the Italy Investor Visa application. Depending on the bank, this can be done remotely or in person. In either case, you’ll need to provide:
This step forms an important part of theItalian residency by investment process. Once opened, this account will transfer your qualifying investment as part of the application process.
These are the average costs of the Italy Golden Visa. However, it is important to notes that legal fees are not fixed or official; this is an estimated private service fee charged by immigration law firms or consultants for processing and support, as it varies by firm.
| Investment Option | Minimum Investment Amount | Residence Permit Fees | Legal Fees (estimation) | Renewal Fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Innovative start-up | €250,000 | €126.46 | €11,250 | €176.46 |
| Italian Limited Company | €500,000 | €126.46 | €11,250 | €176.46 |
| Government Bonds | €2 million | €126.46 | €11,250 | €176.46 |
| Donation to a philanthropic initiative | €1 million | €126.46 | €11,250 | €176.46 |
The residence permit for the Investor Visa for Italy is valid for two years. During this time, you can enter Italy and apply for a residence permit.
The investor residence permit is also valid for two years, starting from the day you arrive in Italy. After two years, you can apply for a three-year renewal.
The main condition for you to renew your Italy Investor Visa is to keep your investment in the country and maintain a valid residence permit. With at least 60 days before your current residence permit expires, you can apply for a new three-year residence permit. Make sure to have a new application before applying for a renewal.
You should also know that Italy’s Golden Visa scheme renewal is subject to approval or rejection by the Italy Investor Visa Committee, so prepare your documents carefully.
Based on Italian immigration law, the Italy Investor Visa does not provide an Italy citizenship by investment program. However, by living in the country for ten consecutive years (five years through the Italy Investment Visa and five after obtaining permanent residency), you can petition for Italian citizenship by naturalization to become an Italian citizen and acquire an Italian passport.
Yes, Italy allows dual citizenship. Italian citizens can hold citizenship in another country without losing their Italian citizenship. Similarly, foreign nationals can become Italian citizens without renouncing their original citizenship, as long as they meet the necessary legal requirements.
The Italian non-domiciled tax regime allows new residents to pay a flat €300,000 annual tax on all foreign income, regardless of type. However, capital gains from selling large shareholdings (over 20% in private companies or 2% in listed ones) during the first five years are taxed at the regular 26% rate unless you get an exemption through a special ruling.
To qualify, you must meet the following requirements:
The regime lasts up to15 years, can extend to family members for €50,000 per person, and offers exemptions from foreign asset reporting, wealth taxes, and inheritance taxes during that time.
You can combine different Italian tax regimes. The Italian Revenue Agency has confirmed that there is no legal restriction on using the New Residents Flat Tax regime together with the Inbound Workers (Impatriati) regime. This allows eligible individuals to benefit from favorable tax treatment on both foreign and Italian income at the same time.
TheRegime Impatriati often translated as the“inbound workers tax regime” or“impatriates tax regime” is a special Italian tax incentive designed to attract highly qualified professionals, specialists, employees and self-employed workers who transfer their tax residence to Italy after a period abroad. Itreduces the amount of income subject to Italian tax for eligible individuals for a limited number of years.
The two regimes apply to different categories of income, so they do not overlap:
This setup can lead to lower taxes on foreign investments and assets, reduced taxation on Italian salary or professional income, and greater planning flexibility. It is particularly attractive for high-net-worth individuals, international executives, entrepreneurs, and investors relocating to Italy.
IMPORTANT: Proper structuring is key. Eligibility conditions apply, and professional advice is essential to maximize benefits and ensure full compliance.
As previously mentioned, the Italy Golden Visa program is a very appealing investment program, and many non-EU citizens choose to obtain the Italian Golden Visa. However, there are other European alternatives, including
If you are looking for Italian residency without needing to invest, Italy also has the Italy Elective Visa Residency, which is also known as the Retirement Visa. It allows people to live in Italy if they have enough money to support themselves without working. You must show proof of passive income, such as pensions or rent. You cannot work in Italy or your home country with this visa.
| Feature | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Investment | €250,000 (startup) €500,000 (fund or SME) | €250,000 (arts/culture) €500,000 (investment fund) | €250,000 (real estate) €500,000 in Athens or hotspots | €14,000/year rent (5 years) + €37,000 govt. contribution for both options. €375,000 purchase (5 years) + €2,000 donation for both options | €300,000 (real estate) |
| Pre-Approval | Yes (Nulla Osta) | No | No | No | Yes |
| Processing Time | 3-4 months | 9-12 months | 3–6 months | 12 months | 9-12 months |
| Minimum Residency | No | 7 days/year | No | No | No |
| Permanent Residency | 5 years | 5 years | Immediate | Immediate | Immediate |
| Family Inclusion | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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Italy’s Golden Visa, also known as the Investor Visa, is a residency-by-investment program for non-EU citizens that provides a residence permit in return for a qualifying financial contribution. Eligible investments include €250,000 in an innovative startup or Italian limited company, €1 million in a philanthropic project, or €2 million in government bonds. The program lets you live, work, and study in Italy, enjoy visa-free travel throughout the Schengen Area, and offers a path to permanent residency after five years and potential citizenship after ten years.
The Italian Investor Visa, or Italy Golden Visa, provides an initial residence permit valid for two years. This permit can be renewed in three-year increments, provided the investor continues to maintain the required investment in Italy. After five years, the investor may qualify for permanent residency, and after ten years, potentially Italian citizenship.
Yes, your immediate family, including your spouse and minor children, can qualify for the Italian Investor Visa through family reunification. For dependent parents or adult children, you may need to show that they are financially dependent or have serious health conditions that prevent them from being supported in their home country.
Yes, the Italy Investor Visa, also known as the Golden Visa, allows you to live, work, and study in Italy, including the freedom to work or start your own business. Your residence permit will specifically authorize work activities.
No, an Italian Golden Visa does not provide direct citizenship, but it offers a pathway to citizenship by investment after ten years of residency. You must live in Italy full-time, maintain residency for the required period, meet other requirements such as language proficiency, and apply for naturalization. The Golden Visa itself is an investment-based program that grants a residence permit to non-EU citizens who invest in the Italian economy.
Other popular European Golden Visa programs include Portugal, Spain, Greece, and Malta. Portugal offers residency through various investment routes, including business, job creation, and research, while Spain allows residency via real estate purchases. Greece and Malta also offer real estate investment options, with Malta providing citizenship after a set period.
No, Italy does not offer a direct citizenship-by-investment program. However, through the Italy Investor Visa, individuals can obtain residency by qualifying investments, typically in business, government bonds, or research. After living in Italy for a period of time, applicants may become eligible for permanent residency and eventually citizenship through naturalization.
No, purchasing property alone does not grant you residency in Italy. To obtain residency through the Italy Investor Visa, you need to make a qualifying investment in sectors like business, research, or startups, with specific minimum investment amounts. Simply owning real estate does not make you eligible for the Golden Visa program.
The Italy Golden Visa program makes permanent residence easy to acquire in Italy. Provided he applicant maintains their initial investment and fulfills the residence permit requirements, they can apply for permanent residency after five years.
The process to obtain residency in Italy through the Investor Visa typically takes around 2 to 3 months after the application submission. However, this timeline can vary depending on the complexity of your case and the specific documentation required. Once granted, you will initially receive temporary residency, which can later lead to permanent residency after five years of living in Italy.
No, the Italian Golden Visa program does not allow real estate purchases as a qualifying investment. But investors can still buy property in Italy under different circumstances.
To move to Italy permanently, you first need a long-term residence permit. You can qualify through different routes, such as work, investment, or the Elective Residency Visa (ERV) if you have independent income. For most non-EU nationals, the process includes applying for a visa in your home country, entering Italy, and then applying for a residence permit. After five years of continuous legal stay, you can apply for permanent residency.
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