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Italy Golden Visa - Residence Permit

→ EU Citizenship → ITALY INVESTOR VISA PROGRAM

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Italy Investor Visa

An Investor Visa is a special Italian entry visa for non-EU foreign nationals who intend to make a qualifying investment or donation as defined under Article 26-bis of Legislative Decree 286/1998.

Investor visas are issued outside the annual immigration quotas, allowing eligible applicants to apply at any time.

Italy Investor Residence Permit

The Investor Residence Permit for Italy is a two-year residence permit issued to holders of an Investor Visa after their arrival in Italy. It is renewable for additional three-year periods.

To obtain and keep the permit, investors must:

  • Complete the declared investment or donation within three months of entering Italy
  • Maintain the investment for the entire validity of the permit

Failure to meet these conditions may result in revocation of the permit and prevent renewal.

Benefits of Italian Permanent Residence

Benefits of Italian Permanent Residence include the following:

  • Free Travel to EU and Schengen Area Countries
  • Right to Work in Italy
  • Ability to Set Up a Business in Italy
  • Apply for Permanent Residence after just 5 years of legally living in Italy
  • Permanent residence permit holders have similar rights to those of Italian citizens
  • Apply for Italian Citizenship after 10 Years of legally living in Italy
  • The Italian Passport is ranked 4th, in the Henley Passport Global ranking for 2025 and it allows Visa Free access to 187 Countries

Who can Apply for an Italy Investor Visa?

Investor visas are available to non-EU and non-Schengen nationals. Applicants may be:

  • Individuals (natural persons) aged 18 or over
  • Foreign legal entities, represented by a legal representative authorized to act on their behalf, aged 18 or over

The Investor Visa for Italy Committee

The Investor Visa for Italy Committee is the inter-institutional body that evaluates visa applications and verifies compliance with legal requirements. It includes representatives from seven (or, in some cases, eight) public institutions with expertise in migration, finance, and investment.

The Committee is chaired by the Director General for Industrial Policy, Competitiveness and SMEs of the Italian Ministry of Economic Development (MISE).

The Secretariat of the Committee

The Secretariat operates within the Italian Ministry of Economic Development (MISE) and supports the Committee by:

  • Conducting preliminary checks on application documentation
  • Managing documentation during permit maintenance and renewal
  • Archiving records and supporting monitoring and reporting activities

Eligible Investments for the Italy Investor Visa

An Investor Visa or Italy Golden Visa may be issued for one single qualifying investment only. Investments cannot be combined, and any investment made before submitting the visa application does not qualify.

1. Italian Government Bonds

Investment of €2 million in Italian Government bonds. Eligible bonds include CCT/CCTeu, CTZ, BTP, inflation-linked BTPs, and BTP Italia, with a minimum residual maturity of two years.

2. Italian Companies

Investment of €500,000 in shares or equity of Italian Limited companies incorporated and operating in Italy. The company must be active and have filed at least one balance sheet. Both listed and unlisted companies qualify.

3. Innovative Startups

Investment of €250,000 in officially registered Italian innovative startups, as defined by Italian law. The same requirements applicable to Italian companies apply.

4. Philanthropic Donation

A donation of €1 million to a philantropic initiative supporting a public-interest project in areas such as culture, education, scientific research, immigration management, or the preservation of cultural and natural heritage.

Application Submission - Italy Investor Visa

Applications for the Certificate of No Impediment (Nulla Osta) are submitted online through the official portal:
investorvisa.mise.gov.it

Applicants must first create a personal account in their own name. All personal data must be accurate and verifiable.

The application is completed by filling out an online form in Italian or English. Supporting documents must be uploaded in PDF format. Documents issued in other languages must be accompanied by a certified translation.

There is no fee to submit an Investor Visa application.

Required Documentation

An application is considered complete once it includes:

1. Personal contact details

  • Full name
  • Place and date of birth
  • Nationality
  • Place of Residence
  • Email address
  • Telephone number

2. Copy of a valid passport

3. Short curriculum vitae, outlining academic and professional background

4. Selection of one qualifying option:

  • Investment in Italian government bonds
  • Investment in Italian companies (including innovative startups)
  • Philanthropic donation in the fields of:

Cultural and natural heritage

Education and research

Immigration management

5. Financial and legal documentation proving:

  • Ownership of the funds
  • Lawful origin and transferability of funds
  • Absence of final criminal convictions or pending charges
  • Authority of the legal representative (for legal entities)

6. Description of the investment or donation, including confirmation of acceptance by the recipient

7. Declaration of commitment, electronically signed, stating:

  • The investment amount
  • The Italian municipality where the applicant intends to reside

Executing the Investment

The approved investment or donation must be fully completed within three months of the declared date of entry into Italy.

Proof of execution must be uploaded to the online platform within the same three-month period.

If the investment involves Italian government bonds or company shares, the assets must be deposited with a financial institution domiciled in Italy. Compliance is proven by submitting the official certificate of deposit.

Renewal of the Italian Residence Permit

The Investor Residence Permit may be renewed for additional three-year periods.

Renewal is subject to prior approval by the Investor Visa for Italy Committee, which verifies that the investment or donation has been maintained for the entire validity of the permit.

If approved, the Committee issues a Certificate of No Impediment to Renewal (Nulla Osta al Rinnovo).

Italian Citizenship

To obtain Italian Citizenship by Naturalization, you would need to live in Italy, and meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Maintain the Investment
  • Reside in Italy for 10 Years since the Investor Visa was granted
  • Fixed, stable Income and Accommodation
  • Clean Criminal Record
  • Italian Language Proficiency - B1 Level Proficiency
  • Proven integration into Italian Society

Note that Italy allows Dual Citizenship, so you can keep your original Nationality and Passport.

Italy Golden Visa Advice

In 2026, contact VisaConnect's experienced Consultants and our partner Italian Immigration Lawyers for Italy Investor Visa advice, in our offices in Sydney, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong and London, UK. In addition, our Italy qualified Lawyers assist with:

  • Italy Golden Visa Assessment
  • Selection of Type of Investment
  • Source of Funds
  • Supporting documentation
  • Assistance with including Spouse and Dependants
  • Investor Visa application
  • Investor Residence Permit submission, in Italy
  • Payment of Government Fees
  • Renewal of Residence Permit
  • Certified translation of documents into Italian

Investment in Other EU Countries

VisaConnect's Consultants also assist with Residence by Investment in other EU Countries. See the web pages below:

VisaConnect London, UK - Office

Contact VisaConnect's Consultants at our London, UK office below:

71-75 Shelton Street
Covent Garden
London
WC2H 9JQ
United Kingdom

Telephone: (+44) 20 3807 8879        

VisaConnect Hong Kong Office

Contact VisaConnect's Consultants at our Hong Kong office below:

21st Floor, CMA Building
64 Connaught Road Central
HONG KONG

Telephone: (+852) 3840 9107

VisaConnect Singapore Office

Contact VisaConnect's Consultants at our Singapore office below:

7 Temasek Boulevard
No. 12-07 Suntec Tower One,
SINGAPORE, 038987

Telephone: (+65) 3105 1536

VisaConnect Australia Office

Contact VisaConnect's Consultants at our Sydney, Australia office below:

Suite 19, 103 George Street
Parramatta
NSW 2150
AUSTRALIA

Telephone: (+61) 2 9151 7350

Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ

What is the minimal Investment needed to get the Italy Investor Visa?

The minimal investment is €250,000 in Italian innovative startups.

Can an EU Citizen apply for the Italy Golden Visa?

No. to be eligible, the Applicant must not be a National of the EU or the Schengen Area countries.

What is the Minimal Maturity period for Italian Government Bonds?

Minimum of 2 years.

What is the main Requirement of a Philanthropic Donation?

Donation must be in the Public Interest. For example, in the fields of culture, education or scientific research.

How do you prove Ownership of Financial resources (Funds)?

If Funds are deposited in a Bank, then must provide Sacvings Account Bank Statements.

Does an Applicant need to provide a Police certificate?

Yes. The applicant must submit one or more Certificates of non-existence of final criminal convictions and pending charges, issued by the countries where the Applicant has resided for more than twelve consecutive months during the last 10 years.

Does the Secretariat of The Committee check the Application documents?

Yes. the Secretariat of the Committee checks that the documents are complete and compliant.

What is the Certificate that is issued by the Committee if the evaluation is Positive?

In the event that the evaluation of the Committee is positive, its Chairman signs electronically a Certificate of no impediment ("nulla osta") to the issue of an investor visa.