ITALY

GOLDEN VISA

Launched in 2017, the Italy Golden Visa, also called the ‘Investor Visa for Italy,’ allows third-country nationals (non-EU/EEA and non-Swiss) to obtain a residence permit in exchange for an investment in the country’s economy. The Investor Visa for Italy is issued for two years and can be renewed for an additional 3 years. Permanent Residency is obtained 5 years after the initial application is launched. Italy has been a member country of the European Union since 1958 and a member of the Schengen area since 1997.

CITIZENSHIP INVEST IS A TRUSTED PARTNER
TO OBTAIN ITALY RESIDENCY BY INVESTMENT

Citizenship Invest ensures the highest success rates through experience and a solid track-record with the different Governments. Every year, we help hundreds of individuals and families to acquire a second residency or citizenship by investment. Citizenship Invest successfully helped clients from over 85 countries around the globe. Most importantly, we have a long-term view of ‘client-advisor’ relationships and commit to our clients for life.

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

The law of 11 December 2016, n. 232, known as the "Legge di Bilancio 2017 (2017 Budget Law)", introduced (art. 1, paragraph 148) a new case for which entry and long-term stay in Italy is permitted. The Consolidated Law on Immigration (Al Testo unico sull’immigrazione "TUI", Legislative Decree 286/1998), article 26-bis is added, entitled "Entry and stay for investors".

PROGRAM BENEFITS

SIMPLE PROCESS
FAST AND EASY

Approval of Investor Visa in 30 days

Investment is made only after residency approval

No Language test and no minimum stay requirement in Italy

Residence extended to your entire family

The Italian Golden Visa is renewable, allowing you to maintain your residency status. Renewal periods may vary, but it is common for the visa to be renewed every two years.
FREE MOBILITY
ACCESS EUROPE

Visa-Free travel to Europe including 29 countries in the Schengen zone; no further documentation is required.

Residence Permit in Italy allows you to stay in any Schengen country for up to 3 months within a six-month period with the right to multiple entries.

After living in Italy for five years, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency. Additionally, after ten years of tax residency, it may be possible to apply for Italian citizenship.
ULTIMATE LIFESTYLE
LIFE & TAX BENEFITS

Live, work and study in Italy.

Live in Italy and enjoy the benefits of a top-ranked country for climate, heritage, and food

Access to one of the highest-quality education and healthcare systems in the world

No tax on Gifts, Inheritance and Profits made outside of Italy.

Special Tax Regime for New Residents living in the country. High-net-worth individuals transferring their tax residence to Italy can apply a substitute tax to their foreign income, amounting to €100,000 for each fiscal year, instead of the Italian Income Tax. Therefore, this taxation represents an alternative to the application of ordinary taxation, and the option is valid for a period of 15 years. The election for the regime may be extended to family members through the payment on their foreign income of a substitute tax amounting to €25,000 per member.

ITALY VISA FREE COUNTRIES

The Italian Golden Visa allows visa-free access to Europe including 29 countries in the Schengen zone.

33
COUNTRIES

The Italian Golden Visa allows visa-free access to Europe including 29 countries in the Schengen zone.

EUROPE
  • Austria
    Belgium
    Bulgaria
    Croatia
    Czech Republic
    Cyprus
    Denmark
    Estonia
    Finland
    France
    Germany
    Greece
    Hungary
    Iceland
    Italy
    Latvia
    Liechtenstein
    Lithuania
    Luxembourg
    Malta
    Monaco*
    Netherlands
    Norway
    Poland
    Portugal
    Romania
    San Marino
    Slovakia
    Slovenia
    Spain
    Sweden
    Switzerland
    Vatican City

*The list of countries is subject to variations depending on each government's policy and so is access to these countries.

INVESTMENT TYPE & COSTS

Applicants must invest in one of the following options to acquire a residence permit through the Italian Investor Visa:

OPTION 1

INVESTMENT IN A START-UP

Investing in innovative startups or existing companies in Italy, listed in the official website of Italian Chambers of Commerce.

  • Minimum Contribution 250.000 EUR

Quotas or shares of innovative startups or companies already existing in Italy referred to in art. 25, paragraph 2, of the decree-law of 18 October 2012, n. 179, converted with amendments by law 17 December 2012, n. 221, and subsequent modifications.

OPTION 2

INVESTING IN ITALIAN JOINT-STOCK COMPANY

Investing in shares of joint-stock companies based in Italy, as per article 73 of the Consolidated Income Tax Act.

  • Minimum Contribution 500.000 EUR
Eligibility Criteria for Companies in Visa Application

A company is considered "operating" (as provided for by art. 26-bis, art. 1, letter b of the TUI) if it is in active status and has already filed at least one balance sheet on the date of the application for the visa authorisation. The investment recipient company can be either listed or unlisted. When submitting the authorisation request, it is essential to provide the name and tax code of the target company. This information is a crucial application component, as it forms an integral part of the overall structure. The tax rate of the corporate income tax (Ires) is 24%.

OTHER COSTS

In addition to the required investment, there are other costs for the Italian Residency by Investment program, which are Citizenship Invest professional fees, documents certifications when applicable, courier fees, and other small disbursements. Please get in touch with us if you wish to receive a detailed quotation outlining all costs.

APPLICATION PROCESS AND TIMELINE

  • WEEK
    1-2

    Agreement and Application Submission

    Citizenship Invest Retainer Agreement signed and first Payment of Citizenship Invest Professional Fees.


    The collection of required documents is carried out by the client with the support of a specialized Documentation Officer from Citizenship Invest who will put the file together as per Italian Government guidelines.


    Submission of application.


    WEEK
    1-2

  • WEEK
    2-3

    Evaluation, Embassy Appointment, and Entry Visa Issuance

    The Italian Investor Visa for Italy Committee evaluates your application, and if the evaluation is positive, you receive a certificate of no impediment (Nulla Osta).


    Within 6 months of issuance of the Nulla Osta certificate, Citizenship Invest coordinates the appointment with the closest Italian Embassy or Consulate in your country of permanent residence. You must submit the original documents in person.


    If successful, then you will receive an entry visa for investors (valid for 2 years)


    WEEK
    2-3

  • WEEK
    4-5

    Arrival, Residence Permit Application, and Investment/Donation

    The applicant travels to Italy.


    Within 8 working days of arrival in the country, you must visit the Immigration office and submission the residency application.


    Residence Permit is issued and valid for 2 years from the day of entry to the country.


    WEEK
    4-5

  • WEEK
    6-7

    Proof of Investment Submission and Renewal Process

    Submission of Proof of Investment.


    You can renew your Italy Investor Visa for three additional years as long as you maintain your original investment. With at least 60 days before your current residence permit expires, you must submit the documents for renewal.


    WEEK
    6-7

The estimated time to receive citizenship approval depends on the due diligence processing time and the specific case

DOWNLOAD
ITALY RESIDENCY BY INVESTMENT
BROCHURE

CONTENT
  • Program Overview
  • Citizenship Law
  • Benefits of the program
  • Applicants Qualifications
  • Investment requirements
  • Application Fees
  • Document Checklist
  • List of countries Visa free and on arrival
DOWNLOAD

15 pages 700Kb

Eligibility requirements

AGE

The Main Applicant must be at least 18 years old

Good Character

The applicant must have a clean criminal record and a good repu

Health

The applicant must be in good health and provide a medical certificate

Investment

Must make the minimum investment specified in the application within 3 months of entering Italy

Maintenance

Must maintain the original investment for the entire validity period of the residence permit

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Please be aware that the following list serves as a general guideline, as Citizenship Invest prepares a personalised checklist based on a thorough assessment of each individual case.

  • Passport – for all applicants
  • Curriculum Vitae – for all applicants
  • Financial documents to demonstrate ownership and possession of the amount intended for the investment type, e.g. 3 months’ bank statement
  • Bank Letter
  • No Criminal Record
  • Copy of the Authorization
  • Proof of Accommodation in Italy
  • Proof of Income for the last financial year
  • Passport Photo – for all applicants
  • Passport – for all applicants
  • Proof of Residence
  • Certificate of a deposit of the securities in a financial institution in Italy
  • Copy of securities dossier
  • Bank statements — must clearly indicate the investment has been made
  • A letter of validation of the bank statement — must be signed by an authorized representative of the entity
  • Certificate of Shares Deposit at an Italian bank or financial institution, if you’ve acquired shares
  • A letter that confirms the receipt of the investment and a copy of the Italian atto di cessione (act of transfer) filed by the receiving company, if you’ve invested in an unlisted company
  • A copy of your securities dossier if the investment has been made in a listed company

FAQS

Frequently Asked Questions
The Italy Golden Visa, also called the ‘Investor Visa for Italy,’ allows third-country nationals (non-EU/EEA and non-Swiss) to obtain a residence permit in exchange for an investment in the country’s economy.
To be eligible for the Investor Visa for Italy, the main applicant must be at least 18 years of age and can include their spouse, minor children below 18, and financially dependent parents 65 years and above.
The Investor Visa for Italy offers a range of benefits for investors, such as investors are only required to invest after their residency application is approved, there is no language test requirement, there is no minimum stay requirement, investors can live and work in Italy, holders of the visa can travel visa-free within the Schengen area, and after holding the permanent residency for five years investors are eligible for citizenship.
The requirements for the Investor Visa for Italy depend on the chosen investment option, however; in general, you must make the minimum investment or donation declared in the Italy Investor Visa application within three months of the date of entry into Italy, and you must maintain the original investment for the entire validity period of the residence permit. Applicants must also have a clean criminal record, a certified copy of passports, a CV, proof of residence, and proof of income in the last financial year.
Yes, holders of the Investor Visa in Italy are permitted to work in Italy.
Yes, dual citizenship is allowed in Italy, and you do not need to renounce any other citizenship.
In general, the application for the Investor Visa for Italy takes 2 to 3 months to process.
The costs of the Investor Visa for Italy vary depending on the investment choice. However, the minimum investment cost is EUR 250,000.
Under the Investor Visa for Italy, applicants have two investment options to choose from: investment in a startup or an Italian Joint-Stock company.
Contact Citizenship Invest, sign the Retainer Agreement, and pay the first fee to start your application today.

CONTACT AN ADVISOR

TESTIMONIALS

image
Enquire
image
call
image
whatsapp
image
telegram
image
Enquire
image
call
image
whatsapp
image
telegram