Italy's investor visa asks for money in government bonds, an Italian company, an innovative start-up or a philanthropic project, not in a house. How the committee process works and what the official page leaves unsaid.
Italy does have an investor visa, and it is open. But it is not the product people have in mind when they say golden visa in Spain, Portugal or Greece. None of its routes is buying a home. Here is what the official Investor Visa site says, and what it leaves out.
The four investment routes
The Ministry's investor visa site lists four ways in, for non-EU citizens:
- EUR 2 million in Italian government bonds
- EUR 500,000 in an Italian limited company
- EUR 250,000 in an Italian innovative start-up
- EUR 1 million in a philanthropic initiative
The visa itself is a two-year visa. Buying residential property is not among the listed routes, so a house or apartment purchase does not qualify on its own. The programme is suspended for Russian and Belarusian citizens, including holders of a second passport of either country, following EU recommendations.
How the process works
According to the official how-it-works page:
- an Investor Visa for Italy Committee evaluates the application and can issue a nulla osta, a certificate of no impediment: a preliminary check by the secretariat, then a full evaluation within 30 days, with three possible outcomes, approval, a request for supplementary information with 30 days to reply, or a reasoned rejection
- after approval you have 6 months to request the visa at the nearest Italian representation abroad, and you can enter Italy within 2 years of the visa being released
- after arrival you have 8 days to apply for a 2-year permit of stay, and the investment or donation must be completed within three months of arrival, with the committee evaluating the proof
- if the investment continues, you may ask for a 3-year renewal, applying at least 60 days before expiry, with a new nulla osta
- if you keep the original investment for 5 years, you may request a long-term residence card
What the official page does not say
The page does not specify which family members qualify, and it gives no detail on how the investments are valued or held. Those are the points where an experienced Italian lawyer earns their fee, so ask before you transfer money.
Other routes and the flat tax
Italy also has residence routes for people who are not investors, such as the remote-worker visa, which our Italy digital nomad visa guide covers as one of Europe's stricter schemes. Separately, the Ministry's site describes a special tax regime for new residents: a flat annual amount in place of ordinary tax on foreign income, stated on that page as EUR 100,000 plus EUR 25,000 for each dependent, valid for 15 years for people who were not Italian residents for at least 9 of the previous 10 years. Figures for this regime have been reported to change, so confirm the current amount with the Italian tax authority.
If your goal is property
Buying Italian property is a separate matter from the investor visa. For non-EU buyers a reciprocity rule applies, which the notary checks before the deed. Our guides to Italian mortgages for foreigners, new-build versus resale and capital gains tax on sale, which can apply if you sell within five years, cover the purchase side.
FAQ
Does buying a house in Italy give residence? Not by itself: the listed investor routes are government bonds, a company, a start-up or a philanthropic initiative. What are the amounts? EUR 2 million, EUR 500,000, EUR 250,000 and EUR 1 million respectively. How long is the visa? It is a 2-year visa, followed by a 2-year permit of stay on arrival and a possible 3-year renewal if the investment continues. When does the investment have to be made? Within three months of arrival in Italy. Can Russian and Belarusian citizens apply? The programme is suspended for them. Does it lead to permanent residence? The official page says a long-term residence card can be requested after keeping the investment for 5 years.
How we help
We help with the real estate side: checking title and permits, understanding the real purchase costs and tax position. We do not structure investor-visa investments. This is general information, not investment, legal, tax or immigration advice. Italian rules change, so confirm your situation with an Italian immigration lawyer and the Investor Visa Committee before you commit.