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Long-stay visas (Type D)

Italian Italy Investor Visa (Golden Visa)

Italy's Investor Visa grants residency to non-EU nationals who back an Italian startup, company, government bonds or charity — with capital committed only after approval, and property notably not a qualifying route.

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Important information

Immigration rules and fees can change. This information is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Always check the latest requirements on the official Italy government website before you apply.
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Innovative startup route
€250,000
Investment in an eligible Italian innovative startup — the lowest entry point.
Italian company route
€500,000
Investment in shares of an existing Italian limited company (S.r.l./S.p.A.).
Government bonds route
€2,000,000
Investment in Italian government bonds (BTP) held for the required period.
Philanthropic donation route
€1,000,000
Donation to a project of public interest (culture, research, heritage, immigration, etc.).
Property as a route
Not qualifying
Buying real estate does not, on its own, qualify for the Italy Investor Visa.
When you invest
After approval
Funds are committed only after the nulla osta/visa is granted — within three months of entering Italy.
Nulla osta processing
Approx. 25–35 days
The certificate of no impediment is typically issued within about a month; no annual quota applies.
Visa validity
2 years, renewable +3 years
Initial two-year residence permit, renewable for a further three years if the investment is maintained.
Path to permanent residency
After 5 years
EU long-term residence after five years of continuous legal residence (with genuine presence).
Path to citizenship
After 10 years
Naturalisation is possible after ten years' legal residence, subject to the usual requirements.

Who the Italy Investor Visa is for

The programme suits non-EU nationals who want Italian and EU residency and are willing to deploy productive capital rather than simply buy a home. It appeals to entrepreneurs, portfolio investors and philanthropists — and to those attracted by Italy's optional flat-tax regime for new residents on foreign income.

  • Non-EU (third-country) nationals aged 18+
  • Investors comfortable backing startups, companies, bonds or charity
  • Applicants who want the money committed only after approval
  • Those interested in Italy's flat-tax regime for new residents

The four investment routes

Italian law defines exactly four qualifying investments, and an investor visa can be issued for only one of them — you cannot mix categories or split the amount across several entities. The startup route offers the lowest entry point in the EU at €250,000, while the bond route is the most conservative but requires the largest sum.

  • €250,000 — eligible Italian innovative startup
  • €500,000 — shares in an established Italian limited company
  • €2,000,000 — Italian government bonds (BTP)
  • €1,000,000 — philanthropic donation of public interest
  • Single route only — no combining or splitting

Why property is not a qualifying route

This is the single most important point for UK property buyers to understand: the Italian Golden Visa cannot be obtained by buying real estate. Unlike Portugal (historically) or Greece, Italy deliberately excludes property, channelling investment into startups, companies, government bonds and charitable projects. If your goal is residency through a home purchase, Italy's Investor Visa is not the right vehicle — you would instead look at Greece's property golden visa or, for passive income, Italy's separate elective-residence visa.

  • A property purchase does NOT qualify for the Investor Visa
  • Only startups, companies, bonds and donations count
  • Buyers wanting a property route should compare Greece instead
  • Italy's elective-residence visa is a separate, non-investment option

Application process and timeline

You apply online through the official Investor Visa for Italy portal for a nulla osta (certificate of no impediment), typically issued in about 25–35 days. With that you obtain the entry visa, enter Italy, apply for the residence permit, and make the chosen investment within three months. Investments made before the application do not count.

  • Apply online for the nulla osta (approx. 25–35 days)
  • Obtain the two-year investor visa and enter Italy
  • Apply for the residence permit on arrival
  • Make the qualifying investment within three months of entry

What the visa gives you

A two-year Italian residence permit renewable for a further three years, the right to live in Italy, family reunification, and Schengen travel. Maintained over five years of genuine residence it leads to EU long-term residence, and after ten years to eligibility for citizenship. New residents may also elect Italy's substitute flat-tax regime on foreign income.

  • Two-year residence permit, renewable for three more years
  • Right to live in Italy and travel visa-free in Schengen
  • Family reunification available
  • Route to EU long-term residence (5 years) and citizenship (10 years)

Costs, fees and taxes

Beyond the investment itself, budget for permit and administrative fees and professional advice. The main tax draw is Italy's optional flat-tax regime for new residents, under which qualifying foreign-source income is covered by an annual substitute tax (raised to €200,000 per year for new elections from August 2024) instead of ordinary progressive rates — attractive to high-income, internationally mobile investors.

  • Investment capital (committed only after approval)
  • Residence-permit and administrative fees
  • Legal/advisory fees
  • Optional flat-tax regime on foreign income (annual substitute tax; figure raised in 2024)

Recent changes and context

The Italian Golden Visa is fully operational in 2026 with fast, quota-free nulla osta processing. The notable fiscal change is the increase in the new-resident flat-tax substitute amount in 2024. In the wider European market, Spain abolished its golden visa (effective 3 April 2025) and Portugal removed the property route (October 2023) — so Italy stands out as a stable, productive-capital programme, albeit one that has never offered a property route.

  • Programme fully operational and quota-free in 2026
  • New-resident flat-tax substitute amount increased in 2024
  • Property has never been a qualifying route
  • Spain abolished its golden visa (2025); Portugal dropped property (2023)

Frequently asked questions

  • Qualifying options include an innovative Italian start-up, an Italian limited company, Italian government bonds, or a philanthropic donation to a public-interest project — each with its own statutory minimum amount.

Official sources

For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always refer to the official government sources.

Verified against official gov.uk sources · last reviewed 2026-09-14. Information only — not legal advice.

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