Italy Residence by Investment

The Italy Residence by Investment Program (also known as the Italy golden visa) is designed for foreign investors who are committed to making a significant contribution to the country’s economy, granting them Italian residence and visa-free access to Europe’s Schengen Area.

Investment: Minimum investment from EUR 250,000 to EUR 2 million
Key benefit: The right to live, work, and study in Italy

The Italy Residence by Investment Program

As a globally recognized tourist destination with major cities including Milan, Rome, and Venice, Italy offers investors access to a strong, well-connected EU market and the many opportunities available in the region. The program has a range of investment options available with varying investment amounts for individuals to choose from, and successful applicants gain residence rights within three to four months.

Benefits of an Italian Golden Visa

• Visa-free travel to Europe’s Schengen Area
• Residence in a country with a rich culture, attractive industries, and major global cities
• No permanent stay in Italy required
• Access to excellent medical care and education facilities
• Citizenship may be available after 10 years of residence (under special conditions)

To qualify for residence status in Italy, applicants can choose to invest in either of the following two program options:

1) Investor Visa Program

Satisfy one of the following three requirements:

• A minimum of EUR 2 million in Italian government bonds
• A minimum of EUR 500,000 in Italian shares (reduced to EUR 250,000 if investing in innovative start-ups)
• A minimum of EUR 1 million in projects of public interest in Italy, such as culture, education, ecology, immigration management, research and development, arts, and heritage. This is a non-refundable donation.

The investment needs to be maintained during the validity of the visa. A spouse, children, and dependent parents of the main applicant may also request a visa without additional investment.

2) Elective Residence Program
A further qualifying option, the Elective Residence Program is suitable for individuals who can prove their stable annual income at a certain quantity from abroad.

Procedures for the Italy Golden Visa

The visa is granted for two years and is renewable for a further three-year period, provided that the investment is maintained. It is expected that the process of obtaining the visa will take 90–120 days from the date of application. The investment must be made within three months of entry into the country. To obtain the visa under the Investor Visa Program, investors must purchase or rent residential real estate in Italy following approval. Under the Elective Residence Program, applicants must demonstrate a stable income and have residential real estate following approval. Permanent residence is possible after five years, provided the investor has relocated to Italy.

Italian Citizenship

Successful applicants of Italy’s residence by investment program can apply for a permanent residence permit after five years of legal residence in Italy. After ten years from the initial granting of the visa, investors may apply for citizenship by naturalization. EU citizens are eligible after only four years of residence. Italy allows dual citizenship.