Programme Overview
Italy Investor Visa
From €250,000 ($275K USD) — financed against your portfolio, not liquidated from it.
Or compare it against the other programmesItaly at a glance
Italy's Investor Visa for Italy programme offers residency through various investment routes including startups, government bonds, philanthropy, and the highly attractive Flat Tax Regime. Experience Italian culture, cuisine, and lifestyle with EU residency rights and exceptional tax benefits.
Investment from
€250,000
Processing
7-15 months
Stay required
None
Investor Visa. Spouse and dependants included. There is a pathway to citizenship.
Italy Investor Visa — investment routes
Innovative Startup
Investment in innovative Italian startup companies
- ▪Investment of €250,000 ($275K USD)
Italian Companies
Investment in the capital of Italian limited companies
- ▪Investment of €500,000 ($550K USD)
Government Bonds
Purchase of Italian government bonds with 2-year minimum hold
- ▪Investment of €2,000,000 ($2.2M USD)
Philanthropic Donation
Donation to projects of public interest in culture, education, immigration, or research
- ▪Investment of €1,000,000 ($1.1M USD)
Flat Tax Regime (Art. 24-bis TUIR) — a tax cost, not an investment
A substitute tax on foreign-source income for up to 15 years.
- ▪Investment of €300,000 a year, plus €50,000 per family member ($330K USD)
Italy Investor Visa benefits
- Italian residency permit renewable every 2 years
- Exceptional flat tax regime - €300,000 annually on unlimited foreign income
- Effectively 0% tax on foreign income beyond flat payment
- Free movement in Schengen Area
- Include family members (€25,000 flat tax each)
- Access to Italian healthcare and education
- Path to citizenship after 10 years
- No minimum stay requirements initially
- Business and investment opportunities in Italy
Eligibility Requirements
- ▪Non-EU/EEA/Swiss national
- ▪At least 18 years old
- ▪Clean criminal record
- ▪Suitable accommodation in Italy
- ▪Comprehensive health insurance
- ▪Proof of stable and regular income
- ▪Investment maintained for at least 2 years
Who can be included
- Spouse
- Dependent children
- Additional documentation required for family members
Taxation
Italy taxes residents on worldwide income at progressive rates up to 43% plus regional and municipal taxes. Special flat tax regime available for new residents (€300,000 annually for main applicant plus €25,000 per family member) on foreign-sourced income.
Residency requirements
No minimum stay requirement for initial visa. To maintain residence permit renewals and path to citizenship, standard residency requirements apply.
Path to citizenship
Eligible for citizenship after 10 years of legal residency with Italian language proficiency, economic self-sufficiency, and integration into Italian society.
Application process
Typical duration: 7-15 months- 01
Investment Planning
1-2 monthsSelect investment route and prepare documentation
- 02
Nulla Osta Application
3-6 monthsApply for and receive nulla osta (clearance) from Italian authorities
- 03
Visa Application
1-3 monthsApply for investor visa at Italian consulate and await approval
- 04
Residence Permit
2-4 monthsArrive in Italy, complete investment, and receive 2-year residence permit
Costs and fees (Commission)
Every charge the programme makes, and the sales commission an intermediary adds on top of them.
Nulla Osta Application
€0
No government fee for clearance certificate application
Visa Fee
€116
Standard Italian national visa fee at consulate
Residence Permit
€200-€250
Electronic residence permit card issuance fee
Legal Fees
€15,000-€40,000
Immigration lawyer and investment structuring fees
Tax Advisory
€10,000-€20,000
Flat tax regime application and ongoing compliance
Investment Due Diligence
€5,000-€15,000
Verification and structuring of qualifying investments
Sales commission
€25,000–€45,000
Charged against the investment, on top of the legal work the route genuinely needs.
Fee based model
The same programme, bought without an intermediary's commission.
You save
€25,000–€45,000
The sales commission on the left, which you do not pay. The $2,500 fee replaces it.
Total estimated cost
€310,000–€2,145,000
including investment, plus the sales commission above.
Total estimated cost
€285,000–€2,100,000
The programme's own charges, plus the $2,500 fee. No commission.
What the advice costs
The programme costs the same. The advice does not.
Through a commission
€25,000–€45,000
Sales commission on Italy. Charged against the investment, on top of the legal work the route genuinely needs.
Through a fee
$2,500
Six months as a private client — route selection, the financing, the portfolio, and me on the end of a phone. Twelve months is $5,000. Paid by you, so the answer can be no.
Total saving
€25,000–€45,000
The whole commission, before the $2,500 fee, which is charged in dollars. The programme costs what it costs either way.
This is the commission only. The licensed agent, the legal work and the government fees in the list above are payable whoever advises you, and nothing here removes them — a saving that quietly included a statutory fee would be the same trick in the other direction.
Commission ranges are typical rather than universal, and no firm is named. They are not published anywhere, which is the point of them.
Fund Your Italy Investment with a Lombard Loan
Instead of liquidating your portfolio to fund the From €250,000 Italy investment, use your existing assets as collateral and keep your money working for you.
Traditional: Liquidate Assets
- ✗Sell From €250,000 from your portfolio
- ✗Trigger capital gains tax (up to 20%)
- ✗Lose years of compound growth
- ✗After 10 years: €539,731
Lombard Loan: Keep Your Portfolio
- Borrow From €250,000 against €500,000 collateral
- No capital gains event triggered
- Portfolio continues growing at 8%
- After 10 years: €1.00M
10-Year Wealth Projection
Is Italy right for you?
Ideal for
- Ultra-high-net-worth individuals seeking tax optimization on worldwide income
- Entrepreneurs and executives with substantial foreign income streams
- Those passionate about Italian culture, cuisine, and lifestyle
- Investors willing to commit €250,000+ for meaningful Italian market exposure
- Families who value EU citizenship for future generations
- Retirees seeking a sophisticated European lifestyle with tax efficiency
Consider alternatives if
- ▪Those seeking property-based investment (consider Greece or Portugal)
- ▪Investors with budgets under €250,000 (consider Turkey, or Greece via a conversion or startup route)
- ▪Those wanting citizenship in under 5 years (consider Malta or Caribbean)
- ▪Applicants who cannot demonstrate substantial legitimate income
Alternative programmes to consider
Greece
If you prefer direct real estate investment. Greece permits property ownership from €400,000, or €800,000 in prime areas, with zero presence requirements.
ExplorePortugal
If you want minimal physical presence (7 days a year) and the NHR tax regime. Both routes now take 10 years to citizenship.
ExploreMalta
If you want EU citizenship faster (12-36 months). Malta offers direct citizenship through investment.
ExploreRelated Resources
Fund Your Investment with a Lombard Loan
See how portfolio-backed lending can preserve your wealth while funding your investor visa investment.
Italy Investor Visa Complete Guide
€200K startup investment, €300K flat tax regime, and EU residency benefits.
Complete Guide to Golden Visa Financing
Compare all financing methods: Lombard loans, fund financing, and traditional options.
Elsewhere
If this one is not the fit, these might be
FAQs
Half an hour, $100, no commission.
Whether Italy is right for you, what it will actually cost, and whether a visa with no capital contribution gets you the same place for nothing.