BRIDGES · Citizenship and residency programs

Italy InvestorVisa

Italy investor visa

Italy investor visa — residence for an investment in government bonds, companies, startups, or philanthropy at set amounts.

EUItalian residence
from €250kstartup option
Schengenfreedom to travel
  • 4 min read
  • Updated: July 2026
  • BRIDGES Research Team
In brief — 30 seconds
What it is
Italy’s investor visa — a residence permit for investing in the country’s economy
Forms
Government bonds, companies, startups or philanthropy
Threshold
From €250,000 (startup) to €2,000,000 (government bonds)
Advantage
An EU country residence permit, a path to PR and citizenship
Can you prepare
Yes: choose the form of investment for your goal

In plain words

The Italy Investor Visa is a residence permit programme for investing in the country’s economy. It allows you to obtain an Italian residence permit, and with it the right to live in an EU country and move freely within the Schengen area, by investing in one of the approved options.

There are several forms of investment, with different thresholds: from €250,000 in an innovative startup, €500,000 in an Italian company, €1,000,000 in a philanthropic project or €2,000,000 in government bonds. This range allows an option to be chosen for the goal and budget — from supporting a business to a conservative investment in government bonds.

The value of the programme lies in its combination of flexibility and prospects: Italy gives a full EU country residence permit with the possibility of renewal, and, subject to the residence conditions, a path to PR and citizenship. It is important to choose the form of investment properly and evidence the source of funds. We help obtain the visa and build the status as a long-term strategy.

Who Italy’s visa suits

An EU country residence permit by investment
Investing in an Italian startup or company
A conservative investment in government bonds
Freedom to travel in the Schengen area
Status for the whole family
Path to permanent residence and citizenship

What matters about Italy’s visa

Forms
  • Startup from €250,000
  • Company from €500,000
  • Government bonds €2 million
Choice
  • For the goal and budget
  • Business or bonds
  • Flexible options
What it gives
  • An EU country residence permit
  • Schengen freedom
  • For the family
Keep in mind
  • Funds check
  • Residence conditions
  • Path to permanent residence

How to obtain the visa

  1. 01Choosing the form of investment
  2. 02Preparing documents
  3. 03Investment and filing
  4. 04Review and residence permit
  5. 05Path to permanent residence and citizenship

What you need to know

  • Italy’s investor visa is a residence permit for investing in the economy
  • Forms: startup, company, philanthropy, government bonds
  • The threshold is from €250,000 to €2,000,000
  • It gives an EU country residence permit and Schengen freedom
  • It opens a path to PR and citizenship

Common mistakes

  • Choosing the form of investment without regard to goal and budget
  • Failing to evidence the source of funds
  • Ignoring the residence conditions for PR
  • Investing in an unvetted startup or project
  • Not planning the move to citizenship in advance

What this means for a BRIDGES client

We handle Italy’s investor visa end to end: we help choose the form of investment for your goal and budget, prepare the documents and evidence of funds, and vet the projects. We obtain an EU country residence permit with Schengen freedom for the whole family and map out the path to PR and citizenship.

Frequently asked questions

01 /What is Italy’s investor visa?

A residence by investment programme in Italy’s economy. It gives a residence permit of an EU country and the right to travel freely in the Schengen area for an investment in an approved option.

02 /What forms of investment are there?

An investment of €250,000 in an innovative startup, €500,000 in a company, €1,000,000 in philanthropy or €2,000,000 in government bonds.

03 /Is it citizenship or a residence permit?

It is a residence permit of an EU country. Citizenship is not granted straight away, but the status can be built into a path to PR and naturalisation, subject to residence.

04 /Which option should you choose?

It depends on the goal and budget: a startup is cheaper and has a business purpose; government bonds cost more but are more conservative. We choose for your situation.

05 /Does it extend to the family?

Yes, the status is granted to the applicant and family members. We include the family in the process from the start.

06 /Do you need to evidence the source of funds?

Yes, the origin of the money is checked. We prepare transparent evidence in advance so that the application goes through without delays.

See also

Read next

Anna Kovalevskaya
AuthorAnna KovalevskayaHead of Legal, BRIDGES
Sergey Evdokimov
Reviewed bySergey EvdokimovManaging Partner, BRIDGES
Updated
July 2026
Version
1.0
Scheduled review
January 2027
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EU residence through Italy?

We will choose the form of investment for your goal and obtain an Italian residence permit with Schengen freedom — as a step to PR and a passport.

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