A free PDF guide — approval before the money moves
A guide to the Investor Visa of Italy:the terms, the cost and the tax
A programme where the funds are transferred only after the application has been approved. Four ways to invest from €250,000: we set out the order of things, the budget, the flat tax regime and the conditions on which the status is kept.
- PDF in English
- Free of charge
- Verified on 11.08.2026
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Preliminary information is not a guarantee of approval. Whether the programme is open to you and the final cost are settled after the check on the applicant.
01 / The essentials first
What to know about the programme before the calculation
Four things that set Italy apart from the other European programmes.
- Approval before the money moves
The funds are transferred only once the application has been approved. Until then the money stays with you — an order of things rarely seen in investment programmes.
- Four ways to invest
An innovative start-up €250,000, an Italian company €500,000, a charitable project €1,000,000, government bonds €2,000,000.
- The status rests on the investment
The permit is renewed for as long as the investment is held. Leaving the project early means the status is cancelled — the key difference from programmes that return the money after a fixed term.
- The tax regime is a separate decision
Residents may take a flat tax of €300,000 a year on all foreign income, plus €50,000 for each relative. It pays off on a high worldwide income; on a moderate one ordinary taxation is cheaper.
02 / The budget
The budget for your family
Choose the way to invest and the family. A separate column shows the flat tax regime — it applies only if you become a tax resident.
03 / The ways to invest
A start-up or a trading company
The two commonest options. They differ in the threshold and in the level of risk: an early stage against a working business.
The values were checked against the official material on 11.08.2026. Only the rows for which there is no official wording are marked separately.
| Criterion | Start-upAn innovative start-up — €250,000 | CompanyAn Italian company — €500,000 |
|---|---|---|
| The size of the investment | €250,000 | €500,000 |
| Where the money goes | the capital of an innovative start-up | the capital of a trading Italian company |
| When it is transferred | after the application is approved | after the application is approved |
| The risk of the investmentA BRIDGES estimate | higher: an early-stage project | lower: a trading business |
| The condition for keeping the status | the investment is maintained | the investment is maintained |
| How long it takesA BRIDGES estimate | 3-4 months | 3-4 months |
| The other options | charity €1,000,000 | bonds €2,000,000 |
- The size of the investment
- €250,000
- €500,000
- Where the money goes
- the capital of an innovative start-up
- the capital of a trading Italian company
- When it is transferred
- after the application is approved
- after the application is approved
- The risk of the investmentA BRIDGES estimate
- higher: an early-stage project
- lower: a trading business
- The condition for keeping the status
- the investment is maintained
- the investment is maintained
- How long it takesA BRIDGES estimate
- 3-4 months
- 3-4 months
- The other options
- charity €1,000,000
- bonds €2,000,000
There are two more options: a charitable project €1,000,000 and government bonds €2,000,000.
04 / The country
What the country looks like
Briefly about the country and about what sets the terms of the programme.
- RomeThe cover of the guide: the country and the key terms of the programme.
- The essentials firstWhat to know before the calculation: the key facts of the programme.
- The terms of the optionsThe parameters of the programme in one table, on the official terms.
- The road mapThe process step by step — from the check to the documents.
- The check on the applicantWhat is examined before the status is granted, and where people stumble.
- The limitsThe limits that bear on the timings and the sum.
- Your teamWho runs the case and what each specialist answers for.
05 / The order of work
How the process runs
The order is the reverse of the usual one: first the certificate and the approval, and only then the money.
- The preliminary check
The nationality, the family and the source of funds. We settle the way to invest and count the budget before the first outlay.
- The application for the certificate
An application is filed for the certificate confirming the right to the investor visa. No money moves at this stage.
- Approval
The responsible committee considers the application and issues the certificate. Only then is the investment made.
- The investment and the visa
The funds are transferred to the agreed project and the investor visa is issued at the consulate.
- Entry and the residence permit
After the entry the residence card is arranged. The whole process takes 3-4 months.
- Maintaining and renewing
The status is renewed while the investment is held. Leaving the project early means cancellation.
07 / The check
What is examined before approval
Both the applicant and the project are examined: not every start-up and not every company qualifies.
- The source of funds
A clear chain from the earnings to the account. It is examined before the certificate is issued — it is the main part of the file.
- The project invested in
The start-up or the company is checked against the requirements of the programme. Not every project qualifies.
- The family
A spouse, children and dependent parents come into one status where financial dependence is evidenced.
- The tax consequences
If a move is planned, the tax regime is chosen in advance: the flat tax is taken up from a particular moment.
If a move is planned, the tax regime is chosen in advance — it cannot be taken up retrospectively.
08 / The limits
What to take into account in advance
Five limits that bear on keeping the status and on the final cost.
The status rests on the investmentLeaving early cancels the permit
The investment is held for the whole life of the status. This differs from programmes where the money comes back after a fixed term and the status remains.
The flat tax does not suit everyone€300,000 a year plus the top-ups
€50,000 a year is added for each relative included. On a moderate worldwide income ordinary taxation comes out cheaper.
Permanent residence and citizenship require living thereNaturalisation after 10 years
Without a move the status is kept, but it leads to neither permanent residence nor a passport: both require actual residence.
Not every project qualifiesThe requirements on start-ups and companies are formal ones
An innovative start-up has to be on the relevant register and a company has to meet the criteria of the programme. The project is checked before the application.
The fees are counted separatelyThe threshold is not the final sum
On top of the investment come the state fees, the consular duties, the translations and the legal work.
09 / Your team
Who runs your case
The work is led by specialists in the European programmes and in tax planning.
The editorial record
The material was prepared and checked by
- First published
- 11 August 2026
- Last updated
- 11 August 2026
The official sources
- Investor Visa for Italy — the official portal of the programmeThe Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy · checked 11.08.2026The terms of the programme, the categories of investment and how the certificate is obtained.
- The Italian Revenue Agency — the flat tax regimeAgenzia delle Entrate · checked 11.08.2026The conditions for applying the flat tax to new tax residents.
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy — visasMinistero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale · checked 11.08.2026How the investor visa is issued at the consulates.
10 / Common questions
Questions about the Investor Visa of Italy
When does the money have to be transferred?
Only after the application has been approved and the certificate issued. Until then the funds stay with you — that is the key difference of this programme.
What ways to invest are there?
Four: an innovative start-up €250,000, an Italian company €500,000, a charitable project €1,000,000 and government bonds €2,000,000.
Do I have to live in Italy?
To keep the residence permit, no. But permanent residence and citizenship require actual residence, so without a move the status stays a residence permit.
What about tax?
The permit by itself does not make you a tax resident. Those who do become residents may take a flat tax of €300,000 a year on all foreign income, plus €50,000 for each relative.
May I leave the project?
Leaving early means the status is cancelled. The investment is held for the whole life of the permit.
Who is included in the application?
A spouse, children and dependent parents. New members of the family can be added after the status has been granted.
How long does the process take?
3-4 months with a complete set of documents.
When can I apply for citizenship?
After 10 years of living in the country. The period is counted on actual presence, not from the date the status was granted.
Free of charge
Take the guide and a quotation for your family
We will send the PDF with the ways to invest and a budget calculation for your family.
- Four ways to invest, with the thresholds
- The order: the certificate, the approval, then the money
- The flat tax regime and when it pays off
- The conditions for keeping the status and the path to citizenship