Updated
GL-I-01
Glossary · Citizenship and residency programs
Italy Investor Visa - EU residence for an investment from €250,000
Italy investor visa — residence for an investment in government bonds, companies, startups, or philanthropy at set amounts.
01 / In 30 seconds
The short answer
- 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
02 / In plain words
What Italy Investor Visa means
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.
A case from practice
An investor wants an EU country residence permit and prefers a conservative investment. We compare the options: a startup is cheaper but riskier, government bonds are safer but more expensive. They choose bonds, evidence the source of funds and obtain Italian residence for the whole family with a path to citizenship.
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
03 / What it covers
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
04 / How it works
How to obtain the visa
Choosing the form of investment
A start-up, a company, philanthropy or bonds.
Preparing documents
Source of funds, passports, family documents.
Investment and filing
Approval, a visa, then the investment in the chosen form.
Review and residence permit
A residence permit for the applicant and family.
Path to permanent residence and citizenship
Renewal, residence and applications for permanent residence and citizenship.
05 / Key facts
What you need to know
01Forms and amounts
From €250,000 to €2,000,000
An innovative start-up €250,000, an Italian company €500,000, philanthropy €1,000,000, government bonds €2,000,000.
02What it gives
EU residence
The right to live in Italy and travel in Schengen, with the status renewable.
03Family
Included
The status is issued to the applicant and family members.
04Outlook
Permanent residence and citizenship
If residence rules are met, the status leads to permanent residence and naturalisation.
Common mistakes
Choosing a form without regard to your goal
Compare risk and cost: a start-up is cheaper, bonds are more conservative.
Investing in an unvetted start-up
Check that the company is on the innovative start-up register and review its accounts.
Not proving the source of funds
Prepare statements and source of funds documents before applying.
Forgetting the residence conditions
Plan time in Italy if the goal is permanent residence and citizenship.
06 / Expert advice
How to prepare in advance
For Italy’s visa the form of investment (startup, company, philanthropy or government bonds) is chosen according to goal and budget, and the documents and evidence of the source of funds are prepared. The residence conditions for moving to PR and citizenship are taken into account. The status is planned as a long-term strategy. Then the residence permit serves the route to an EU passport.
What we do for you. 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.
Anna KovalevskayaLead lawyer for EU citizenship and residency, 12 years of practice
07 / Questions
Frequently asked questions
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.
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.
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.
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.
Yes, the status is granted to the applicant and family members. We include the family in the process from the start.
Yes, the origin of the money is checked. We prepare transparent evidence in advance so that the application goes through without delays.
INITIAL ASSESSMENT
Tell us what outcome your family needs
We will design a solution for your case, choose the country and the right status, and take the whole process through to the result.
