Italy's golden visa, paid last.

Does Italy Have a Golden Visa?

Yes. Officially the Investor Visa for Italy, introduced under the 2017 Budget Law, it's a residency-by-investment programme for non-EU, non-EEA, non-Swiss nationals. The programme is fully operational going into 2026, not subject to annual quotas, and applications can be submitted year-round. It carries no obligation to live in Italy to maintain the permit.

It stands apart from other European golden visas on three points: no minimum physical presence to renew, investment made only after government pre-approval (eliminating upfront risk), and one of the lowest entry points in the EU at €250,000.

The programme does not offer citizenship directly. It leads to permanent residency after 5 years and citizenship eligibility after 10 — see our Italy Citizenship by Descent guide if you may qualify for a faster route through Italian ancestry instead.

2025–2026 Programme Updates

• Flat tax raised: from 1 January 2026, the substitute tax on foreign income for new Italian tax residents rose to €300,000/year (previously €100,000, then €200,000). Family members: €50,000 each. Those registered before 31 December 2025 are grandfathered at their prior rate.
• Biometrics now mandatory: from 11 January 2026, all long-stay visa applicants, including Investor Visa applicants, must provide biometric data in person at an Italian consulate.
• Russia/Belarus suspension continues: in place since July 2023, no indication of lifting.
• No confirmed real estate or fund route: direct property purchase still does not qualify, and the eligibility of packaged fund vehicles is under review. Ask us to confirm any fund’s current standing before you commit.

Why Choose the Italy Golden Visa?

Mediterranean climate, culture, and heritage; globally renowned cuisine; easy access to the European Union; and a high quality of life. If you're weighing Italy against another EU base, our La Dolce Vita: Moving to Italy from the USA guide covers lifestyle and relocation logistics in more depth than an investment-focused page like this one can.

Italy Golden Visa Benefits

• No stay requirements — no obligation to fulfil minimum stay requirements
• Freedom to work — investors and family members have the right to work in Italy
• Visa-free Schengen travel — up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen zone
• Pathway to PR and citizenship — renew indefinitely, or apply for permanent residence and eventually citizenship
• Significant tax benefits — HNWIs can elect the Special Tax Regime to minimise liability on foreign income
• Access to national public healthcare
• A fast, effective pathway to European residency
• Family inclusion — extend the permit to dependents at no additional investment cost

Who Is It For?

• HNWIs seeking EU residency optionality without relocating immediately
• Investors who want equity or hospitality real estate exposure in Italy while securing a Plan B
• Families who want to include a spouse, dependent children, or dependent parents at no extra investment cost
• Future retirees looking to lock in residency rights now — see also our Italian Elective Residency Visa guide if you'd rather relocate without an investment
• Entrepreneurs looking to invest in and operate their own Italian company

Italy Golden Visa Investment Options

The Italian Golden Visa Program has four investment pathways. An investor visa can only be issued against a single investment type — routes cannot be combined or split across categories.

1. Italian Innovative Startup — €250,000

The lowest-cost entry point, and the riskiest, since startups operate in a tougher environment than established companies. The startup must be officially registered on the Innovative Startup register with the Chambers of Commerce, have filed at least one tax return, and deposited a balance sheet. The free official list is searchable at startup.registroimprese.it. Investors cannot invest in a startup they, or a close family member, already control — the Committee requires full independence between investor and target company. See our full breakdown: Cash.it Innovative Startup Investment.

2. Italian Limited Company (Equity Route) — €500,000

A broad category that can also work as a financial investment, where the applicant invests in a company that itself makes investments in other Italian businesses. The target company must be operating — at least one year of activity and one filed balance sheet — and the investment must confer direct shareholding. This equity route can be used to gain exposure to real estate, tourism, or hospitality through a qualifying company structure, provided the target company itself qualifies.

3. Italian Government Bonds — €2,000,000

Eligible instruments: Treasury certificates, zero-coupon and long-term government bonds, and inflation-linked bonds, held for a minimum residual maturity of two years (five is generally advisable).

4. Philanthropic Donation — €1,000,000

An irrevocable donation to a project of public interest in culture, education, immigration management, scientific research, or heritage preservation in Italy.

Featured Investment Opportunity

Italy Golden Visa Real Estate: Is Real Estate an Eligible Investment?

Several European Golden Visa programs include real estate as an investment category. Italy is not one of them. There is no direct property-purchase route, and Italy has given no indication of adding one. However, it is possible to gain real estate exposure and still qualify by investing in a limited company that itself allocates capital to real estate, provided that company meets the programme’s requirements.

Investors whose priority is direct property ownership as the path to residency should consider our Greece Golden Visa and Greece Golden Visa real estate projects, Latvia Golden Visa, or Portugal Golden Visa guides instead — all of which offer a genuine real estate route.

Italy Golden Visa Requirements

• Non-EU/EEA/Swiss citizen, 18 or older
• Clean criminal record certificate from every country lived in for 12+ consecutive months over the past 10 years
• Proof of funds and their legal origin — an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Statement from your bank
• Private health insurance valid across the Schengen Area
• A qualifying investment made within 3 months of entering Italy
• Not currently eligible: Russian and Belarusian nationals, including dual nationals, since July 2023

Anti-Money Laundering Requirements

Funds must derive from legitimate activity, evidenced by an AML Statement confirming due diligence in line with FATF standards. Applicants whose funds originate from higher-risk jurisdictions may be asked to transfer funds to an Italian institution before applying.

Inclusion of Family Members

• Spouses who are not legally separated and are over 18
• Unmarried minor dependent children, including children of the spouse from another partner (with consent)
• Dependent children over 18
• Parents aged 65+ with serious health conditions
• Dependent parents under 65 with no other children to support them

There is no additional investment required for accompanying family members.

How to Get an Italy Golden Visa: Application Process

1. Initial consultation — define objectives and select the right investment route.
2. Apply for the Nulla Osta via the official Investor Visa portal — passport, CV, AML statement, proof of funds, criminal record certificates, investment commitment.
3. Apply for the Investor Visa at your local Italian consulate within 6 months of Nulla Osta issuance.
4. Enter Italy and apply for your residence permit within 8 working days of arrival, at the local Questura.
5. Make the investment within 3 months of entering Italy, then upload proof to the portal.
6. Renew in 3-year increments, filed at least 60 days before expiry.

Italy Golden Visa Cost

There is no "half-price" Italy Golden Visa — €250,000 is the lowest legitimate entry point; treat any offer priced below the four official thresholds as a red flag.

Processing Time & Current Status (2026)

The programme is operational with no confirmed backlog as of mid-2026, though reported Nulla Osta turnaround varies by source — anywhere from 25–35 days to 45–60 days. Total time from application to residence permit typically runs 3 to 6 months.

Italy Golden Visa vs Other European Golden Visas

The €250,000 Tier: How Italy Compares

Italy's €250,000 innovative startup route is genuinely one of the lowest entry points in the EU — but it's not the only one, and the routes aren't equivalent in risk or asset type.

Verify current thresholds directly before quoting to a client — Greece's zone-based pricing and Latvia's 2026 parliamentary review are both live-moving targets.

Full Programme Comparison

Full guides: Portugal · Greece · Latvia · Malta

Path to Permanent Residency and Citizenship

• Years 1–5: Hold the Golden Visa, maintain your investment, renew every 2–3 years.
• Year 5: Apply for EU long-term (permanent) residency — 183+ days/year, A2 Italian, stable income.
• Year 10: Apply for citizenship by naturalisation — B1 Italian, consistent tax record.

If you have Italian ancestry, you may qualify for citizenship far faster through our Italy Citizenship by Descent guide instead of the investment route.

Tax Benefits for Golden Visa Holders

The Flat Tax Regime (2026)

€300,000/year for the main applicant, €50,000/year per family member, up to 15 years. Requires non-Italian tax residency for at least 9 of the preceding 10 years.

7% Regime for Retirees in Southern Italy

A flat 7% rate on all non-Italian income for up to 10 years, for those relocating to a town under 20,000–30,000 people in Sicily, Calabria, Sardinia, Puglia, Campania, Basilicata, Abruzzo, or Molise.

Combining Regimes

The New Residents Flat Tax and the Impatriate Workers Regime apply to different income types and can be used together.

Our Consultants in Italy

Choosing between a law firm and a specialist consultancy is a real decision. A law firm handles the legal filing; LGP handles investment selection, end-to-end process management, and coordination with your legal and banking counterparts — often working alongside your existing lawyer rather than replacing them.

David Lincoln, IMCM

Founder & CEO

Peter Lilliott

Co-Founder & Partner, Monaco/London

Georgea Rios

Golden Visa Consultant

Matías Aguayo

Golden Visa Consultant

More on Italy

The Italy desk also covers the routes that do not run through an investment:

• Italian citizenship by descent — if an ancestor was Italian, this is cheaper and stronger than any visa.
• The Italian elective residency visa — passive income instead of investment.
• Moving to Italy from the United States — the practical side once the permit is in hand.

Golden Visa News

Italy Golden Visa Frequently Asked Questions