Schengen countries
Minimum requirement
Months processing time
The Italy Golden Visa, officially known as the Investor Visa for Italy, offers non-EU nationals a flexible route to Italian residence through a qualifying investment in Italy. It provides the right to live, work, and study in Italy, as well as visa-free travel across Europe’s Schengen Area.
Also referred to as the Italy Investor Visa or Italy Residence by Investment route, this program is one of Europe’s most attractive options for investors who want access to Italy and the wider Schengen Area without being required to relocate full-time.
Successful applicants may renew their residence permit while maintaining the qualifying investment. Those who choose to live in Italy long term may become eligible for permanent residence after five years and Italian citizenship after ten years, provided all residence, language, integration, and legal requirements are met.
The principal applicant must generally:
A spouse or legally recognized partner may be eligible for inclusion or family reunification, subject to the applicable Italian rules. They must:
Minor children may be eligible for inclusion. Adult children may be eligible only in specific circumstances, such as where they are financially dependent, unmarried, and unable to support themselves due to serious health issues or disabilities, subject to the applicable requirements.
Dependent parents may be eligible in certain circumstances, subject to Italy’s family reunification rules and the applicant’s ability to demonstrate dependency, accommodation, and financial support.
To qualify for the Italy Golden Visa or Italy Investor Visa, applicants must select one of the approved investment routes and meet all eligibility, documentation, and due diligence requirements. The qualifying investment must generally be maintained for the duration of the residence permit.
Applicants may invest a minimum of €500,000 in an Italian limited company (reduced to €250,000 if investing in innovative start-ups).
This route may be suitable for investors seeking exposure to an established Italian business or a more commercially oriented investment route.
Applicants may invest a minimum of €2 million in Italian government bonds.
This route may be suitable for applicants seeking a sovereign debt investment route, provided the investment is maintained in line with program requirements.
Applicants may make a minimum €1 million philanthropic donation supporting a project of public interest in Italy.
Eligible areas may include culture, education, immigration management, scientific research, arts, heritage, ecology, or other projects considered to be of public value. This is a non-refundable donation.
Latitude is a global leader in residence and citizenship planning. Our IMC-certified professionals specialize in cross-jurisdictional residence, citizenship, investment migration, and long-term mobility planning. For the Italy Golden Visa, Latitude can help applicants assess the most suitable investment route, prepare documentation, coordinate the Nulla Osta process, manage application steps, and support the residence permit and renewal process.
Latitude is a global leader in residence and citizenship planning. Our IMC-certified professionals specialize in cross-jurisdictional residence, citizenship, investment migration, and long-term mobility planning. For the Italy Golden Visa, Latitude can help applicants assess the most suitable investment route, prepare documentation, coordinate the Nulla Osta process, manage application steps, and support the residence permit and renewal process.
The process begins with Latitude’s initial due diligence and onboarding. This allows us to review the applicant’s objectives, family composition, background, source of funds, and preferred investment route.
Following successful screening, Latitude provides a Client Agreement for review and signature. Once the agreement is signed and the retainer is received, our team begins preparing the necessary government forms and supporting documents.
Latitude prepares and submits the application for the Nulla Osta, the certificate of no impediment issued through the Investor Visa for Italy process.
Once the Nulla Osta is granted, the applicant can submit the investor visa application through the Italian consulate in their country of residence.
Once the visa is granted, the applicant receives an entry visa for Italy.
After entering Italy, the applicant must apply for the investor residence permit at the local police headquarters within the required timeframe. This stage includes biometric enrolment and submission of the relevant residence permit documentation.
After entering Italy, the applicant must complete the qualifying investment within the required period.
Once the investment and residence permit requirements are satisfied, the applicant receives an investor residence permit, initially valid for two years.
The initial investor residence permit is valid for two years. It may be renewed for a further three years, provided the qualifying investment has been maintained and the applicant continues to satisfy the applicable requirements.
The applicant may also need to demonstrate suitable accommodation in Italy and sufficient financial resources to support themselves and any dependents.
After five years of lawful residence in Italy, applicants who have genuinely lived in Italy and satisfied the relevant requirements may be eligible to apply for permanent residence.
After ten years of lawful residence, applicants may be eligible to apply for Italian citizenship by naturalization, provided they meet the required residence, language, integration, good character, and documentation requirements.
The Italy Golden Visa is the commonly used name for the Investor Visa for Italy. It allows qualifying non-EU nationals to obtain Italian residence by making an approved investment or donation in Italy.
Yes. The official name is the Investor Visa for Italy, but it is often referred to as the Italy Golden Visa, Italian Golden Visa, or Italy Residence by Investment program.
Italy Residence by Investment refers to obtaining Italian residence through a qualifying investment under the Investor Visa for Italy. Approved applicants can receive an Italian residence permit and access Schengen Area travel.
The minimum investment starts from €250,000 for an investment in an Italian innovative startup. Other options include €500,000 in an Italian company, €1 million in a philanthropic project, or €2 million in Italian government bonds.
The Italy Investor Visa offers four main routes: an investment in an Italian innovative startup, an investment in an Italian company, a philanthropic donation to a project of public interest, or an investment in Italian government bonds.
No. One of the advantages of the Italy Investor Visa is that the qualifying investment is completed only after the visa has been approved and the applicant has entered Italy.
After entering Italy with the investor visa, the applicant must complete the qualifying investment within the required timeframe, generally within three months of arrival.
Subject to the applicant’s circumstances, documentation, consular processing, and government review, the Italy Golden Visa process can usually be completed in approximately four months from the start of the process with Latitude.
The initial investor residence permit is valid for two years. It can then be renewed for a further three years, provided the investment is maintained and the applicant continues to meet the applicable requirements.
There is no minimum physical presence requirement to maintain or renew the Italy Investor Visa residence permit, provided the qualifying investment and other renewal requirements are met. However, applicants seeking permanent residence or citizenship must satisfy separate residence requirements.
Yes. The Italy Investor Visa provides residence rights that allow the applicant to live, work, and study in Italy.
Yes. Italian residence allows visa-free travel within Europe’s Schengen Area for short stays, subject to Schengen rules.
Qualifying family members may be able to join the principal applicant through Italy’s family reunification rules. This may include a spouse, minor children, certain dependent adult children, and dependent parents, subject to the applicable requirements.
Adult children may be eligible only in specific circumstances, such as where they are financially dependent, unmarried, and unable to support themselves due to serious health issues or disabilities. The requirements should be reviewed carefully before planning a family application.
Dependent parents may be eligible in certain circumstances, subject to Italy’s family reunification rules. Applicants may need to demonstrate dependency, suitable accommodation, and financial resources.
Yes. Italy generally permits dual citizenship. Applicants should also confirm whether dual citizenship is permitted under the laws of any other countries of citizenship they hold.
Yes, but only where the applicant genuinely lives in Italy and satisfies the relevant residence and legal requirements. Permanent residence may be available after five years of lawful residence.
Potentially, yes. Italian citizenship by naturalization may be available after ten years of lawful residence, provided the applicant meets the required residence, language, integration, good character, and documentation requirements.
Italian language ability is not generally required for the investor visa itself. However, applicants seeking Italian citizenship must meet the applicable language and integration requirements, including Italian language ability.
No. Direct real estate purchase is not an eligible investment route under the Italy Investor Visa. However, applicants may still need to demonstrate suitable accommodation in Italy for residence permit or renewal purposes.
The Nulla Osta is a certificate of no impediment issued through the Investor Visa for Italy process. It confirms that the applicant may proceed with the investor visa application at the relevant Italian consulate.
The Italy Investor Visa can support relocation planning, but it does not automatically determine tax residence. Italy has specific tax residence rules and may offer special regimes for certain new residents. Applicants should obtain qualified tax advice before relocating or relying on any tax benefit.
Italy offers a special tax regime for certain new residents with foreign-source income. Eligibility depends on the applicant’s personal circumstances and tax history. This regime is separate from the Italy Investor Visa and should be reviewed with professional tax advisors.
The investor residence permit depends on maintaining the qualifying investment or donation for the required period. Failure to maintain the investment may affect renewal or continued residence rights.
Latitude helps internationally mobile individuals and families assess residence and citizenship options across multiple jurisdictions. For Italy, we support applicants with route selection, documentation, due diligence preparation, Nulla Osta coordination, consular application support, and residence permit planning.
Latitude is a global leader in residence and citizenship planning. Our IMC-certified professionals specialize in cross-jurisdictional citizenship and residence solutions for internationally mobile individuals and families.
Visa-free travel across 29 Schengen countries 
No minimum physical presence required to maintain the residence permit