In short. The golden visa Italy (officially the investor visa) lets non-EU nationals live in Italy in exchange for a qualifying investment: €2 million in government bonds, €500,000 in an Italian company, €250,000 in an innovative startup or a €1 million donation to a public interest project. You first obtain a nulla osta from the Investor Visa for Italy Committee, then the visa and a two-year residence permit, renewable for three years at a time.
A lot of people wish to come and live in Italy, but getting a visa and residency is more difficult than it seems. People willing to invest a substantial amount of money in Italy may consider an investor visa, better known as the golden visa Italy.
In this guide I’ll explain which golden visa programmes in Europe may suit you and why the Italian golden visa programme could be perfect for you.
What is the golden visa Italy?
Let’s start by saying that the golden visa Italia is not an Italy golden visa for real estate: indeed, if you’re looking to obtain Italian residency by buying property you should read our guide on the elective residence visa.
The golden visa Italy was created in 2017 by the Italian government to promote foreign direct investment. The Italy golden visa offers non-EU nationals an opportunity to live in Italy in exchange for a substantial investment in our country. After discussing the benefits of this special opportunity we’ll introduce the requirements of the Italian golden visa programme (see also our detailed guide to the Italy investor visa under Article 26-bis).
What are the benefits of the golden visa Italy?
One of the key benefits of the golden visa Italy programme is the opportunity it offers non-EU investors and their families to live, work and study in one of Europe’s most culturally rich and economically significant countries. The Italy golden visa provides a pathway to long-term residency and, eventually, citizenship, making it an attractive option for global entrepreneurs and high-net-worth individuals.
By investing in the Italian economy, whether through government bonds, innovative startups or established companies, applicants gain access to the Schengen Area, allowing visa-free travel across 26 European countries. In addition, the programme has no minimum stay requirement, offering flexibility to those who wish to maintain international mobility while holding residency rights in Italy.
What are the Italy golden visa requirements?
Whatever investment option you choose, there are a few requirements to meet for the golden visa Italy:
- Applicants must not be citizens of the European Union;
- No convictions or pending criminal proceedings;
- Proof of legal origin of funds and ability to sustain oneself and family during the stay in Italy.
The investment options are easy to understand but quite difficult to reach. They are the following.
€2 million investment in Italian government bonds
The first option is to invest in public bonds such as Treasury Credit Certificates (CCT/CCTeu), Zero Coupon Treasury Certificates (CTZ), Multi-Year Treasury Bonds (BTP), Multi-Year Treasury Bonds indexed to European inflation, and BTP Italia, with a remaining maturity of no less than two years.
€500,000 investment in an Italian limited company
The second option is to buy shares or quotas of capital companies established and tax resident in Italy.
A company is considered “operating” if it is active and has filed at least one financial statement by the date of the investor visa clearance (nulla osta) request.
For the purposes of the golden visa Italy, the company receiving the investment may be either listed or unlisted. Its name and tax code must be clearly indicated when the nulla osta request is submitted, as identifying the target company is a structural element of the application.
€250,000 investment in an Italian innovative startup
You can also buy shares or quotas of innovative startups, meaning companies referred to in Article 25, paragraph 2, of Decree-Law No. 179 of 18 October 2012, converted with amendments by Law No. 221 of 17 December 2012, and subsequent amendments.
The official list of innovative startups, updated weekly and freely accessible, is available on the dedicated website of the Italian Chamber of Commerce system: startup.registroimprese.it.
€1 million donation to a philanthropic initiative in Italy
As the last option, you can donate in support of a public interest project in the fields of culture, education, immigration management, scientific research, or the restoration of cultural and landscape heritage.
Which documents do you need for the golden visa Italy?
As you’ll see in the procedure section, you’ll need documents to prove you meet the requirements, especially the financial ones, which are the key to this special visa.
- Nulla osta (certificate of no impediment) issued by the “Comitato Investor Visa for Italy”;
- Detailed investment plan, including evidence of availability and legal origin of the funds;
- Valid passport and documents supporting personal and financial background;
- Golden visa Italia application to be submitted to the relevant Italian consulate once the nulla osta is approved.
Let’s see the official procedure to get this visa.
How do you apply for the Italy golden visa?
Obtaining a visa is not easy, and this is particularly true for the golden visa Italy. But following the right steps can improve your chances of being granted the Italian investor visa.
Choose the investment and apply for the nulla osta
First, decide which qualifying investment you want to make:
- €2 million in Italian government bonds;
- €500,000 in an Italian company (or €250,000 in an innovative startup);
- €1 million donation to a public interest project.
You are not required to transfer the funds immediately. You’ll need to demonstrate that the funds are available and legally sourced.
Then you can apply for a nulla osta (certificate of no impediment) online through the Italian Ministry of Economic Development’s platform. Unlike the nulla osta for all other types of Italian visa, which is issued by a local Prefecture, the nulla osta for the golden visa Italy is issued by a special committee. You’ll need to provide:
- Contact details;
- Copy of the passport;
- Brief curriculum vitae outlining the applicant’s main academic and professional experience;
- Selection of one of the three types of investment:
- investment in government bonds;
- investment in capital companies, including innovative startups;
- donation, in the following areas: cultural and landscape assets and activities; education and research; immigration management;
- Documentation demonstrating:
- ownership of the amounts to be allocated to the investment/donation;
- transferability and lawful origin of the financial resources used;
- absence of final criminal convictions and pending charges;
- authority of the legal representative to bind the foreign legal entity externally;
- Description of the characteristics of the investment/donation and confirmation of consent from the recipients;
- Declaration of commitment to use the funds, validated with a digital signature, including the amount the applicant intends to invest and the municipality in which they intend to settle.
The nulla osta may be used to obtain the Italy golden visa within six months from its date of issue. This deadline may be waived only for serious and justified reasons that prevented the applicant from attending the appointment with the competent diplomatic or consular representation in time.
Apply for the investor visa
Once you obtain the nulla osta, you can submit your Italy golden visa application to the Italian consulate or embassy in your country of residence. You’ll need to present:
- Copy of the nulla osta granted by the Committee, along with the original documents related to the entire set of documentation submitted during the application phase;
- Proof of suitable accommodation in Italy, including hotel reservations or availability provided by third parties;
- Proof of income earned in the previous financial year in the country of residence, exceeding the minimum threshold required by law for exemption from healthcare co-payments (currently approximately €8,500);
- A passport-sized photograph;
- A valid passport;
- Proof of residence within the jurisdiction of the relevant consular district.
The Italy golden visa is generally issued within a few weeks and is valid for 2 years.
Enter Italy and apply for your residence permit
Within the 2-year validity of the Italy golden visa you must enter Italy and submit an application for a residence permit for investors, which is valid for two years from the date of entry into Italy, by appearing in person at the Questura (Police Headquarters) of your place of residence.
To ensure the prompt start of the administrative procedure for the issue of the residence permit, you should inform the Committee Secretariat well in advance. Then you must notify the date of entry into Italy and the date of the permit application through the dedicated platform.
Starting from the declared date of entry, you have 3 months to complete the investment or donation.
The documentation you must submit in person at the immigration office of the Questura (remember: application via the postal kit is not allowed) includes:
- Receipt of payment of the pre-printed postal slip of €30.46 for the printing of the electronic permit (to be paid at the post office);
- Receipt of payment of the pre-printed postal slip of €50.00 as a fee for the issue of the residence permit (to be paid at the post office);
- Photocopy of the entire passport;
- Two passport-sized photographs;
- A €16.00 “marca da bollo” (revenue stamp);
- Documentation proving accommodation in Italy.
Finalise the investment
You must prove that the approved investment or donation has been carried out within three months of entering Italy by submitting the appropriate documentation through the designated platform.
All supporting documentation must be written in Italian or English and uploaded to the platform in PDF format. If the documents are not available in Italian or English, a certified translation must be provided.
After a formal review by the Secretariat, the documentation is submitted to the Committee, which verifies whether the investment or donation has been carried out according to the required procedures.
Maintain the investment and renew the permit
As an investor and holder of a golden visa Italy, you are required to maintain the investment for the entire duration of the residence permit, under penalty of its revocation and the impossibility of renewal.
Remember that you must maintain your original investment. Even if you already hold the residence permit, you cannot change the destination of the investment, under penalty of revocation and inability to renew.
The residence permit for investors lasts two years and can be renewed for successive periods of three years. The Italy golden visa permit is the only residence permit subject to the prior issue of a clearance (nulla osta) by the Committee, which must verify the actual maintenance of the investment for its entire validity period.
Since the renewal application must, as a rule, be submitted at least 90 days before the expiry date (Article 5(4) of the Consolidated Immigration Act, as amended by Legislative Decree 83/2026, applicable from 22 May 2026), I strongly recommend requesting the clearance well in advance of the expiry date.
After 5 years, it’s possible to apply for permanent residency in Italy, and after 10 years of legal residence even for Italian citizenship, subject to language and integration requirements (read our full guide on how to obtain Italian citizenship).
Which tax incentives come with the golden visa Italy?
Italian tax regulations are really complex but, generally, every tax resident in Italy is required to pay income tax on their worldwide earnings.
In order to attract high-net-worth individuals, Italy offers an alternative tax structure. This optional tax regime enables new residents to replace regular taxation on all of their income earned outside Italy with a €100,000 lump sum payment once a year.
You can apply for this tax regime if you’re ready to move your tax residence to Italy. The first condition is that you have not been resident in Italy for at least nine of the last 10 years.
The €100,000 substitute tax is due in full by 30 June of the following year. By paying an extra €25,000 for each person, you can also include your family members in the plan.
Once granted, the regime is valid for 15 years and you can opt out at any time. If the annual lump sum is not paid, in whole or in part, the status immediately lapses.
I strongly recommend discussing this with an expert, since laws may change.
What are the alternatives to the golden visa Italy?
The Italy investor visa is a good choice if you want to obtain European residency quickly. The programme is fast and straightforward, with different investment options.
However, if your motivations include getting citizenship in an EU country in a shorter time and without any stay requirements, there are other options such as the Portugal golden visa. It’s a scheme that offers various investment options, including real estate purchases, which the Italy golden visa doesn’t. Also, the Portugal golden visa can lead to citizenship if you stay in Portugal for seven days on average every year.
Another option is the Greece golden visa. Although it also requires you to stay in Greece for a minimum of seven years to become eligible for citizenship, it offers a real estate acquisition route starting from €250,000.
There are also options other than a golden visa in Europe, since you could come to Italy with a self-employment visa, a remote work or digital nomad visa, a study visa or an elective residence visa (which is like an Italy golden visa for real estate).
Is the golden visa Italy one of the best golden visas in Europe?
As discussed in this guide, the golden visa Italy is one of the best golden visas in Europe.
Remember that this is not Italian residency by buying property, since that refers to the elective residence visa. “Golden visa” in European countries is another name for the investor visa.
This is the perfect choice if you want to invest money without having an active role in the business you’re investing in and you want to live in Italy because of the investment.
If you need further information, don’t hesitate to contact us, since this is a really complex procedure and you don’t want to see your Italian golden visa denied after months of waiting.
Frequently asked questions
How much do I need to invest for the golden visa Italy?
There are four options: €2 million in Italian government bonds with at least two years’ remaining maturity, €500,000 in an Italian capital company, €250,000 in an innovative startup listed in the official register, or a €1 million donation to a public interest project in fields such as culture, education, research or immigration management.
Can I get the Italian golden visa by buying property?
No. The golden visa Italy does not include a real estate route. If you want to live in Italy by buying property and living on your own means, the relevant route is the elective residence visa. Real estate investment is offered by some other European schemes, but not by the Italian investor visa.
How long is the investor residence permit valid?
The residence permit for investors is valid for two years from the date of entry into Italy and can be renewed for successive periods of three years. Renewal requires a new clearance from the Committee, which checks that the original investment has been maintained for the whole validity period.
When must the investment be completed?
You do not have to transfer the funds when applying for the nulla osta, but you must prove they are available and lawfully sourced. The investment or donation must be carried out within three months of the declared date of entry into Italy, with documentation uploaded to the platform in Italian or English.
Does the golden visa lead to Italian citizenship?
It can. After 5 years you may apply for permanent residency in Italy, and after 10 years of legal residence you may apply for Italian citizenship, subject to the language and integration requirements. Throughout this period you must keep the original investment in place.
FAQ – Golden visa Italy
Golden visa program Italy
Does Italy have a golden visa program? Yes, of course it does and the golden passport Italy is one of the best golden visa programs in Europe.
What is the cheapest golden visa in Europe?
One of the best golden visa Europe is the golden visa Italia, thanks to clear guidelines and a dedicated procedure that streamlines bureaucracy. Italy golden visa price may vary base on your situation so I always recommend to talk with on of our experts before starting the process.
Validity of golden visa Italy
The Italian investor visa is valid for two years. You are permitted to enter Italy multiple times during this period and apply for a residence permit using your visa.
Your residence permit is also valid for two years beginning on the day of your arrival in Italy.
Golden visa european countries
Other European countries allow you to get an investor visa. If you’re looking for a golden visa europe, you may evaluate whether to invest in the Spanish or Portuguese economy.
When should I invest to get an Italy golden visa?
Only investments made after the Nulla Osta request will be considered by the investor visa Italy committee.
Can I combine investments for golden visa Italy?
No, the Italian investor visa can be issued exclusively for a single investment, falling under only one of the types described. Therefore, it is not permitted to combine investments directed toward different entities, nor to mix different types of investments, each of which individually falls below the minimum threshold required for the respective categories.
Official sources
- Investor Visa for Italy — official platform
- Decree-Law 179/2012, Article 25 — Normattiva
- Legislative Decree 286/1998 (Consolidated Immigration Act), Article 26-bis — Normattiva
- Register of innovative startups — Italian Chambers of Commerce
Sources were consulted on 15 October 2026. Amounts, tax rules and procedures can change: always check the latest instructions from the competent office.
How can SH Immigration Specialists help?
SH Immigration Specialists can help you choose the investment option that fits your situation, prepare the nulla osta application on the Investor Visa for Italy platform, assemble the visa file for the consulate and handle the residence permit application and renewal. Legal advice, appeals and litigation are handled by the lawyers of the SH Immigration Specialists law firm. The outcome depends on the competent authorities. For an assessment, contact us.
This content provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.
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Which other guides may help you?
- Italy investor visa: minimum amounts, clearance and residence permit (Art. 26-bis)
- Elective Residence Visa Italy: Requirements, Income and Permit
- Self-Employment Visa and Residence Permit in Italy: Full Guide
- Italian entry visa: what it is and how to get it
- Types of Italian visa: complete list and guides
