Golden visa for Italy: Requirements and benefits

Italy’s Golden Visa, officially known as the Investor Visa for Italy (IV4I), stands out in Europe because you only invest after you’ve been approved. First you get approved, then you invest. This approach greatly reduces the financial risk for investors.

There are two important updates for 2026 worth knowing before you start. Since January 2025, all applicants must complete biometric registration in person at the consulate. And from December 2025, the flat tax for new tax residents increased from $215,000 to $325,000 per year. This changes the tax calculation, but not the appeal of the visa itself. This guide covers the full program under the 2026 rules.

What Is the Italian Golden Visa?

Italy’s Golden Visa is a residency-by-investment program run by the Investor Committee. Unlike many European programs that focused on real estate, Italy prioritizes productive investment, putting money into companies, startups, or public projects.

How the Italian Golden Visa works

The process takes place in two stages. You first obtain approval from the Investor Committee without making any investment. Once approved, you apply for the entry visa at the Italian consulate in your home country. After arriving in Italy, you complete the investment and apply for your residence permit.

This approval-first approach distinguishes Italy from most European investment visa programs, where applicants usually commit their funds before receiving a decision.

One key point: the investor visa is based on a single investment in one category. You can’t split or combine multiple investments to meet the minimum requirement.

Initial duration of the permit

The program grants a two-year residence permit, renewable up to three times, with no physical presence requirement. The initial permit is valid for two years from the date you arrive in Italy.

Renewals and maintenance of residency

If you keep the investment for the full two years, you can renew for three more years. You’ll need a new Nulla Osta from the Investor Committee. The renewal is done through the same online process as the initial application.

Benefits of the Golden Visa in Italy

Italy’s Golden Visa is one of the most attractive options in Europe because it’s very flexible and offers strong benefits. The main advantage is that it gives you a residence permit to live, work, and study in Italy with no minimum stay requirement. This allows you to maintain your personal and business life abroad while keeping a secure residence option in Europe.

The visa also provides significant travel freedom. It allows visa-free travel across the 29 Schengen countries for up to 90 days. This privilege also applies to your family, including your spouse and dependent children.

The program also offers a route to long-term residence. You can apply for permanent residency after five years and for Italian citizenship after ten years of legal residence.

Who is eligible to apply for the Golden Visa in Italy?

The program is open to non-EU citizens over 18 who can make one of the four eligible investments and can prove the funds come from a legal source.

Eligible investment amounts range from $270,000 to $2 million, depending on the investment category. It mainly attracts two groups: wealthy investors who want a legal base in Europe without moving, and people with foreign income who use Italy’s tax system for planning.

Requirements for obtaining the Golden Visa in Italy

As of 2026, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• A valid passport with sufficient validity to cover the planned period of residence.
• Online application form available through the Investors Committee’s official website.
• Investment commitment declaration: A written document where the applicant agrees to complete the investment within three months of entering Italy.
• Anti–money laundering declaration: A document issued by the bank holding the funds for the investment. The bank confirms it has carried out proper due diligence on the client in line with FATF international standards.
• Proof of available funds for the investment: Bank statements, confirmation letters from banks or brokers.
• Criminal record certificate from the country of origin and countries of recent residence, with an apostille.
• Proof of sufficient financial means to support yourself and your family while in Italy, above the minimum threshold required for exemption from healthcare cost contributions.
• Since January 11, 2025, all long-stay visa applicants, including investor visa applicants, must provide biometric fingerprints in person at an Italian consulate.

Managing funds and key deadlines

Beyond meeting the minimum investment, the main requirement is proving your funds come from a legal source. The Investor Committee and banks review all documents carefully to comply with anti–money laundering rules.

Once you enter Italy, you have three months to complete the investment you committed to. You must keep the funds invested for the whole period of your stay. If you withdraw them too early or miss the deadline, your permit will be automatically revoked.

Does your nationality affect the process?

The program follows the same rules for all non-EU citizens. The only practical detail to keep in mind is paperwork: any document must be accompanied by an official sworn translation into Italian or English. Otherwise, it won’t be accepted by the authorities.

Types of investments to obtain the Golden Visa in Italy

If you’re looking into the Italian Golden Visa, there are four very different investment routes to choose from. None is objectively better than the others. It all comes down to your investor profile, how much capital you want to commit, and your risk tolerance.

Here’s a quick comparison before we go into detail:

1. Investing in talent: Investing in innovative startups

This is the cheapest option in the program, with a minimum investment of $270,000. The company must be officially registered in Italy as an “Innovative Startup.” It’s often tech-related, but not always. What matters is that the business has potential and has already filed at least its first tax return and financial statements.

By investing, you become a shareholder, so your money is tied to the success of the project. While there has been growing interest in recent years in startups backed by tangible assets, the reality is still the same: early-stage companies have a high failure rate.

As this is the riskiest option, you should do proper due diligence, check the official registry, and work with a legal advisor before investing any money.

2. Growing a business: Investing in established Italian companies

If you prefer something more established, you can invest at least $540,000 in a company that has been operating for at least a year and has up-to-date financial accounts. You have two options: buy shares from an existing shareholder or invest through a capital increase.

That said, the program is designed for genuine outside investment. You can’t already control the company before applying, and it can’t be owned by close family members such as your spouse, parents, or siblings.

As with any business investment, there is risk involved, so your return depends on how well the company performs in the market and whether it operates in a sector approved by the Investor Committee.

3. The safe bet: Government bonds

For those who prioritize security above all, this is the most conservative option. It involves buying Italian government bonds (such as BTPs) for at least $2,000,000 and holding them for the duration of your residence permit.

It has the highest entry cost, but it also offers predictable returns and the assurance that the state will repay your capital. The only real risk is sovereign risk, and within the program, it’s the safest option for high-net-worth investors who want something simple and stable.

4. Leaving a legacy: Philanthropic giving

Finally, there is the philanthropy option, for people who care more about impact than returns. It involves donating $1,000,000 to a non-profit in Italy to support public projects in areas like culture, education, research, immigration, or restoring the country’s cultural heritage.

The key point is that this is a non-recoverable contribution: the money is not returned and it doesn’t generate any financial return. That said, for people with a strong philanthropic mindset, it’s a meaningful way to obtain residency while contributing to Italy’s development and cultural preservation.

Taxes associated with the Golden Visa

One of the main advantages of the program is that you don’t have to become a tax resident. It separates residency rights from tax status, so you can get the visa without changing your tax situation at home, as long as you don’t spend more than 183 days a year in Italy.

What if you decide to move away for good?

If you decide to settle in Italy permanently (spending more than 183 days there), you’ll become a tax resident. At that point, you have two options: the standard Italian tax system, with progressive rates of up to 43%, or the country’s special regime for new residents.

Under this special regime, your tax situation changes completely: instead of being taxed under the standard income brackets, you pay a flat substitute tax of $325,000 per year on all income earned outside Italy, no matter how high it is.

If you move with your family, each additional family member included in the regime pays an extra $54,000 per year. This benefit lasts for up to 15 years and, importantly, it also protects those who moved under the previous rules. If you became a tax resident before December 31, 2025, you’ll keep the old $215,000 rate for the rest of your eligibility period.

Investment returns and real estate: Day-to-day life

Any income from your Golden Visa investment, like dividends or bond interest, is taxed based on where you are a tax resident.

If you remain a non-resident in Italy, these returns are usually taxed at source through withholding. Since the details depend on double tax treaties with your home country, it’s important to review your setup with an international tax advisor.

Although you can’t get the visa through real estate, many investors still buy property separately. If you do, be aware that you’ll pay standard registration taxes or VAT, depending on the property and how you buy it (personally or through a company).

We have a very comprehensive article on this topic that we recommend you read: How to buy a house in Italy as a foreigner?

The best strategic advice

The practical recommendation is crystal clear: treat the visa and the tax relocation as two completely separate decisions.

The visa stands out for its speed, low initial risk, and no minimum stay requirement. The flat tax regime, after its recent increase, is now more niche and mainly useful for very high-net-worth individuals with large international income.

Discussing both scenarios with an Italian financial advisor before taking the first step will help you avoid surprises and ensure you make the best long-term decision.

Golden Visa budget: Associated costs

Beyond the main investment you choose, the Investor Visa process also involves a number of additional costs that it’s important to be aware of from day one to avoid any surprises along the way.

The good news is that Italy’s official government fees are among the lowest in Europe. For example, the consular fee for the long-stay entry visa is $125, which is the same amount you pay to apply for the Nulla Osta with the Investor Committee.

Once you arrive in Italy, the residence permit process adds only about $125–140 per person, covering the electronic card fee, official stamps, and postal handling.

Most of the indirect costs come from legal and administrative work. You’ll likely need a local immigration lawyer to prepare your application, check the startup or company, and coordinate with Italian banks.

Depending on how complex your case is, legal fees usually range from $5,450–16,335. On top of that, you should budget another $1,089–3,265 for administrative costs like translating and legalizing documents, opening bank accounts, or obtaining your tax code (codice fiscale).

Finally, you should also factor in ongoing maintenance costs. Every time you renew your permit, you’ll need to obtain a new Nulla Osta and prove that your investment is still in place, which usually involves small additional fees and, in most cases, extra legal support.

Also keep in mind practical costs such as travel expenses for mandatory biometric appointments at your consulate, as well as private health insurance to cover you during the first few months before you register with the national healthcare system.

How do I apply for a Golden Visa in Italy?

The Italian Golden Visa process has five clear steps you should know in advance so you can plan your timeline and prepare properly.

1. Choose the type of investment you want to pursue

The journey begins with choosing which of the four investment paths best fits your profile and your financial goals.

If you choose a startup or an established company, this is when you pick the investment and do due diligence to make sure everything is in order. If you prefer government bonds, your main task is to work with your bank to confirm the eligible options are available.

2. Gather all the necessary documents

At the same time, you’ll need to get started on the paperwork. At this stage, you’ll gather all the documents required for your application, from a valid passport to criminal record certificates that have been properly apostilled.

You’ll also need an anti–money laundering declaration issued by your bank, as well as solid proof that you have the funds required to carry out your chosen investment.

3. Submit the application

Once your documents are ready, you upload them online through the Investor Committee portal. The process is fairly fast, and the Committee usually issues the Nulla Osta (pre-approval) within 45 to 60 days, with no major delays.

4. The consular authorities will review your case

Once you get the Nulla Osta, you apply for the entry visa at the Italian consulate in your country. Although they can take up to 90 days, it’s usually processed in 10 to 20 days. Overall, the whole process takes about three to six months.

Once your visa is issued, you’ll have three months after arriving in Italy to complete your committed investment and go to the local Questura to apply for your physical residence card.

5. Maintain the investment and renew your residence permit once it expires

This final step ends with your initial residence permit, which is valid for two years. To keep it and qualify for extensions (the first for three years, and then further renewals for the same period with no set limit), the only requirement is to keep your investment in place.

Also, if your plan is to settle long term, after five years of legal residence (and spending at least 183 days per year in the country), you’ll be eligible to apply for permanent residency.

How can I get internet access when I arrive in Italy?

The best way to stay connected in Italy from the moment you arrive is with a Holafly eSIM, which gives you unlimited data for those first few busy days. It saves you the hassle of hunting for public WiFi so you can focus on what actually matters.

If you’re thinking long term, Holafly’s monthly plans are a better option. You can choose between 25 GB or unlimited data and get a subscription that renews automatically, with no long-term contract, so you can cancel anytime. Plus, one plan gives you internet in over 160 countries, which is perfect if you plan to travel around Europe.

The plans also include Always On, a feature that gives you an extra 1 GB of data per month. But it only kicks in if you cancel your plan or run out of data. It acts as a safety net for those moments when you can’t afford to be offline.

Frequently asked questions about the Golden Visa in Italy

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Paula Henderson

Spanish-English Translator

Hi! I'm a Spanish-English translator working with Holafly, helping bring travel content to life for curious travelers. As a digital nomad with a passion for exploring, I'm always adding new spots to my bucket list. If you love to travel like me, stick around because you're in the right place to find inspiration for your next trip! ✈️🌍

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