Profile

Investor Visa for Italy

Route status

Active as of 2026-08-04[3][8]
Program suspended for Russian and Belarusian nationals – see route-level nationality_restrictions.

Open to new applications under the rules recorded below.

Status details
Nationality restrictions
    • Nationalities: ru, by
    • Restriction: suspended
    • Since: 2023-07-14
    • as of 2026-08-04[3][8]

    • Program suspended for Russian and Belarusian citizens (Committee order 14 Jul 2023) and for dual nationals holding Russian or Belarusian citizenship (MAECI note, 20 Mar 2024).

Residency route facts

Identity

Identity
Official name (local)Visto per investitori / Permesso di soggiorno per investitori as of 2026-08-04[8][10]
Official name (English)Investor Visa for Italy as of 2026-08-04[7][8]
Legal basisD.Lgs. 286/1998 (Testo Unico Immigrazione), art. 26-bis, inserted by L. 232/2016 art. 1(148); implementing inter-ministerial decree of 21 July 2017 as of 2026-08-04[7][10]

Who can apply

Who can apply
Nationals not served by this routeEU, Schengen as of 2026-08-04[7][8]
Policy guidance: applicants are nationals of countries that are not EU members or within the Schengen area; portal home page says 'non-EU citizens'.
Minimum age18 as of 2026-08-04[7]
Criminal-record conditionYes as of 2026-08-04[4][7]
Absence of final criminal convictions and pending charges; certificates from countries of residence over 12 consecutive months during the last 10 years; criminal record uploaded at Phase 1.

Permit terms

Permit terms
Initial duration2 years as of 2026-08-04[5][10]
2-year 'per investitori' permit; apply at the Questura within 8 days of arrival; investment/donation must be executed within 3 months of entry or the permit is revoked/not issued.
RenewableYes as of 2026-08-04[6][10]
Renewal duration3 years as of 2026-08-04[6][10]
Renewable for further 3-year periods if the investment is fully maintained; renewal application at least 60 days before expiry with a new Nulla Osta.
Work rightsfull as of 2026-08-04[2][10]
Art. 26-bis(5-bis): same rights as the self-employment permit; official FAQ confirms both employed and self-employed activity are permitted.

Permanent residence and citizenship

Permanent residence and citizenship
Counts toward permanent residenceYes as of 2026-08-04[6][12]
After 5 years of permit holding (investment maintained) the holder may request the EU long-term residence permit; general art. 9 conditions (income, language, continuity) apply.

Requirements

Requirements
Investment options
    • Option: it-investor-visa-bonds
    • Asset class: government bonds
    • Minimum amount: EUR 2,000,000 as of 2026-08-04[8][10][13]
      Securities issued by the Italian government (BTP, CCT/CCTeu, CTZ, BTP Italia per policy guidance) with residual maturity of at least 2 years.
    • Holding period: 2 years as of 2026-08-04[7][10]
    • Value may fall below the threshold: No as of 2026-08-04[7][10]
      Permit revoked if the investment is divested before the 2-year term; renewal requires the sum to remain fully invested.
    • Option: it-investor-visa-company
    • Asset class: company shares
    • Minimum amount: EUR 500,000 as of 2026-08-04[8][10][13]
      Equity instruments of a company (societa di capitali) incorporated, resident and operating in Italy, in active state with at least one filed balance sheet (policy guidance). One company per application.
    • Holding period: 2 years as of 2026-08-04[10]
      'Mantenuto per almeno due anni' (art. 26-bis(1)(b), wording in force since 18 Dec 2024).
    • Value may fall below the threshold: No as of 2026-08-04[7][10]
    • Option: it-investor-visa-vc-fund
    • Asset class: investment fund
    • Minimum amount: EUR 500,000 as of 2026-08-04[9][10]
      Capital instruments of a venture capital fund established and operating in Italy; option added by L. 193/2024 art. 35, in force 18 Dec 2024. Other collective investment vehicles do not qualify.
    • Holding period: 2 years as of 2026-08-04[10]
    • Value may fall below the threshold: No as of 2026-08-04[10]
    • Option: it-investor-visa-startup
    • Asset class: company shares
    • Minimum amount: EUR 250,000 as of 2026-08-04[8][10][13]
      Equity of an innovative start-up registered in the special section of the Companies Register (art. 25(8) DL 179/2012).
    • Holding period: 2 years as of 2026-08-04[10]
    • Value may fall below the threshold: No as of 2026-08-04[10]
    • Restrictions: Target must qualify as 'start-up innovativa' under art. 25 DL 179/2012 at investment time.
    • Option: it-investor-visa-donation
    • Asset class: donation
    • Minimum amount: EUR 1,000,000 as of 2026-08-04[8][10][13]
      Philanthropic donation supporting a public-interest project in culture, education, immigration management, scientific research, or recovery of cultural and landscape assets.
    • Restrictions: Non-recoverable donation; project and recipients must be described in detail at application.
Source-of-funds checksYes as of 2026-08-04[7][10]
Art. 26-bis(2)(c): certification of the lawful origin of the funds; funds must be available, transferable to Italy, and beneficially owned by the applicant. Anti-money-laundering provisions expressly preserved (art. 26-bis(9)).
Income requirementNot established from a qualifying source

Process

Process
Where to apply fromfrom abroad only as of 2026-08-04[2][4]
Nulla Osta requested online via the IV4I portal; visa then requested in person at the Italian representation abroad (6 months to request after Nulla Osta; entry within 2 years of visa issue).
Statutory processing time30 days as of 2026-08-04[1][4]
Committee decision on the Nulla Osta within 30 days of application (suspended if supplementary information is requested).
Fees
    • Kind: application
    • Amount: EUR 0 as of 2026-08-04[1]
    • Charged per: applicant
Quota
  • Quota exists: No as of 2026-08-04[10]
    Art. 26-bis(1): entry and stay permitted 'al di fuori delle quote di cui all'articolo 3, comma 4' – outside the decreto flussi quota system.
  • Exempt from the general quota: Yes as of 2026-08-04[10]
Stages
    • Label: Nulla Osta committee decision
    • Statutory clock: 30 days as of 2026-08-04[1][4]
      Committee decision on the Nulla Osta within 30 days of application (suspended if supplementary information is requested).
    • Fees:
        • Kind: application
        • Amount: EUR 0 as of 2026-08-04[1]
          Nulla Osta application via the IV4I portal is free of charge ('gratuita').
        • Charged per: applicant
    • Label: Consular entry visa (Italian representation abroad)

Physical presence

Physical presence
none statedto keep the permit as of 2026-08-04[7][10][13]
Explicit statutory exemption: art. 26-bis(5-bis) exempts the holder from continuity-of-stay obligations for 5 years from first issuance (policy guidance: 'obligations related to continuity of presence in the Italian territory do not apply'). Also exempt from the integration agreement. Presence remains a precondition for PR continuity (art. 9(6)) and tax residence.

Family inclusion

Family inclusion
Family members may be includedYes as of 2026-08-04[2][10]
Art. 26-bis(8): family members eligible under art. 29 may enter 'al seguito' (accompanying) with a family visa under art. 30.
Eligible relationsspouse, minor child, adult dependent child, parent as of 2026-08-04[2][11]
Art. 29: spouse not legally separated and over 18; unmarried minor children; dependent adult children only if totally disabled; dependent parents under conditions (no other children in origin country, or over-65 with other children unable to support them).
Family may apply at the same timeYes as of 2026-08-04[2][10]
Entry 'al seguito' (together with the investor) is expressly allowed; later reunification under general art. 29 rules is also possible.
Family members' work rightsNot established from a qualifying source
Additional means per family member
    • Relation: spouse
    • Amount: 0.50 × social allowance (annualised total) per year as of 2026-08-04[2][11]
      Art. 29(3)(b): sponsor income of at least the annual assegno sociale plus half of it per family member (multiplier expressed against the annual amount, 13 monthly instalments; see it-assegno-sociale.annualisation_factor). Two or more children under 14: at least double the annual assegno sociale.
    • Relation: minor child
    • Amount: 0.50 × social allowance (annualised total) per year as of 2026-08-04[2][11]
      Art. 29(3)(b): sponsor income of at least the annual assegno sociale plus half of it per family member (multiplier expressed against the annual amount, 13 monthly instalments; see it-assegno-sociale.annualisation_factor). Two or more children under 14: at least double the annual assegno sociale.
    • Relation: adult dependent child
    • Amount: 0.50 × social allowance (annualised total) per year as of 2026-08-04[2][11]
      Art. 29(3)(b): sponsor income of at least the annual assegno sociale plus half of it per family member (multiplier expressed against the annual amount, 13 monthly instalments; see it-assegno-sociale.annualisation_factor).
    • Relation: parent
    • Amount: 0.50 × social allowance (annualised total) per year as of 2026-08-04[2][11]
      Art. 29(3)(b): sponsor income of at least the annual assegno sociale plus half of it per family member (multiplier expressed against the annual amount, 13 monthly instalments; see it-assegno-sociale.annualisation_factor).

Your next step

Read the requirements above considering your own situation: the income multiple, the absence limits, who you can bring. Check the country record for the reference figure those amounts are calculated from, and for anything that has changed recently.

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Verification

Verification
Sources cited13
of which official (tier 1)11
Oldest as-of date2026-08-04
Newest as-of date2026-08-04
Reviewed on2026-08-11
Schema version1.1

Sources

  1. [1] Investire in Italia – Investor Visa for Italy: Manuale operativo (2021)
    Ministero degli Affari Esteri e della Cooperazione Internazionale (hosted by Embassy of Italy in Buenos Aires) · official guidance · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-04
  2. [2] Investor Visa for Italy – F.A.Q. & other information (14 Sep 2018)
    Ministry of Economic Development (MISE, now MIMIT) · official guidance · Tier 1 · Published 2018-09-14 · Accessed 2026-08-04
  3. [3] Investor Visa: how it works
    Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) · official portal · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy
  4. [4] Phase 1: getting your Investor Visa for Italy
    Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) · official portal · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy
  5. [5] Phase 2: getting your investor residence permit
    Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) · official portal · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy
  6. [6] Phase 3: renewing your investor residence permit
    Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) · official portal · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy
  7. [7] Investor Visa for Italy – Policy guidance (14 Sep 2018, updated 19 Jul 2021)
    Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) · official guidance · Tier 1 · Published 2021-07-19 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy
  8. [8] Investor Visa for Italy – official portal (home)
    Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) · official portal · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy
  9. [9] Tutte le novita normative per startup e PMI innovative (L. 193/2024, art. 35)
    Startupbusiness · press · Tier 2 · Accessed 2026-08-04
  10. [10] D.Lgs. 286/1998, art. 26-bis – Ingresso e soggiorno per investitori (consolidated, in force)
    Normattiva (Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy
  11. [11] D.Lgs. 286/1998, art. 29 – Ricongiungimento familiare (consolidated, in force)
    Normattiva (Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy
  12. [12] D.Lgs. 286/1998, art. 9 – Permesso di soggiorno UE per soggiornanti di lungo periodo (consolidated, in force)
    Normattiva (Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy
  13. [13] Italy's investor visa scheme
    Withers LLP · law firm · Tier 2 · Published 2025-04-04 · Accessed 2026-08-04

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