Profile

Self-employment visa – entrepreneurs (investment plan)

Route status

Active as of 2026-08-04[1][4]

Open to new applications under the rules recorded below.

Residency route facts

Identity

Identity
Official name (local)Visto per lavoro autonomo – imprenditori as of 2026-08-04[1][5]
Official name (English)Self-employment visa – entrepreneurs (investment plan) as of 2026-08-04[1][3]
Translation of the DPCM category; no single official English name.
Legal basisD.Lgs. 286/1998 art. 26; DPCM 2 ottobre 2025 art. 6 (flussi 2026-2028); DM 850/2011 as of 2026-08-04[1][5]

Who can apply

Who can apply
Nationals not served by this routeEU as of 2026-08-04[1][5]

Permit terms

Permit terms
Initial duration2 years as of 2026-08-04[8]
RenewableYes as of 2026-08-04[2][8]
Renewal duration3 years as of 2026-08-04[8]
Work rightsself-employment only as of 2026-08-04[5]

Permanent residence and citizenship

Permanent residence and citizenship
Counts toward permanent residenceYes as of 2026-08-04[9][10]

Requirements

Requirements
Minimum capitalEUR 500,000 as of 2025-10-15[1][3]
DPCM art. 6: entrepreneurs implementing an investment plan of interest to the Italian economy using own resources of no less than EUR 500,000 from lawful sources.
Business plan requiredYes as of 2025-10-15[1][3]
'Piano di investimento di interesse per l'economia italiana'.
Jobs to be created3 as of 2025-10-15[1][3]
Creation of at least three new jobs.
Own means requirementNot established from a qualifying source
Art. 26(3) TU additionally requires suitable housing and annual income above the healthcare cost-sharing exemption minimum; no fixed euro amount verified for this route.

Process

Process
Where to apply fromfrom abroad only as of 2026-08-04[1][5]
Visa issued by the diplomatic/consular representation after nulla osta checks (art. 26(5)); quota reserved to 'cittadini stranieri residenti all'estero'.
Quota
  • Quota exists: Yes as of 2025-10-15[1][4]
    Within the decreto flussi lavoro autonomo quota (art. 3(4) TU).
  • Annual cap: 650 as of 2025-10-15[1][4]
    650/year for 2026-2028 across all self-employment categories; 500 units/year reserved for categories (a)-(e) including entrepreneurs.
  • Exempt from the general quota: No as of 2025-10-15[1]
  • Sub-caps:
      • Label: lavoro autonomo (self-employment) overall
      • Annual cap: 650
      • Year: 2,026
      • Label: lavoro autonomo (self-employment) overall
      • Annual cap: 650
      • Year: 2,027
      • Label: lavoro autonomo (self-employment) overall
      • Annual cap: 650
      • Year: 2,028
      • Label: reserved – categories (a)-(e) incl. entrepreneurs
      • Annual cap: 500
      • Year: 2,026
      • Label: reserved – categories (a)-(e) incl. entrepreneurs
      • Annual cap: 500
      • Year: 2,027
      • Label: reserved – categories (a)-(e) incl. entrepreneurs
      • Annual cap: 500
      • Year: 2,028

Physical presence

Physical presence
maximum consecutive absence6 months · to keep the permit as of 2026-08-04[2]
DPR 394/1999 art. 13(4) general renewal bar (over half the validity for permits of 2+ years).

Family inclusion

Family inclusion
Family members may be includedYes as of 2026-08-04[6][7]
Eligible relationsspouse, minor child, adult dependent child, parent as of 2026-08-04[6][7]
Family may apply at the same timeNot established from a qualifying source
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[7]
      Against the annual assegno sociale amount (13 monthly instalments).
    • Relation: minor child
    • Amount: 0.50 × social allowance (annualised total) per year as of 2026-08-04[7]
      Against the annual assegno sociale amount (13 monthly instalments).
    • Relation: adult dependent child
    • Amount: 0.50 × social allowance (annualised total) per year as of 2026-08-04[7]
      Against the annual assegno sociale amount (13 monthly instalments).
    • Relation: parent
    • Amount: 0.50 × social allowance (annualised total) per year as of 2026-08-04[7]
      Against the annual assegno sociale amount (13 monthly instalments).

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.

The next step is your own case. That assessment is legal work. Create profile for our assistance in this.

Profile benefits

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Verification

Verification
Sources cited10
of which official (tier 1)9
Oldest as-of date2025-10-15
Newest as-of date2026-08-04
Reviewed on2026-08-11
Schema version1.1

Sources

  1. [1] DPCM 2 ottobre 2025 – Programmazione dei flussi d'ingresso 2026-2028 (GU Serie Generale n. 240, 15-10-2025)
    Presidenza del Consiglio dei Ministri (PDF hosted by Ministero dell'Interno) · gazette · Tier 1 · Published 2025-10-15 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy
  2. [2] DPR 394/1999, art. 13 – Rinnovo del permesso di soggiorno (consolidated, in force)
    Normattiva (Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy
  3. [3] Decreto Flussi 2026-2028: quote, click day e nulla osta
    Studio Legale Avv. Francesco Lombardini · law firm · Tier 2 · Accessed 2026-08-04
  4. [4] DPCM 2 ottobre 2025 programmazione dei flussi d'ingresso 2026-2028
    Prefettura di Macerata – Ministero dell'Interno · official portal · Tier 1 · Published 2025-10-21 · Accessed 2026-08-04
  5. [5] D.Lgs. 286/1998, art. 26 – Ingresso e soggiorno per lavoro autonomo (consolidated, in force)
    Normattiva (Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy
  6. [6] D.Lgs. 286/1998, art. 28 – Diritto all'unita familiare (consolidated, in force)
    Normattiva (Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy
  7. [7] 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
  8. [8] D.Lgs. 286/1998, art. 5 – Permesso di soggiorno (consolidated, in force)
    Normattiva (Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato) · statute · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy
  9. [9] 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
  10. [10] EU long-term residence permit
    Welcome Office Friuli Venezia Giulia (Regione Autonoma FVG) · official portal · Tier 1 · Accessed 2026-08-04 · Archived copy

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