Article
Italy's investor visa scheme
4 April 2025 | Applicable law: Italy | 3 minute read
Why the Italian investor visa is the optimal choice
The Italian investor visa provides significant benefits that distinguish it from other investment-based residency programs worldwide:
- No physical stay requirements: Italy’s investor visa does not require a minimum or maximum number of days spent in the country to maintain the visa. This flexibility makes it an ideal option for globally mobile investors who need to balance multiple international commitments without jeopardizing their visa status.
- Optional tax residence: Unlike other immigration programs, the investor visa does not automatically require you to become a tax resident in Italy. However, for those interested in optimizing their tax position, Italy offers various options through its 'special tax regime' for new residents. Under this special tax regime, the applicant can elect to pay a flat tax of €200,000 annually on worldwide income. This provides a clear advantage for HNWIs and people managing substantial global assets.
- Only one investment for unlimited renewals: The investor visa is initially granted for a two-year period, with the option to renew for three-year periods thereafter. As long as the qualifying investment is maintained, the visa can be renewed indefinitely. This structure allows for long-term security and peace of mind, with no need to frequently navigate bureaucratic hurdles.
- Family reunification: The visa extends to immediate family members, enabling seamless relocation for families. This feature ensures that your entire household can benefit from the residency privileges, including access to Italy’s high standard of living and world-class educational and healthcare systems.
- Diverse investment options: The investor visa requires a qualifying investment in Italy, with a variety of options to choose from. These include an investment in any of the following:
- a minimum investment of €2 million in Italian government bonds;
- a minimum investment of €500,000 in shares of an Italian public or private company;
- a minimum investment of €250,000 in shares of an Italian start-up;
- a minimum donation of €1 million to support philanthropic initiatives, including culture, education, and scientific research.
These options allow investors to align their immigration strategy with personal or institutional goals, supporting both financial growth and meaningful contributions to Italy’s development.
How we can help
Navigating the Italian legal system can be challenging without expert support. From initial consultation to final approval, our legal and tax teams can support you through every stage of the application process, ensuring no detail is overlooked and that the process is efficient and ultimately successful.

The investor visa is a long term visa that combines the possibility to spend more than 90 days in our country with an investment or business opportunity in Italy. What is really appreciated by clients is the fact that it's also a working visa. In the last five years, we've seen an increased interest for the investment of €500,000 in an Italian public company. Clients often are interested in the luxury and fashion industry. But also companies committed to ESG and sustainability values. Very recently, a new law has introduced the possibility to invest €500,000 in an Italian venture capital fund. And we expect that this new law will impact international investment managers who may seize this opportunity.
It's possible to obtain the visa also by donating €1 million in Italian charitable projects. And this is greatly appreciated by clients who care about obtaining a visa by giving back to the community. Italy has introduced new rules on tax residence of individuals starting from January 2024. Based on our experience, the advice is always to keep a seriously aligned immigration procedure. So we take careful tax analysis and careful tracking of the days spent in Italy. The tracking of the days spent in Italy is even more important in 2025, given that the European Union is implementing a new exit entry system of control at the country borders. The number of days spent in the European Union, including Italy, are going to be more precisely detected. For this reason, we encourage seeking legal advice for those who didn't so far.
Italy is particularly competitive, because there's the possibility to perform working activities with the investor visa in Italy, and family reunification is allowed.
Chiara Gronchi discusses Italy's investor visa
Italy: a smart move
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