Italy Golden Visa 2026: Requirements, Costs & Timeline

The Italy Golden Visa also known as the Italian Investor Visa is a two-year renewable residence permit for non-EU citizens who invest in Italy, starting from €250,000. It allows you to include your family, travel visa-free within the Schengen Area, and does not require you to live in Italy full-time. You can apply for permanent residency after 5 years, and you can qualify for citizenship after 10 years

In this article, we will explore the key features of the Italian Golden Visa, including the application process, investment options, eligibility criteria, and the benefits of holding this visa for individuals and their families.

Italy Golden Visa: Key Takeaways

The Italian Golden Visa allows non‑EU/EEA investors and their families to gain residency by making a qualifying investment, which includes €250,000 in startups, €500,000 in Italian companies, €1,000,000 in public projects, or €2,000,000 in government bonds. 

Italy ranks 6th on the Global Residency and Citizenship by Investment Report by Global Citizen Solutions. Italy scores especially well for mobility, its straightforward application process, and its fast processing times.

The initial investor visa is valid for 2 years, after which a residence permit is issued. Full citizenship is possible after 10 years. The Italian passport is powerful and ranks 23rd on the Global Passport Index.  

Applicants must have a clean criminal record, provide proof of investment funds, and include spouse, dependent children, and dependent parents if desired. 

Processing takes 3-4 months from the date of application submission, depending on the documentation and the consulate’s workload. 

Italy offers a special flat-tax regime where new tax residents can pay a fixed €300,000 per year on foreign-sourced income. This option gives Italy Golden Visa holders a simple and financially attractive way to manage global earnings. 

The Italy Golden Visa, also referred to as the Italy Investor Visa, is a residency-by-investment program for non-EU citizens who make a qualifying investment in Italy. It gives investors a two-year renewable residence permit for investments starting from €250,000 up to €2 million, with no minimum stay requirement. The program allows family members to be included, offers visa-free travel within the Schengen Area, and provides a pathway to citizenship.

1. Schengen travel: You can travel visa-free to all 29 Schengen countries for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
2. Flexible stay: There is no minimum number of days you have to stay in Italy to keep or renew your residency.
3. Fast process: The digital Nulla Osta approval is issued within 30 to 90 days, so the process is quick and easily predictable.  
4. Family included: An investor Visa holder can include their spouse, dependent children, and dependent parents in their application.
5. Right to work and study: Those with an Italian Golden Visa and their dependents can live, work, and study in Italy without needing extra permits.
6. Access to public services: As a resident in Italy, you get access to Italy’s public healthcare system (SSN) and education system.
7. Flat tax benefits: New residents can choose to pay a €300,000 yearly flat tax on all foreign income, which can protect global income from higher tax rates for up to 15 years.
8. Southern 7% regime: Retirees moving to specific smaller municipalities in Southern Italy can also benefit from the 7% flat tax on foreign pensions, which will help them stretch their retirement fund. Applicants can also qualify for this through the Italy Elective Residency Visa.
9. Long-term residency and citizenship: The golden visa is also great for long-term planning. You can apply for permanent residency after 5 years of living legally in Italy and qualify for Italian citizenship after 10 years of residency, which also gives you access to an Italian passport that ranks 23rd on the 2025 Global Passport Index by Global Citizen Solutions.

Main Applicant

• The primary applicant must be at least 18 years old.
• A qualifying investment or donation must be made as per government requirements.
• A clean criminal record certificate and Certificates of No Pending Charges must be provided.
• Private health insurance
• Proof of funds, such as an official letter from the bank that shows you comply with FATF international anti-money laundering and anti-terrorism standards.
• The investment or donation must be completed within three months of entering Italy.
• Payment of the required fees.

Qualifying Family Members

• Spouse
• Children under 18
• Dependent children over 18 who are unable to support themselves due to permanent health conditions
• Dependent parents who do not have other children to support them in their home country, or parents over 65 whose other children cannot support.

An Italian investor visa can only be issued for one type of investment, and you cannot combine different investments. You must maintain the investment for at least five years to keep your residence permit.

• €2 million in Italian government bonds
• €500,000 in equity in an Italian limited company
• €250,000 in an Italian innovative startup
• €1 million in philanthropic donations to arts, culture, research, education, environment, etc.

The Italian Investor Visa process has two main steps: first, you get a Nulla Osta, which is the online approval, and then you apply for the entry visa at the Italian consulate. Then, applicants will need to show specific documents for their chosen investment route.

1. Documents for the Nulla Osta (online phase)

These must be uploaded to the official Investor Visa for Italy portal to get your initial clearance.

• Valid passport: A full copy of your passport.
• Detailed CV: Highlighting your professional background and qualifications.
• Proof of funds: Bank statements showing you hold the required investment amount (€250k, €500k, €1M, or €2M) in your name.
• Legality of funds: A bank letter or expert report confirming the funds were lawfully acquired and are transferable to Italy.
• Clean criminal record: Police certificates from every country you have lived in for more than 6 months over the last 10 years.
• Investment commitment: A signed declaration confirming you will execute the investment within 3 months of entering Italy.
• Digital signature: An Italian-recognized electronic signature (required to sign the final declaration).

2. Documents for the entry visa (consulate phase)

Once the Nulla Osta is issued, you will show these documents to your local Italian Consulate.

• Proof of residence: Documents showing you live within that consulate’s specific jurisdiction.
• Nulla osta certificate: The digital clearance received from the Ministry 
• Visa application form: Properly filled and signed Type D National Visa application form
• Passport photos: Two recent, color, passport-sized photographs.
• Proof of accommodation: Evidence of where you will stay in Italy 
• Health insurance: A policy valid for the entire Schengen area with a minimum coverage of €30,000.

After arriving in Italy, you will have eight days to apply for a residence permit. The investment for the option chosen must also be made within three months of being in Italy. These are the steps to follow for the Italy Golden Visa process, and having an Italy Golden Visa lawyer by your side will make the process easier.

These are the average costs of the Italian Golden Visa. However, it is important to note that legal fees are not fixed or official; this is an estimated private service fee charged by immigration law firms or consultants for processing and support, as it varies by firm.

The Italian Golden Visa does not directly lead to citizenship, but it can serve as a stepping stone to it. The route to citizenship has multiple stages that begin with a two-year residency permit, which can be renewed for an additional three years as long as the investment is maintained. After five years of legal residence, you will be eligible for permanent residency, which removes the requirement to maintain the investment. Finally, after 10 years of living in Italy and spending more than 183 days per year there, you can apply for citizenship.

The tax implications for the Italy Investor Visa (Golden Visa) depend on whether you choose to become a tax resident and which specialized tax regime you choose. If you live in Italy for more than 183 days and are not under any tax program, you will be subject to taxes on your worldwide income.

Flat Tax for high-net-worth individuals 

Italy offers the Italy Flat Tax regime for new residents, which is especially popular with Investor Visa holders who have a lot of income outside the country. Under this scheme, you can: 

• Pay a fixed €300,000 per year that covers all foreign-sourced income, such as dividends, interest, and rental income, no matter the amount.
•  Family members can be included for an extra €50,000 per person, 
• The regime can last for up to 15 years. 

7% Pensioner Regime 

The 7% Pensioner Regime in Southern Italy is another low-cost tax option for retirees with mainly pension income. It offers a 7% flat tax on all foreign income, not just pensions, if you move to a small town with under 20,000 people in regions like Sicily, Calabria, Sardinia, Puglia, or Abruzzo. The regime is available for up to 10 years, and qualifying applicants are also free from reporting foreign assets and paying wealth taxes.

Combining tax regimes 

Italy allows you to combine the New Residents Flat Tax with the Inbound Workers (Regime Impatriati) regime, as there is no legal restriction on using both. This means foreign income can be covered by the flat tax, while Italian employment or professional income can also benefit from reduced taxation under the Impatriati regime.

The two regimes apply to different types of income, so they do not overlap and can give people more tax flexibility. It’s important to properly structure your taxes and get professional advice to make sure you are eligible and following Italian tax law

The Italy Golden Visa program is a very appealing investment program, and many non-EU citizens choose to obtain the Italian Golden Visa. However, there are other European alternatives, including the Portuguese Golden Visa, Greek Golden Visa, Cypriot Golden Visa, and the Maltese Golden Visa, and this is how Italy compares to other programs in the EU.

Feature	Italy	Portugal	Greece	Malta	Cyprus
Minimum Investment	€250,000 (startup) €500,000 (fund or SME)	€200,000 (arts/culture) €500,000 (investment fund)	€250,000 (real estate) €500,000 in Athens or hotspots	€14,000/year rent (5 years) + €37,000 govt. contribution for both options. €375,000 purchase (5 years) + €2,000 donation for both options	€300,000 (real estate)
Pre-Approval	Yes (Nulla Osta)	No	No	No	Yes
Processing Time	3-4 months	9-12 months	3–6 months	12 months	9-12 months
Minimum Residency	No	7 days/year	No	No	No
Permanent Residency	5 years	5 years	Immediate	Immediate	Immediate
Family Inclusion	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

How Can Global Citizen Solutions Help You?

Global Citizen Solutions is a boutique migration consultancy firm with years of experience delivering bespoke residence and citizenship by investment solutions for international families. With offices worldwide and an experienced, hands-on team, we have helped hundreds of clients worldwide acquire citizenship, residence visas, or homes while diversifying their portfolios with robust investments. 

We guide you from start to finish, taking you beyond your citizenship or residency by investment application.