Italy investor visa (IV4I)

Key requirements

We use €250k (innovative startup) as the lowest published tier for quiz filtering. Higher tiers apply if you choose company, donation, or bond routes.

• Income we use for estimatesNot set in data
• SavingsOften ~$250,000+
• Accepted income typesSavings only
• Remote work allowedNo
• Local employment allowedNo
• Health insuranceUsually required
• Criminal record checkUsually required
• Accommodation proofUsually required
• Bank accountUsually required
• Processing (rough)Often several months (Committee review plus consulate and Questura steps)

Consular visa timing, Questura appointments, and investment closing dates rarely line up. Do not wire funds until counsel and the IV4I portal steps are clear.

1. 1

   Select your investment tier

   Decide among startup, company equity, philanthropic donation, or government bonds and confirm the legal structure fits IV4I policy guidance.

2. 2

   Create your IV4I portal account

   Register on the official Investor Visa for Italy portal and read the current policy guidance before you upload documents.

3. 3

   Prepare nulla osta documents

   Gather passport, CV, criminal records, proof of funds, investment papers, and bank anti-money-laundering letters required for your tier.

4. 4

   Submit nulla osta application online

   Complete the forms, upload attachments, sign the final declaration electronically, and submit to the IV4I Committee.

5. 5

   Respond to Committee review

   Answer any integration requests within 30 days. A positive decision releases your nulla osta for download on the portal.

6. 6

   Apply for the investor visa at consulate

   Within six months of nulla osta, file at the Italian embassy or consulate that covers where you live, with the nulla osta and supporting papers.

7. 7

   Enter Italy on your visa

   Travel within the visa validity window and keep arrival records for the permit and investment proof steps.

8. 8

   Apply at the Questura within eight days

   Go in person to the local police station for your permit application, then log arrival and Questura details on the IV4I portal.

9. 9

   Complete the investment within three months

   Execute the declared investment or donation, upload proof on the IV4I portal, and sign the follow-up declaration electronically.

   • •Missing the three-month investment deadline can block or revoke your permit.
10. 10

    Maintain the investment for renewal

    Keep the full qualifying investment for the permit period, apply for renewal with a new nulla osta at least 60 days before expiry, and plan long-term EU residence after five compliant years.

This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Italy investor visa rules and Committee practice can change. Use investorvisa.mise.gov.it and qualified counsel before you move money.

Pathway last reviewed: 2026-05-15

Citizenship & nationality

The investor visa is for people who are not EU citizens and can commit to one full investment tier. EU citizens do not need this visa to live in Italy. The route is managed by the Investor Visa for Italy Committee (IV4I) through an official online portal.

• •You cannot mix tiers in one application. Pick startup, company equity, donation, or bonds before you file nulla osta.
• •Nulla osta comes first. You have six months to apply for the visa at your Italian consulate after approval.
• •After you enter Italy you must apply for a permit at the Questura within eight working days and finish the investment within three months.
• •The first permit lasts two years. Renewal can run three more years if you keep the full investment and get a new nulla osta at least 60 days before expiry.
• •Maintaining the investment for five years can open a path to long-term EU residence. Citizenship is a separate process with longer residence and integration rules.
• •Committee review expects clean source-of-funds proof, a CV, and tier-specific investment documents.

Use investorvisa.mise.gov.it and the published policy guidance before you structure funds or sign investment papers.

Best for

• •People planning to stay several years with a clear residence record
• •EU settlement plans (check Schengen travel vs national residence rules)

Long-term path

• Permanent residence: Yes
• Citizenship: Possible, but depends on your case

Keep the declared investment for the full permit period. After five compliant years you may qualify for long-term EU residence. Italian citizenship usually needs about ten years of legal residence.

Practical difficulty

hard

Rough guide only. Your case depends on papers, timing, and rule changes.

Rated hard because of Committee diligence, fixed investment deadlines, and mandatory post-arrival steps, not because of a salary test.