Italy · Investing
Italy Investor Visa · €250k start-up
Investment needed: €250k+ ≈ $279k
Investor Visa for Italy: EUR250,000 in an innovative start-up (Law 232/2016)
Checked against official sources on Change log
Key facts
Investor Visa · €250k start-up is an investing route for Italy. Applicants need an investment of €250k+ ≈ $279k. You can stay 2 yrs, renewable. Checked 2026-10-12 against the official source.
- Money needed
- €250k+ ≈ $279k
- Government fees
- €116 ≈ $130 · €30.46 ≈ $34
- Processing
- Up to 30 days
- First stay
- 2 yrs
Cost, time and long term
To apply: 2 government fees listed below; investment €250k+ ≈ $279k; decision: up to 30 days. No lawyer or agent fee is included.
Government fees€116 ≈ $130 · €30.46 ≈ $34
- EUR 116 (≈ $130)National long-stay visa (type D) fee for work and family reasons, payable in local currency at the consular exchange rate.
- EUR 30.46 (≈ $34)Cost of the electronic residence permit card for a permit longer than 90 days; a contribution of EUR 40, (≈ $45) 50 or 100 depending on permit duration or type and a EUR 16 (≈ $18) tax stamp are also payable.
Invested and held€250k+ ≈ $279k
- EUR 250,000 (≈ $279,000)Innovative start-up included in the official register list (startup.registroimprese.it).
RenewalRenewable
The permit lasts two years and renews in three-year periods while the investment or donation is maintained; the renewal request is filed at least 60 days before the permit expires and needs a new committee clearance.
Ministry of Enterprises and Made in ItalyMinistry of Economic Development
Permanent residenceAfter 5 years of residence
After five years of continuous investment an EU long-term residence permit can be requested; it also needs income at least the annual social allowance and an Italian language test.
CitizenshipAfter 10 years of residence
Naturalisation needs 10 years of legal residence (4 years for EU citizens) and Italian at level B1 or above.
ProcessingUp to 30 days
The investor committee issues its clearance (nulla osta) within 30 days; the residence permit is then decided within 90 days.
Where to applyFrom abroad
Request the clearance through the government Investor Visa portal, then apply for the visa at the Italian consulate within 6 months.
Why this route may not fit
Check this before you apply.
- Applications are made from outside Italy, not after arriving
- Not open to EU, EEA or Swiss passports, or passports from Belarus, Russia
What you'll need
Who can apply2
- The applicant is a non-EU citizen.
- The programme is suspended for Russian and Belarusian citizens, and since March 2024 also for non-EU citizens who hold a second passport that is Russian or Belarusian.
What you must show2
- At least EUR250,000 (≈ $279,000) invested in an innovative start-up.
- The start-up must be on the official register list (startup.registroimprese.it).
Documents1
- Committee nulla osta from the Investor Visa for Italy Committee.
Steps2
- The nulla osta is requested through the MIMIT portal.
- After the committee nulla osta (decided within 30 days) the visa is requested at the consulate within 6 months.
After you arrive2
- Apply for the residence permit at the Questura within 8 days of entry and make the investment within 3 months of entry.
- Renewal needs a new committee nulla osta showing the investment or donation is maintained.
What happens at day 183
How Italy decides tax residence and treats foreign-source income, from its tax records.
- Stay on this route
2 years at first, renewable
- Tax residence
- At least 183 days in a tax year (184 days in leap years)A person who for most of the year (at least 183 days, 184 in leap years) satisfies at least one residence condition is resident in Italy for income tax.
- Foreign-source income
Flat lump sum EUR 300,000
Optional annual lump sum replacing Italian tax on foreign-source income: EUR300,000 (≈ $335,000) for people transferring residence from 1 January 2026 (Law 199/2025), EUR200,000 (≈ $223,000) for transfers between 11 August 2024 and 31 December 2025, EUR100,000 (≈ $112,000) for earlier transfers; the effect ends after fifteen years.
- Special regime
Substitute tax for new residents on foreign-source income · Tax relief
All tax rules for Italy Tax records checked
Full official text
Investor visa for at least EUR250,000 (≈ $279,000) invested in an innovative start-up on the official register list, which is updated weekly. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
What you must show and pay
- An investment of at least EUR 250,000 (≈ $279,000) · Innovative start-up included in the official register list (startup.registroimprese.it). 1
- A fee of EUR 116 (≈ $130) · National long-stay visa (type D) fee for work and family reasons, payable in local currency at the consular exchange rate. 5
- A fee of EUR 30.46 (≈ $34) · Cost of the electronic residence permit card for a permit longer than 90 days; a contribution of EUR 40, (≈ $45) 50 or 100 depending on permit duration or type and a EUR 16 (≈ $18) tax stamp are also payable. 6
Requirements
- The applicant is a non-EU citizen. 1 2
- The programme is suspended for Russian and Belarusian citizens, and since March 2024 also for non-EU citizens who hold a second passport that is Russian or Belarusian. 7
- At least EUR250,000 (≈ $279,000) invested in an innovative start-up. 1
- The start-up must be on the official register list (startup.registroimprese.it). 1
- Committee nulla osta from the Investor Visa for Italy Committee. 2
- The nulla osta is requested through the MIMIT portal. 2
- After the committee nulla osta (decided within 30 days) the visa is requested at the consulate within 6 months. 3
- Apply for the residence permit at the Questura within 8 days of entry and make the investment within 3 months of entry. 3
- Renewal needs a new committee nulla osta showing the investment or donation is maintained. 3 4
Stay
- The investor visa lets the holder enter within 2 years of issue. The residence permit lasts 2 years and is renewable for 3-year periods while the investment is maintained; after 5 years of continuous investment an EU long-term residence permit can be requested.
- Initial permitted stay: 24 months.
- Visa validity: 24 months. Validity is the window to use the visa, not the length you may stay.
- Renewable, subject to the conditions in force at renewal.
Nationality
Non-EU citizens; suspended for Russian and Belarusian citizens and for non-EU citizens with a second Russian or Belarusian passport. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Belarus, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Family
Your spouse or partner may work in Italy without a separate permit.
Official sources
- Investor Visa for Italy Program (Law 232/2016) · Embassy of Italy in Pretoria (MAECI) · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2024-05-14
- Investor Visa checklist (updated 21 July 2026) · Consulate General of Italy in Sydney (MAECI) · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2026-07-21
- Investor Visa for Italy: how it works (visa, residence permit, renewal) · Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy · checked 2026-10-10
- Interministerial decree of 21 July 2017 on entry and residence of investors · Ministry of Economic Development · checked 2026-10-10 · published 2017-07-21
- Cost for a visa and how to pay · Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Italian Embassy in Addis Ababa) · checked 2026-10-11
- How, where and how much: applying for a residence permit · State Police (Polizia di Stato) · checked 2026-10-11
- Investor Visa for Italy: programme overview · Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) · checked 2026-10-11
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 26-bis: entry and residence of investors · Normattiva (Italian Government) · checked 2026-10-12
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 30: residence permit for family reasons · Normattiva (Italian Government) · checked 2026-10-12
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Articles 28-30 (family reunification and family-reasons permit) · Normattiva · checked 2026-10-10
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 9 (EU long-term resident permit) · Normattiva (Presidenza del Consiglio dei ministri) · checked 2026-10-11
- Citizenship by residence, Art. 9 of Law 91/1992 · Ministero dell'Interno · checked 2026-10-11
- Law 91/1992, Art. 9.1 (Italian language level B1 for citizenship) · Normattiva (Presidenza del Consiglio dei ministri) · checked 2026-10-11
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 5 (residence permit) · Normattiva · checked 2026-10-11
Investor Visa · €250k start-up and its alternatives
| Route | Money needed | Stay | Work |
|---|---|---|---|
| Investor Visa · €250k start-up | Needs an investment of €250k+ ≈ $279k | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Investor Visa · €1M donation | Needs an investment of €1M+ ≈ $1.1M | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Investor Visa · €2M bonds | Needs an investment of €2M+ ≈ $2.2M | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Investor Visa · €500k company | Needs an investment of €500k+ ≈ $559k | 2 yr, renewable | – |
| Golden Visa · €250k arts Portugal | Needs an investment of €250k+ ≈ $279k | 2 yr, renewable | – |
Questions people ask
How much money do I need for the Investor Visa · €250k start-up?
An investment of at least EUR 250,000 (≈ $279,000). Innovative start-up included in the official register list (startup.registroimprese.it). A fee of EUR 116 (≈ $130). National long-stay visa (type D) fee for work and family reasons, payable in local currency at the consular exchange rate. A fee of EUR 30.46 (≈ $34). Cost of the electronic residence permit card for a permit longer than 90 days; a contribution of EUR 40, (≈ $45) 50 or 100 depending on permit duration or type and a EUR 16 (≈ $18) tax stamp are also payable.
How long can I stay on the Investor Visa · €250k start-up?
The investor visa lets the holder enter within 2 years of issue.
How long does the Investor Visa · €250k start-up take to process?
The investor committee issues its clearance (nulla osta) within 30 days; the residence permit is then decided within 90 days.
Can I bring my family on the Investor Visa · €250k start-up?
Your spouse or partner may work in Italy without a separate permit.
Who can apply for the Investor Visa · €250k start-up?
Non-EU citizens; suspended for Russian and Belarusian citizens and for non-EU citizens with a second Russian or Belarusian passport. Not open to: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Belarus, Switzerland, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Greece, Croatia, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia.
Does the Investor Visa · €250k start-up lead to permanent residence in Italy?
Time on the Investor Visa · €250k (≈ $279,000) start-up counts toward permanent residence in Italy, which the rules allow after 5 years of residence. Time on the Investor Visa · €250k (≈ $279,000) start-up counts toward citizenship, which the rules allow after 10 years of residence.
Is there a tax break for Investor Visa · €250k start-up holders in Italy?
Substitute tax for new residents on foreign-source income (Art. 24-bis TUIR, flat tax): Optional annual lump sum replacing Italian tax on foreign-source income: EUR300,000 (≈ $335,000) for people transferring residence from 1 January 2026 (Law 199/2025), EUR200,000 (≈ $223,000) for transfers between 11 August 2024 and 31 December 2025, EUR100,000 (≈ $112,000) for earlier transfers; the effect ends after fifteen years. It's separate from the visa and has its own conditions.
Tax
Special regime
Substitute tax for new residents on foreign-source income (Art. 24-bis TUIR, flat tax)
Tax relief
Details
- Who: Not resident in Italy for at least nine of the ten tax periods before the option starts
- Limit: €300k/yr ≈ $335k
Optional annual lump sum replacing Italian tax on foreign-source income: EUR300,000 (≈ $335,000) for people transferring residence from 1 January 2026 (Law 199/2025), EUR200,000 (≈ $223,000) for transfers between 11 August 2024 and 31 December 2025, EUR100,000 (≈ $112,000) for earlier transfers; the effect ends after fifteen years.
Taxed on
Foreign-source income of eligible individuals who transfer residence to Italy; Italian-source income is taxed under ordinary rules.
Who it applies to
- Not resident in Italy for at least nine of the ten tax periods before the option starts.
- The option is made in the tax return for the transfer year or the next one; an advance ruling request (interpello) is possible.
- Family members who meet the same residence test can be added at EUR50,000 (≈ $55,900) each a year from 1 January 2026 (EUR25,000 (≈ $27,900) for earlier cohorts).
- The option can exclude chosen foreign states, whose income is then taxed under ordinary rules with a foreign tax credit.
Exclusions
- Italian-source income stays under ordinary taxation.
- Gains on substantial participations (Art. 67(1)(c) TUIR) realised in the first five option periods are outside the lump sum.
- Revocation or loss of the option (for example for non-payment) bars a new option.
Limits
- EUR 300,000 a year (≈ $335,000) · Main taxpayer: residence transferred from 1 January 2026 (Law 199/2025 art. 1 paras. 25-26 raised EUR200,000 (≈ $223,000) to EUR300,000 (≈ $335,000))
- EUR 50,000 a year (≈ $55,900) · Per family member, residence transferred from 1 January 2026
- EUR 200,000 a year (≈ $223,000) · Main taxpayer: residence transferred 11 August 2024 to 31 December 2025
- EUR 25,000 a year (≈ $27,900) · Per family member, transfers before 1 January 2026
- EUR 100,000 a year (≈ $112,000) · Main taxpayer: transfers before 11 August 2024
Tax residence
The cohort is set by the date residence is transferred to Italy. The lump sum is paid in one instalment by the balance-payment deadline, and the option lapses after fifteen tax periods.
Visas
No visa is needed for the election; it is a tax option.
Other taxes
Italian VAT, social contributions and local taxes are separate.
Checked against official sources on Change log
More in Italy
Investment visas elsewhere
≈ USD figures are approximate: daily reference rates from ExchangeRate-API, dated 12 Oct 2026, refreshed when the site is updated.
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How this was checked
Checked on 2026-10-12 against 14 official sources. Status: verified against the official sources.
Every figure on this page comes from the official source it links to. The record was researched against these sources, then reviewed separately, with special attention to effective dates and amendments. Where a source does not state something, the page leaves it out.
- Investor Visa for Italy Program (Law 232/2016) · Embassy of Italy in Pretoria (MAECI) · checked 2026-10-10
- Investor Visa checklist (updated 21 July 2026) · Consulate General of Italy in Sydney (MAECI) · checked 2026-10-10
- Investor Visa for Italy: how it works (visa, residence permit, renewal) · Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy · checked 2026-10-10
- Interministerial decree of 21 July 2017 on entry and residence of investors · Ministry of Economic Development · checked 2026-10-10
- Cost for a visa and how to pay · Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Italian Embassy in Addis Ababa) · checked 2026-10-11
- How, where and how much: applying for a residence permit · State Police (Polizia di Stato) · checked 2026-10-11
- Investor Visa for Italy: programme overview · Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy (MIMIT) · checked 2026-10-11
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 26-bis: entry and residence of investors · Normattiva (Italian Government) · checked 2026-10-12
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 30: residence permit for family reasons · Normattiva (Italian Government) · checked 2026-10-12
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Articles 28-30 (family reunification and family-reasons permit) · Normattiva · checked 2026-10-10
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 9 (EU long-term resident permit) · Normattiva (Presidenza del Consiglio dei ministri) · checked 2026-10-11
- Citizenship by residence, Art. 9 of Law 91/1992 · Ministero dell'Interno · checked 2026-10-11
- Law 91/1992, Art. 9.1 (Italian language level B1 for citizenship) · Normattiva (Presidenza del Consiglio dei ministri) · checked 2026-10-11
- Legislative Decree 286/1998, Art. 5 (residence permit) · Normattiva · checked 2026-10-11
Tracked since 2026-10-10. Rule changes and corrections are listed on the changes page, and the methodology page explains how facts are checked. Found something out of date? Email contact@stayglobe.app with a link to the official source.