Investor Visa

Italy: a country where Foreign Citizens can invest

Italy is recognized worldwide as one of the best countries in which to live. Just think of the many UNESCO world heritage sites, the marvelous artistic and natural sites, and all the products of excellence that contribute to making the “made in Italy” brands among the most appreciated and desirable in the world.

A recent survey by USNews confirms that Italy, besides being an excellent place in which to live, is also a perfect place in which to invest.

In fact, thanks to excellent know-how in sectors such as fashion, technology, industrial machinery, and food and biological products, Italy is placed in sixth place in the classification of best countries for capital investment.

In Tuscany alone, there are more than 500 established multinationals in the region; 420 of these are foreigners.

So if you are a non-EU citizen who wishes to live and invest in Italy, the Investor Visa is an opportunity that you should know about.

What is the Investor Visa for Italy?

This is a visa for foreign investors, whose regulation was introduced in our statues with the 2017 Budgetary Law, inserted into the Single Text on Immigration, article 26-bis (modified subsequently by D.L. 34/2020).

How much to Invest

In order to increase its ability to attract investments into the country, Italy allows release of a two-year renewable visa for non-EU citizens who make:

• An investment of at least 2,000,000 euros in Italian securities;
• A philanthropic donation of at least 1,000,000 euros to support a project of public interest, in the sectors of culture, instruction, management of immigration, scientific research, and restoration of cultural or landscape heritage.

As an alternative to these requirements, it is possible to invest in instruments representing a business’ capital. The amount has been reduced to half by the Relaunch Decree (D.L. 34/2020) and currently amounts to:

• 500,000 euros for quoted or non-quoted capital corporations set up and operating in Italy;
• 250,000 euros for innovative start-ups set up and operating in Italy.

With l. n. 190/2020, the possibility of receiving the visa is also extended to legal representatives of non-EU legal entities carrying out one of the above-mentioned investments.