Investor Visa
Italy's Investor Visa for Italy (Visto per Investitori) was launched in 2017 to attract significant capital and entrepreneurial talent. For Americans, it pairs uniquely well with Italy's flat-tax regime — €100,000 per year on all foreign-source income for up to fifteen years — making it one of the most tax-efficient EU residencies a high-net-worth client can hold.
- Minimum Investment
- From €250,000
- Processing
- 3–4 months
- Initial Permit
- 2 years, renewable for 3
- Permanent Residency
- Year 5
- Citizenship Eligibility
- Year 10
- Flat-Tax Option
- €100,000/yr on foreign income
When tax efficiency meets European living.
Italy's flat-tax regime — formally the impatriati / new-resident regime — caps tax on foreign-sourced income at €100,000 per year for the principal applicant, with €25,000 per family member, for a fifteen-year horizon. For an American with substantial portfolio income, this is among the most favorable tax outcomes available in any G7 country. The Investor Visa is the cleanest residency vehicle through which to access it.
€100,000/year covers all worldwide non-Italian income for up to fifteen years. Among the most favorable HNW tax regimes in Europe.
Innovative-startup investment route reduces the threshold to €250,000 — the lowest entry point of any G7 investor residency.
Spouse and dependent children included from the outset; each on the same residency track.
Schengen mobility, Italian healthcare, EU permanent residency at year five, citizenship eligibility at year ten.
How to qualify.
Acquisition of Italian sovereign bonds (BTPs) held for at least two years. Capital-preserving, modest yield, lowest operational complexity.
Direct equity investment in an Italian S.p.A. or S.r.l. The most common active route for clients with a commercial interest in Italy.
Investment in an Italian innovative startup as defined under Italian law. The lowest entry threshold; suited to founders or VC-experienced clients.
Donation to a project of public interest in culture, research, education, or migration management. Used by clients with strong philanthropic alignment.
- Non-EU/EEA/Swiss nationality (US passport qualifies).
- Verifiable lawful source of investment funds.
- Clean criminal record across all countries of prior residence.
- Commitment to maintain the qualifying investment for the duration of residency.
- Establishment of a real Italian residence (lease or property) and tax registration.
How we run this program.
Confidential intake. We coordinate with Italian tax counsel on whether the flat-tax election is appropriate for your portfolio.
Pre-clearance from the Investor Visa Committee — the certificate that authorizes consular issuance.
Investor Visa issued at the Italian consulate. Investment completed within three months of arrival. Permesso di Soggiorno issued.
Renewals at year two and year five (permanent residency). Citizenship application at year ten.
Questions worth answering candidly.
How does the flat-tax regime actually work for an American?+
An American who becomes Italian tax-resident (typically by spending more than 183 days in Italy in a year) elects the new-resident regime. Italian-source income is taxed normally; all foreign-source income — investment income, capital gains, business income, distributions — is covered by a flat €100,000 annual tax. US tax obligations remain in full; the regime is structured to interact reasonably with the Foreign Tax Credit, but careful coordination with both Italian and US tax counsel is essential before relocation.
Do I need to actually live in Italy?+
Residency permits require establishment of a real Italian residence and a meaningful presence — Italy is not a Golden Visa-style minimal-stay program. Most of our clients establish a base in Milan, Rome, Florence, or Lake Como and spend a substantial portion of the year in Italy.
Why is the innovative-startup route the lowest threshold?+
Italy specifically wants to attract capital to its early-stage ecosystem. The €250,000 threshold reflects that policy choice. The trade-off is investment risk — innovative startups are inherently illiquid and high-risk. We conduct independent diligence on candidate ventures.
Is this a path to an EU passport?+
Italian citizenship is available after ten years of legal residence — twice as long as Portugal's Golden Visa. Italy's appeal is rarely the citizenship clock; it is the combination of a flexible residency, a world-class lifestyle, and the flat-tax regime over the residency period.
Compare alternatives
Considering Italy? Let's talk before you commit.
Thirty minutes with an experienced advisor. We'll tell you, candidly, whether this program is the right fit — and if it isn't, which one is.
You speak directly with an experienced advisor — not an intake associate.