Canreach Global

Investor Visa for Italy

Italian residency through a qualifying investment in an innovative startup, an established Italian company, government bonds or a philanthropic project.

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Italy's Investor Visa is open to non-EU nationals who commit capital to the Italian economy. There are four qualifying routes at four different levels, starting at EUR 250,000 for an innovative startup. One point surprises most applicants: Italian property does not qualify, and the investment is made after your visa is granted rather than before you apply.

Key facts

Italy Investor Visa at a glance

OutcomeItalian residence permit, initially 2 years, renewable for 3 years, with the qualifying investment maintained throughout, including at renewalMinimum investmentFrom EUR 250,000, depending on the route you chooseInvestment routesInnovative startup, established Italian limited company, philanthropic donation, Italian government bondsTime to approvalEstimated 3 to 4 months, subject to government processing and the completeness of your applicationFamily includedEligible family members can accompany you. We confirm exactly who in your family qualifies, and on what terms, during your assessmentPhysical presenceConfirmed case by case. We confirm the presence expectations that apply to your permit before you plan around them

Figures as of October 2026. Amounts and timelines change and are confirmed before you commit.

The program

About the Investor Visa for Italy

The Investor Visa for Italy is granted under Article 26-bis of the Italian Immigration Act. It is administered by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, which issues the clearance, and by Italian consulates, which issue the visa itself.

The program is open to non-EU nationals who choose one of four qualifying investments and maintain it. The routes sit at very different levels, from EUR 250,000 into an Italian innovative startup up to EUR 2,000,000 in Italian government bonds, so the right route usually depends on how much capital you want exposed to risk rather than on the immigration outcome, which is the same either way.

Italian real estate does not qualify. This is the single most common misunderstanding about the program. Many European residence-by-investment routes historically allowed a property purchase, and Article 26-bis does not list real estate at all. Buying a home or a commercial building in Italy will not support an Investor Visa application, however much you spend.

The second point to understand early is the order of events. You do not invest and then apply. You apply, receive clearance and a visa, enter Italy, and then make the investment within three months of arrival. An investment made before you apply does not qualify for the visa.

The permit itself is temporary. It is issued for two years and renewed for a further three years. The qualifying investment must generally be maintained throughout the validity of the residence permit, including at renewal, rather than for the first two years alone.

Benefits

Why clients choose the Investor Visa for Italy

  1. An Italian residence permit obtained through a clearly defined statutory route under Article 26-bis.

  2. Four qualifying routes at four investment levels, so the commitment can be matched to your capital.

  3. An entry point of EUR 250,000, which is at the lower end for a major western European economy.

  4. Capital is committed after the visa is granted, so you are not asked to place funds before you know the outcome of your clearance application.

  5. Routes that keep capital invested rather than spent, with the exception of the philanthropic donation, which is non-refundable.

Is it for you

Who the Investor Visa for Italy suits

This route suits investors who want a residence permit in a large European economy and are comfortable placing capital in an Italian company, an Italian startup, Italian government bonds or an Italian public-interest project rather than in property.

Main applicant

  • A national of a country outside the European Union.
  • Able to make and maintain one of the four qualifying investments.
  • Able to document the lawful source and full transfer path of the investment capital.
  • Able to provide a clean criminal record.
  • Able to hold health insurance and to show proof of funds.
  • Able to attend an Italian consulate in person to give biometrics.

Family members who can be included

Eligible family members can accompany the main applicant. The definitions and the terms that apply are confirmed case by case, and we set out exactly who in your family can be included during your assessment.

Not the right fit

This program is not the right fit if you want to buy Italian property and receive residency for it, because real estate is not a qualifying investment. It is also not the right fit if you need the capital placed and documented before you file, because the program requires the opposite order.

Investment

Approximate investment and costs

Qualifying investment routes, one of

Innovative startup
EUR 250,000. Into an Italian company registered as an innovative startup under Italian law.
Established Italian company
EUR 500,000. Into an Italian limited company, meaning an S.r.l., S.p.A., SICAV, SICAF, SGR or SIM, that has filed at least one balance sheet. The investment must give you a direct shareholding. Convertible notes do not qualify.
Philanthropic donation
EUR 1,000,000. To a public-interest project in culture, education, immigration management, research or heritage. The donation is non-refundable.
Italian government bonds
EUR 2,000,000. With a residual maturity of at least two years.

Other costs to budget for

Italian government and consular fees, charged per applicant.
Residence permit issuance and renewal costs.
Legal, corporate and representation fees in Italy.
Due diligence costs on the company, startup or project you invest in.
Canreach professional fees, quoted separately after your assessment.

Figures as at October 2026 and confirmed with Canreach. Government requirements change; we confirm current figures before you commit.

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Outcome

What you receive

Status and documents

A clearance, known as the Nulla Osta, issued by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, an investor visa issued by the Italian consulate, and then an Italian residence permit issued for two years and renewable for three years while the qualifying investment is maintained.

Travel

An Italian residence permit allows travel in accordance with the rules that apply to Italian permit holders at the time you travel. Travel rules are set by the countries you visit and can change, so we do not publish a count of destinations.

Living, working and studying

The right to reside in Italy under the conditions attached to your permit. We confirm the work and study rights that apply to your permit and to each family member before you plan around them.

Family

Eligible family members can accompany you. The definitions and the terms that apply are confirmed case by case, so we set them out for you during your assessment rather than on this page.

Financial and business

A capital position in an Italian startup, an Italian company, Italian government bonds or an Italian public-interest project. The philanthropic route is a donation and is not returned. Investment performance is never guaranteed and is a separate decision from the immigration outcome.

Tax considerations

Italy offers a special tax regime for qualifying new residents, and the potential benefit is often quoted alongside this program. Eligibility depends on your individual tax circumstances and on the rules in force, so this page publishes no figure and states no tax outcome. Tax treatment depends on your personal circumstances and where you are tax resident. We refer you to qualified tax advisors before you commit.

Path to permanent residence or citizenship

The Investor Visa gives a temporary permit, issued for two years and renewable for three. Any later application for long-term residence or Italian citizenship is a separate application with its own legal requirements, and neither follows automatically from the investment.

Before you apply

What to know before you apply

  • Real estate does not qualify. Article 26-bis does not list property as a qualifying investment. Any offer presenting an Italian property purchase as a route to this visa is incorrect.
  • The investment comes after the visa, not before. You must make the qualifying investment within three months of entering Italy. An investment made before you apply does not qualify, so capital placed in advance is not counted.
  • The permit depends on the investment, for its whole life. The qualifying investment must generally be maintained throughout the validity of your residence permit, including at renewal. The initial two-year permit and the three-year renewal are both conditional on it, so this is not a two-year commitment.
  • Biometrics are required in person. From 11 January 2026, all long-stay visa applicants give biometrics in person at an Italian consulate.
  • A current restriction applies to some nationalities. Under the official notice, applications from Russian and Belarusian nationals are suspended.
  • The investment carries ordinary investment risk. Immigration approval and investment performance are separate outcomes, and the philanthropic route is a donation that is not returned.

Step by step

How the application works

  1. Confirm your route

    We confirm a current qualifying route with you, and confirm that what you are planning is an eligible investment under Article 26-bis before anything is committed.

  2. Apply for the Nulla Osta

    Submit the online clearance application to the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy with your investment plan and supporting evidence.

  3. Apply for the visa

    With clearance granted, apply at the Italian consulate for your country of residence and attend in person to give biometrics.

  4. Enter Italy

    Travel to Italy on the investor visa.

  5. Make the investment

    Complete the qualifying investment within three months of entering Italy and preserve the full source and transfer audit trail. This step comes after the visa, not before the application. An investment made earlier does not qualify.

  6. Apply for the residence permit

    File for your Italian residence permit and prove the investment has been made.

  7. Maintain and renew

    Hold the qualifying investment and renew the permit on schedule.

Timeline. Allow an estimated 3 to 4 months. This is an estimated timeframe and is subject to government processing and the completeness of your application.Government processing times change and vary by case. We confirm a current, realistic timeline with you at the assessment stage and keep you updated as your file moves.

Preparation

Documents and our pre-filing review

Documents we help you prepare

Passport; criminal record certificates; proof of funds; evidence of the lawful source of the investment capital; health insurance; your investment plan for the Nulla Osta application; the company, startup, bond or donation documentation for your route; family civil records; and the proof of investment filed with your residence permit application.

Our pre-filing review

Before anything is filed we work through: nationality and residence history, family composition, criminal history, sanctions and politically exposed person screening, source and path of funds, tax advice, investment and project due diligence, translations and legalisation, current government fees, and holding and exit rules.

Questions

Investor Visa for Italy questions, answered

Can I buy property in Italy and get the Investor Visa?
No. Real estate is not a qualifying investment under Article 26-bis. The four qualifying routes are an innovative startup, an established Italian limited company, a philanthropic donation and Italian government bonds. A property purchase of any size will not support the application.
Do I invest before or after I apply?
After. You apply for clearance, receive your visa, enter Italy, and then make the qualifying investment within three months of entering. An investment made before you apply does not qualify. This is the reverse of how most investment immigration programs work, and it is the point we check first with clients who have already placed capital.
What is the lowest amount I can invest?
EUR 250,000, into an Italian company registered as an innovative startup. The other routes are EUR 500,000 into an established Italian limited company, EUR 1,000,000 as a philanthropic donation, and EUR 2,000,000 in Italian government bonds.
How long is the permit valid?
The initial residence permit is issued for two years and can be renewed for a further three years. The qualifying investment must generally be maintained throughout the validity of the permit, including at renewal, rather than for the first two years alone.
Do I need to attend a consulate in person?
Yes. From 11 January 2026, all long-stay visa applicants give biometrics in person at an Italian consulate.
Are there any nationalities that cannot currently apply?
Under the official notice, applications from Russian and Belarusian nationals are suspended. We confirm the current position before you begin.
Will I pay tax in Italy?
That depends on your personal circumstances and where you are tax resident. Italy offers a special tax regime for qualifying new residents, and eligibility depends on your individual tax circumstances and on the rules in force, so we publish no figure and state no tax outcome here. We refer you to qualified tax advisors before you commit.

Official program source

The Investor Visa for Italy is granted under Article 26-bis of the Italian Immigration Act and administered by the Ministry of Enterprises and Made in Italy, with visas issued by Italian consulates. The official source is investorvisa.mise.gov.it.

Canreach draws program information from the official program authority and confirms current rules, fees and qualifying amounts before any file is submitted.

Next step

Take the next step

Schedule a confidential program assessment. We will confirm whether the Investor Visa for Italy fits your goals, or point you to a program that fits better, and prepare a tailored roadmap covering eligibility, the investment route, documentation, the expected government process and next steps.

  • A confidential assessment of your goals, your family and your budget
  • A written comparison of the programs that fit
  • Clear estimates of costs and timelines before you commit to anything
Phone: 905-696-7434
Email: info@canreach.com