Italy Investor Visa 2026 | EU Residency from €250,000 | Avyanco | Avyanco Citizenship

Overview — Italy Investor Visa

Italy's Investor Visa is one of the more investor-friendly programmes in Europe, and not only because of its entry point. Its defining feature is sequencing: you receive approval in principle before you transfer a single euro, so your capital is never committed to a programme you have not yet been accepted into.

The visa leads to a two-year residence permit, renewable for a further three years, with no obligation to spend a minimum number of days in Italy. It grants the right to live, work and study across the country and to travel the Schengen Area, and — after ten years of legal residence — it can lead to Italian and therefore EU citizenship.

Four routes qualify, from €250,000 in an innovative Italian startup up to €2 million in government bonds. The programme has run without quotas since 2017 and accepts applications year-round, which makes timing straightforward.

Who qualifies

Non-EU nationals aged 18 or over with a clean record
Able to make one of the four qualifying investments or the donation
Able to evidence that the funds are lawfully owned and available
Holding valid health insurance for the stay in Italy
Spouse and dependent family can be included through family reunification

Investment routes

Innovative Startup

EUR 250,000

Invest €250,000 in an Italian company registered as an innovative startup. The lowest entry point, suited to investors comfortable with early-stage risk.

Lowest threshold into the programme

Italian Limited Company

EUR 500,000

Invest €500,000 in the share capital of an established Italian limited company — a more conservative route into a trading business.

Government Bonds

EUR 2,000,000

Purchase at least €2 million in Italian government bonds, held for the duration of the residence permit. The most capital-preserving option.

Philanthropic Donation

EUR 1,000,000

Make a €1 million donation to a project of public interest in culture, education, immigration management, research or heritage.

Key benefits

You transfer the funds only after your visa is approved — no upfront risk
A two-year permit, renewable for three more, with no minimum-stay rule
Schengen Area travel for you and your family
The right to live, work and study anywhere in Italy
A path to Italian — and therefore EU — citizenship after ten years

How we process your application

Route & Eligibility

We help you choose between the startup, company, bond or donation routes based on your risk appetite and goals, and confirm eligibility.

Nulla Osta Application

We apply to the Investor Visa Committee for the certificate of no impediment (nulla osta) — the approval that lets you proceed. No funds are committed yet.

Visa Issuance

With the nulla osta granted, you apply for the investor visa at the Italian consulate and enter Italy.

Make the Investment

Within three months of entry you complete the qualifying investment or donation and provide proof.

Residence Permit

You receive a two-year residence permit, renewable for three more years, with full rights to live, work and study in Italy.

Why apply with Avyanco

21+ yearsof advisory experience guiding global investors

End-to-endone dedicated case team from first call to approval

Bank-gradedue diligence on every file to minimise rejection

Fixed feesyour full cost quoted upfront — no surprises

Frequently asked questions

Why is "invest after approval" a big deal?

In most programmes you commit the capital up front and hope the application succeeds. Italy reverses that: the Investor Visa Committee approves you first, then you invest. If you are not approved, you have not parted with your money.

How much time do I need to spend in Italy?

There is no fixed minimum-stay rule to renew the investor permit. That said, if your goal is eventual Italian citizenship, citizenship requires ten years of genuine, continuous residence — which does mean actually living in Italy.

Does the visa cover my family?

Yes. Your spouse, dependent children and, under conditions, dependent parents can join you through Italy's family-reunification rules and receive permits in line with yours.

Is the investment refundable?

The bond and company investments are your assets and can be sold or recovered subject to the holding period; the philanthropic donation is non-refundable. We model the real cost of each route before you decide.

Reviewed by

Jashvantkumar Prajapati

Founder & CEO, Avyanco — 21+ years in global mobility advisory

Italy Investor Visa