Residency
Malta
Permanent residence in an EU member state through Malta's Permanent Residence Programme, with no physical stay requirement.
- Min. investment
- €375,000+
- Time to approval
- 6–8 months
- You receive
- Residence permit
Residency by Investment
Italy Golden Visa
EU residence with approval before you invest: Italy's investor visa — the Italian golden visa — starts at €250,000 with no stay requirement.
Time to residency
3–6 months
Minimum investment
€250,000+
Program Overview
About the Italy program
In brief
The Italy program is a residency-by-investment program that grants the right to live in Italy. The minimum qualifying investment is €250,000+, and approvals typically take 3–6 months. It requires no residence or relocation. Figures are indicative minimums for the main applicant.
Italy's investor visa is unusual in that approval comes first: the Nulla Osta is granted before any funds are committed, removing execution risk from the decision.
Routes range from a €250,000 innovative-startup investment to government bonds, and new residents may access Italy's favourable flat-tax regime.
Presence requirement
No minimum stay to keep the permit
Document validity
2-year permit, renewable in 3-year increments
Dual nationality
Italy permits dual citizenship if you later naturalise
How it compares
Italy against other residency programs
Where Italy sits among the 8 residency by investment programs we advise on. The gold marker is the peer average.
Minimum investment (lower is better)€250,000
Peer average $428kBelow the peer average
Time to approval (lower is better)3–6 months
Peer average ≈ 14 monthsBelow the peer average
Investment is compared on a USD-normalized basis; the label shows this program's own currency. Time uses the upper end of the published range. Figures are indicative.
Key Benefits
- Approval before investment — commit funds only after the Nulla Osta is granted
- Residence in the EU's third-largest economy, with Schengen mobility
- No minimum stay requirement to maintain the permit
- Access to Italy's flat-tax regime for new residents
The Life It Unlocks
Approval first. Capital later. Italy always.
Yes before you invest
The Nulla Osta arrives before a euro moves — Italy is the rare program where certainty precedes commitment.
The base everyone envies
Residence in Italy needs no selling: schools, food, culture, and a Schengen passport stamp that starts at home.
A tax regime worth reading
New residents may access Italy's flat-tax option — for globally earning families, sometimes the quiet headline of the whole program.
Investment Pathways
Innovative Startup Investment
From €250,000
Investment in an Italian innovative startup.
Held for the duration of the permit
Italian Company Shares
From €500,000
Investment in an established Italian limited company.
Held for the duration of the permit
Government Bonds
From €2,000,000
Purchase of Italian government bonds.
Held for the duration of the permit
Philanthropic Donation
From €1,000,000
A donation to an Italian public-interest project in culture, education, research, or heritage.
Explore your route
From (indicative)
$273,000
Capital treatment
Held for the duration of the permit
Investment in an Italian innovative startup.
Who comes with you
- Spouse of the main applicant
- Dependent children
- Dependent parents
Family additions are quoted individually — request your exact figure
Application Timeline
Your dates
Complete files are typically processed in 3–6 months.
Indicative — based on typical processing of 3–6 months for complete files. Government timelines are not guaranteed.
- 1
Months 1–2
Nulla Osta pre-approval
Online application to the Investor Visa Committee; approval before any funds are committed.
- 2
Months 2–3
Investor visa
Two-year investor visa issued by the Italian consulate.
- 3
Months 3–5
Entry & investment
Entry to Italy and completion of the investment within three months.
- 4
Months 5–6
Residence permit
Two-year residence permit issued, renewable while the investment is maintained.
Requirements
- Qualifying investment completed within three months of entry
- Clean criminal record
- Proof of the legal source of investment funds
- Valid health insurance covering Italy
Family Eligibility
- Spouse of the main applicant
- Dependent children
- Dependent parents
What to Weigh
Honest advice includes the trade-offs. Before committing to the Italy program, consider:
- The €250,000 startup route carries genuine venture risk — invest in the business case, not just the visa.
- Italy taxes worldwide income for genuine residents; the flat-tax regime for new residents needs advance planning.
- Citizenship by naturalisation requires ten years of genuine residence.
Does Italy fit you?
Three questions, scored by the same engine as our Program Finder — with an honest answer, even when it isn't this program.
What are you ultimately looking for?
What investment level are you comfortable with?
How soon do you want this in hand?
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Italy's process lower-risk than others?
Approval comes first: the Nulla Osta certificate is issued before you commit any funds. You invest only after Italy has said yes.
What is the flat-tax regime?
New tax residents can opt to pay a fixed annual substitute tax on foreign income for up to fifteen years. It suits high-income families genuinely relocating; we coordinate with Italian tax counsel.
Which investment route is most popular?
The €500,000 company route for families prioritising stability, and the €250,000 startup route for cost-conscious applicants comfortable with venture risk.
Alternatives
Related Programs
Families often weigh this program against these alternatives.
Residency
Residency
Portugal
Europe's best-known golden visa: EU residency with a minimal stay requirement and a potential path to citizenship after seven to ten years of legal residence.
- Min. investment
- €500,000+
- Time to approval
- 10–14 months
- You receive
- Residence permit
Residency
Greece
One of Europe's most affordable golden visas: Greek residency through real estate, with no stay requirement to renew.
- Min. investment
- €250,000+
- Time to approval
- 3–6 months
- You receive
- Residence permit
Begin Your Journey
Request a private assessment to see whether the Italy program is the right fit.
Italy · 3–6 months