Founder immigration
Golden Visa Italy and the Company Behind Your Investment
We prepare your investor-visa file from abroad and form or prepare, with a notary, the Italian company that receives the investment. The Committee decides.
- Four statutory routes; the lowest is EUR 250,000 in an innovative start-up
- Committee clearance within 30 days of the application
- A two-year permit, renewable for three-year periods (Art. 26-bis TUI)
Residence in Italy through an investment, prepared from abroad
Italy's investor visa is what the market calls the golden visa: a national visa endorsed visto investitori, granted outside the annual entry quotas under Art. 26-bis D.Lgs. 286/1998. We prepare the file and form or prepare the receiving company, on the same footing as how a foreign founder forms an Italian company. The Committee, the consulate and the questura decide.
It is for non-EU investors and founders ready to commit capital in Italy; family members eligible for reunification can enter with them on a family visa (Art. 26-bis(8) TUI). A founder who will not invest has other routes: the visa for self-employed founders, or the elective residence visa for founders with passive income.
What our investor-visa work covers
What the file and the company need, from application to renewal.
The four routes, laid out for your decision
Each route's amount, holding period and conditions under Art. 26-bis(1) TUI. You choose the route; we never choose it for you.
Evidence of funds
Proof that you own and beneficially own EUR 2,000,000 (bonds route) or EUR 1,000,000 (the other routes), available and transferable to Italy, as Art. 26-bis(1) requires.
The Art. 26-bis(2) file
Your travel document, the certification of the lawful origin of the funds, and the signed declaration of commitment describing the investment and its recipients.
The Italian company on the company routes
A capital company formed and resident in Italy, or an innovative start-up: a new one formed with a notary, or an existing one prepared. Whether it qualifies is for the Committee.
The online application
The application prepared on the programme portal, under the portal's own rules. From then on, the Secretariat at MIMIT is your single contact.
The reciprocity check
Where you apply as the legal representative of a foreign company, we allow for the Foreign Ministry's prior reciprocity check under Art. 26-bis(3-bis) TUI.
The calendar after entry
The permit request at the questura, the investment within 3 months of entry, the 2-year hold and the renewal date, kept for you from the day you arrive.
The nulla osta, the visa and the permit are decisions of the Committee, the consulate and the questura. Under the interministerial decree of 21 July 2017, the Committee clears an application only without dissenting votes.
The four investment routes
The routes are a closed list in Art. 26-bis(1) TUI: one investment, with the funds to prove alongside it.
| Route | Minimum amount | What it goes into | Holding period | Funds the investor proves |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italian government bonds | EUR 2,000,000 | Italian government securities: BTP, CCT, CTZ and the like with at least two years' residual maturity | At least 2 years | EUR 2,000,000 |
| Company or venture-capital fund | EUR 500,000 | Equity of a company or venture-capital fund formed and operating in Italy | At least 2 years | EUR 1,000,000 |
| Innovative start-up | EUR 250,000 | Equity of an innovative start-up in the special section of the Register of Companies | At least 2 years | EUR 1,000,000 |
| Philanthropic donation | EUR 1,000,000 | A donation to a public-interest project | Not applicable: a donation | EUR 1,000,000 |
The four routes of Art. 26-bis(1) TUI. Real estate is not one of them, and maintenance resources above the health-cost exemption level are required on top of the investment.
Sources: Art. 26-bis(1) D.Lgs. 286/1998, Normattiva text current to the act published on 1 July 2026; the list of securities from the interministerial decree of 21 July 2017.
From application to permit: the statutory clock
The sequence below is for the company routes; the bonds and donation routes skip steps 2 and 7. Each step names who acts and the term the sources fix.
The file and the funds
You gather the evidence of funds and the certificates; we prepare the file around them. No statutory term applies to this step.
The Italian company
A capital company resident in Italy, or an innovative start-up. If formed now, the notary files the deed within 10 days (Art. 2330 c.c.). Whether it qualifies is for the Committee.
The online application
Filed on the Investor Visa for Italy portal, by you or prepared by us; the Secretariat at MIMIT's Directorate-General for Industrial Policy is the single contact.
The Committee's nulla osta
After a completeness check, the Committee issues it within 30 days of the application, with a prior reciprocity check where a foreign legal person applies.
The visa
The consulate issues a visa endorsed visto investitori (Art. 26-bis(3) TUI). Neither the statute nor the decree fixes a term for it.
Entry and the permit request
Ask the questura within 8 days of entry under the decree; the general term in Art. 5(2) TUI is 8 working days. Detail: the residence permit guide.
The investment
The full amount goes in within 3 months of entry (Art. 26-bis(1) TUI), with the evidence sent to the Secretariat. A late or partial investment allows revocation.
The permit and renewals
A two-year permit, the investment held at least 2 years, then three-year renewals asked at least 90 days before expiry; the questura decides within 90 days (Art. 5(4) and (9) TUI, since 22 May 2026).
- Online applicationInvestor Visa for Italy portalNo published time
- Nulla ostaCommittee, MIMITWithin 30 days of the application
- VisaConsulateUnfixed
- Entry and permit requestQuesturaWithin 8 days of entry (decree); 8 working days under Art. 5(2) TUI
- InvestmentWithin 3 months of entry (Art. 26-bis(1) TUI)
- Two-year permitNo published time
- Investment heldAt least 2 years
- Three-year renewalsAsked at least 90 days before expiry; questura decides within 90 days
Which route, and which Italian company?
Tell us the route you are considering and where the funds sit; the review lists what the file and the company need.
Documents you will need
The documents of Art. 26-bis(2) TUI and the decree. False documents or data in this procedure carry imprisonment from 1 year 6 months to 6 years (Art. 26-bis(9)).
- A travel document valid at least 3 months beyond the visa requested
- Evidence of EUR 2,000,000 (bonds) or EUR 1,000,000 (other routes), owned and beneficially owned
- Proof that the funds are available and transferable to Italy
- The certification of the lawful origin of the funds
- Your own declaration on the source of the funds
- Criminal-record certificates from each country lived in over 12 consecutive months in 10 years
- The signed declaration of commitment, describing the investment and its recipients
- For the company step: identity document, codice fiscale, power of attorney if not attending
Apostille and sworn-translation needs are checked document by document in the review; the deed's own rules sit on the formation page linked above.
The Italian company that receives the investment
The EUR 500,000 route needs equity of a capital company formed and resident in Italy, such as an Italian limited liability company; the EUR 250,000 route needs a company in the start-up special section (Art. 26-bis(1)(b) TUI). The Committee assesses whether a given company qualifies.
For the start-up route: Innovative Start-up Status in Italy
| Step (a new S.r.l.) | Who acts | Term | State charge | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notarial deed of incorporation | The notary, with the founders or their attorney | No statutory term | Notary's fee: no official scale exists | None published |
| Registration of the deed | The notary | At registration of the deed | Registration tax EUR 200, fixed | Art. 26(2) D.L. 104/2013 |
| Stamp duty on the deed, no property contributed | The notary, through the MUI | With the deed | EUR 156 | Romagna Chamber of Commerce, stamp-duty table |
| Filing with the Register of Companies | The notary | Within 10 days of the deed | Register stamp duty EUR 65 | Art. 2330 c.c.; stamp-duty table |
| Entry of the deed in the Register | The Chamber of Commerce | Follows the filing | Secretarial fee EUR 90 | Romagna Chamber of Commerce, fee table of 27 January 2026 |
| The investment into the company | The investor and the company; the notary where a deed is needed | Within 3 months of entry into Italy | None itemised here | Art. 26-bis(1) TUI |
State charges of a new S.r.l., each with its source. The first-year annual chamber fee and any start-up exemption are not itemised; our own fee is on request.
An existing company can be prepared instead of a new deed, including ready-made Italian companies; its acceptance is assessed the same way. A company that will offer crypto-asset services needs its own file for the OAM register and the CONSOB authorisation for crypto-asset services.
Problems we solve
What goes wrong, from the statute, and how we handle it.
- "The money went in late, or in part"
Investing after 3 months from entry, or only in part, allows revocation (Art. 26-bis(5) TUI). We build the calendar from your entry date so the full amount lands in time.
- "We need to sell before two years"
Disposing of the investment before two years also allows revocation. The hold date sits in your calendar beside the renewal date, so an early sale is a decision, not an accident.
- "One certificate is missing"
Every country where you lived over 12 consecutive months in the last 10 years counts, under the decree. We map those countries first and request each certificate before the file goes in.
- "We invest through our company abroad"
A foreign legal person triggers the Foreign Ministry's prior reciprocity check (Art. 26-bis(3-bis) TUI). We allow for it in the timing; once the permit is issued, the holder is exempt.
- "My passport is on the suspension list"
The programme portal records the suspension for Russian and Belarusian citizens (14 July 2023) and for non-EU dual nationals holding either passport (20 March 2024). We check this before any work.
Is your file stalled, or the company not ready?
Send us where the file or the company stands; we review both before the application goes in.
Who prepares your file
From our practice
We assemble the file in the order of Art. 26-bis(2), form or prepare the company with the notary, and keep the calendar after entry. The decisions stay with the Committee, the consulate and the questura.
Valentina Orsini, licensing, fiduciary and founder-permits lead, Rome; nine years. Prepares the investor-visa, start-up, self-employment and residence-permit files. Italian, English, German.
Related services and guides
- The Italia Startup VisaThe start-up visa route for founders of an innovative start-up, in its own guide.
- Fiduciary Services in Italy through an Authorised FiduciaryHolding the company's shares through an authorised società fiduciaria, under its mandate.
- Working remotely insteadNot investing, but working from Italy for clients abroad? Read our guide to the digital nomad visa.
- Tax once you live in ItalyWhat Italy taxes after the move: the Italian taxes for foreigners guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can you guarantee that the investor visa will be granted?
No. Under the interministerial decree of 21 July 2017 the Committee clears an application only without dissenting votes; the consulate then issues the visa and the questura the permit (Art. 26-bis TUI). We prepare the file and form or prepare the Italian company with a notary; the decisions stay with those three bodies.
Can I get residency in Italy if I buy a house?
Not through the investor visa. Art. 26-bis(1) TUI lists four routes: Italian government bonds, equity of a company or venture-capital fund formed and operating in Italy, equity of an innovative start-up, and a philanthropic donation. Buying property is not one of them, so a house purchase does not open this route.
Can I qualify by forming my own Italian company?
The EUR 500,000 route needs equity of a capital company formed and operating in Italy, and the EUR 250,000 route a company registered as an innovative start-up (Art. 26-bis(1)(b) TUI). Whether a company formed for the purpose, and at which point, is accepted is for the Committee; no source we have read settles it.
How long does the investor visa take?
The Committee issues the nulla osta within 30 days of sending the application, as MIMIT's programme page states. Neither Art. 26-bis TUI nor the decree of 21 July 2017 fixes how long the consulate takes for the visa or the questura for the permit, so we give no end-to-end figure.
What does the Italy golden visa cost?
The statute fixes the investment, not a fee: EUR 2,000,000, EUR 500,000, EUR 250,000 or EUR 1,000,000 by route (Art. 26-bis(1) TUI). Forming a new S.r.l. carries state duties of EUR 200, EUR 156, EUR 65 and EUR 90 (table above). Our pricing is on request; for tax after the move, see the lump-sum regime for new residents.
Is the programme open to every nationality?
No. The programme portal records its suspension for Russian and Belarusian citizens by the Committee chairman's order of 14 July 2023, extended to non-EU dual nationals holding either passport by a Foreign Ministry note of 20 March 2024. We check the portal's notices again before each file starts.
Can I apply through my company abroad?
Yes, as the legal representative of a foreign legal person, but the Committee first asks the Foreign Ministry to check reciprocity with that country (Art. 26-bis(3-bis) TUI). Once the investor permit is issued, the holder is exempt from that check (Art. 26-bis(5-bis)). Allow time for it in the calendar.
Does Italy have a golden visa, and where is the official website?
Yes, under the name investor visa: Art. 26-bis TUI provides a national visa endorsed visto investitori, granted outside the annual quotas. Applications are filed online on the programme's own portal, Investor Visa for Italy, where the Secretariat at MIMIT is the single contact. This site belongs to a private firm, not to that portal.
How do I get an investor visa in Italy?
Apply online on the programme portal; the Committee issues the nulla osta within 30 days; the consulate issues the visa. After entry, ask the questura for the permit within 8 days under the decree (8 working days under Art. 5(2) TUI), and make the investment within 3 months of entry (Art. 26-bis(1) TUI).
How much do you need to invest in Italy to get a golden visa?
At least EUR 2,000,000 in Italian government bonds, EUR 500,000 in a company or venture-capital fund, EUR 250,000 in an innovative start-up, or a EUR 1,000,000 donation (Art. 26-bis(1) TUI). You also prove funds of EUR 2,000,000 or EUR 1,000,000, plus maintenance resources above the health-cost exemption level.
How long must I keep the investment?
At least two years for government bonds and for company or start-up equity, as Art. 26-bis(1)(a) and (b) TUI state. Disposing of the investment before the two years are up allows the permit to be revoked (Art. 26-bis(5)), so the hold date belongs in the same calendar as the renewal.
When must the money be invested?
Within 3 months of the date you enter Italy, and for the full amount (Art. 26-bis(1) TUI). Investing later, or only in part, allows the permit to be refused or revoked (Art. 26-bis(5)), which is why the calendar starts on the day of entry rather than the day the visa is issued.
How long is the permit, and can it be renewed?
The first permit lasts two years (Art. 26-bis(5) TUI) and is renewable for further three-year periods while the investment is maintained (Art. 26-bis(6)). Since 22 May 2026, renewal is asked at least 90 days before expiry (Art. 5(4) TUI). The holder is exempt from the integration agreement for five years from first issue.
Can my family come with me?
Family members eligible for reunification may enter with the investor and receive a visa for family reasons under Art. 30 TUI (Art. 26-bis(8)). Which relatives qualify, and on what conditions, turns on Art. 29 TUI and is checked case by case with the file, so we print no list here.
Is the investor visa the same as an Italian business visa or an entrepreneur visa?
No. A business visa usually means a short-stay consular visa for meetings and trips, a different product. The entrepreneur wording points at the self-employment route of Art. 26 TUI, covered in the guide linked at the top of this page. The investor visa is a national visa endorsed visto investitori under Art. 26-bis TUI.
Request an investor-visa file review
Send the route you are considering, your nationality, your country of residence and whether an Italian company already exists.